Legislative Activity

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act reinstates and removes limitations on the federal income tax deduction for personal casualty losses resulting from unexpected events like fires or floods. This legislation also extends the deadline for taxpayers to file claims for refunds related to these casualty loss deductions for past tax years. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It celebrates the significance of him being the first American-born Pope in the Church's history. The measure also commends his lifelong service, missionary spirit, and dedication to truth and mercy. Finally, it offers prayers for his leadership as he begins his papacy.

The Justice for Angel Families Act establishes new federal grants to compensate families of homicide victims killed by certain unlawfully present aliens or drug traffickers, covering medical, funeral, and emotional distress-related wage costs. Additionally, the bill creates a new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within DHS to provide proactive support, resources, and updates to victims of crimes committed by removable aliens. This office will operate a dedicated hotline and report annually to Congress on its impact and victim demographics.

The Energy Freedom Act is a comprehensive bill focused almost entirely on repealing numerous existing tax credits and deductions related to energy efficiency, clean energy production, and alternative fuels. This legislation systematically eliminates incentives such as those for residential solar, clean vehicle purchases, advanced manufacturing, and carbon sequestration. With only one minor exception, the bill's primary effect is to remove these specific energy-related tax breaks from the Internal Revenue Code, generally taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Ending Medicaid Discrimination Against the Most Vulnerable Act modifies the enhanced federal funding structure for Medicaid coverage provided to low-income adults. This bill establishes a gradual phase-out of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) between 2027 and 2034, with the extra funding ending entirely in 2035. Furthermore, the legislation alters the incentives for states that have not yet expanded Medicaid coverage, potentially limiting future enhanced funding for those states if they expand after 2024.

This bill disapproves of and nullifies the Department of Energy's rule on energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

The Gulf of America Act officially renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change mandates that all federal laws, maps, and official records must immediately reflect the new designation. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with overseeing the implementation of this name change across all federal agencies within 180 days.

This resolution formally honors mothers and recognizes the vital role they play in raising the next generation, coinciding with Mother's Day. It reaffirms that motherhood is defined by women and strongly rejects alternative terminology that diminishes this role. Ultimately, the bill encourages the nation to celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers to families and the country.

The Constitutional Hearing Protection Act aims to treat firearm silencers equally under federal tax law by updating definitions and removing certain registration requirements if existing firearm laws are followed. The bill also preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration burdens on silencers. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners within one year of enactment.

This Act prohibits the issuance of F and M student visas to individuals planning to attend educational institutions located within designated "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as any state or local government that actively obstructs federal immigration enforcement efforts, such as refusing to comply with ICE detainers. The visa restrictions remain in place until the Secretary of Homeland Security determines the jurisdiction is no longer impeding immigration enforcement.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The CFPB Budget Integrity Act limits the amount of unspent funds, or "unobligated balances," the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) can retain to no more than 5% of a specified statutory amount. Any excess savings must be transferred to the Treasury general fund. This legislation also enhances reporting requirements to provide greater transparency regarding the CFPB's retained balances.

The SALUTE Act establishes a pilot program to allow certain active-duty service members and their dependents to purchase supplemental private insurance for uncovered cancer-related medical expenses. This optional coverage will be offered through agreements with selected insurance companies, with participants paying the full premium cost. The Department of Defense must report on the program's success after three years to determine if it should become permanent.

The NFA SBS Act redefines short-barreled shotguns under federal tax law, removing specific restrictions and ensuring they are not treated as destructive devices. This legislation eliminates disparate federal restrictions on these shotguns and preempts state or local laws that attempt to impose special taxes or registration requirements referencing the National Firearms Act. Furthermore, the Act mandates the destruction of specific government records related to the registration and transfer of these shotguns.

The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act repeals the federal ban on mailing certain concealable firearms. This legislation also prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from enacting rules that would block or unduly restrict the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. Furthermore, the USPS cannot require sellers to disclose customer records or firearm serial numbers as a condition for mailing these items.

The No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act prohibits the federal government from providing funds to colleges and universities that require students or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This measure ensures that institutions of higher education cannot mandate vaccination for enrollment, employment, or access to services without risking the loss of federal funding.

The Safeguarding Charity Act clarifies that the federal income tax exemption granted to many tax-exempt organizations, such as charities and social welfare groups, will no longer be counted as "Federal financial assistance." This change specifically redefines federal aid for the purpose of applying various federal laws and regulations moving forward. The Act ensures that the value of existing tax breaks is excluded from future calculations of government assistance received by these entities.

The Putting Trust in Transparency Act mandates that any tax-exempt organization receiving federal funding must publicly disclose the names, zip codes, and donation amounts of its major contributors listed on IRS Form 990 Schedule B. This is intended to increase oversight of organizations acting as government agents using taxpayer money. Failure to comply with this new public disclosure requirement can result in the revocation of the organization's tax-exempt status.

The Safeguarding American Property Act of 2025 expands mandatory detention requirements for certain non-citizens who commit specific property crimes. This legislation adds offenses like trespassing, vandalism, and arson to the list of crimes that require immigration authorities to detain an individual during removal proceedings. The bill also clarifies language related to violent offenses to ensure comprehensive grounds for detention.