Legislative Activity

The Save Our Sequoias Act establishes a comprehensive, multi-agency framework to protect and restore giant sequoia groves from the escalating threats of wildfire, insects, and drought. The legislation creates a collaborative coalition to assess grove health, streamlines emergency protection projects, and authorizes dedicated funding and strike teams to accelerate reforestation and forest management efforts. By fostering partnerships between federal, state, and Tribal entities, the Act aims to ensure the long-term resilience and survival of these iconic trees.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

The Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act streamlines the process for developing geothermal energy on lands where the federal government owns less than half of the subsurface resources. This bill exempts certain geothermal projects from requiring a federal drilling permit if a state permit is already secured. Consequently, these projects are generally excluded from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. However, the bill maintains the federal government's right to collect royalties and conduct oversight on production measurements.

The STEAM Act amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, expanding NEPA review to cover exploration and development of geothermal resources. This ensures geothermal projects are subject to the same environmental review processes as oil and gas projects.

This bill directs the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran within 30 days, utilizing the authority granted by the War Powers Resolution. Congress asserts this action is necessary as it has not formally declared war or authorized military force against Iran. The resolution explicitly preserves the ability of the U.S. to defend itself, its allies, and its facilities from imminent attack, and does not interfere with intelligence-gathering activities.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

The Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act clarifies and significantly expands the Secretary of the Interior's authority to develop hydropower at all Bureau of Reclamation facilities. This legislation ensures that hydropower development can proceed without impairing existing municipal water supply contracts. It also clarifies jurisdiction and the role of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding project authorizations.

The SNAP Online Access Act of 2026 establishes a permanent, nationwide program allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to purchase food online. This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transition the existing pilot into a permanent system within 120 days. The Secretary must also issue regulations addressing program integrity and consumer protections within two years, following consultation with key stakeholders.

The USDA Express Loan Act of 2026 aims to speed up the approval process for certain USDA-guaranteed farm and rural business loans. It mandates a simplified application for farm loans up to $1,000,000, requiring a 5-day decision for Preferred Lenders. The bill also establishes new, tiered maximum government guarantee percentages for these farm loans.

The Feed Our Veterans Act permanently exempts all veterans from the work requirements associated with receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation ensures that veterans have consistent access to food assistance without meeting specific employment criteria.

The **Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act (FREEDOM Act)** aims to accelerate federal permitting for energy and mineral projects by establishing strict timelines, creating a compensation program for project delays, and streamlining review processes. It also includes specific provisions to improve geothermal leasing and reduce federal permitting requirements for certain oil and gas activities on non-federal land. The overall goal is to reduce regulatory uncertainty that deters investment in critical U.S. energy infrastructure.

This bill officially designates 2026 as the "International Year of the Woman Farmer" to recognize and honor the vital contributions of women in U.S. agriculture. It encourages citizens to celebrate the impact of these women on the food system and empowers women to pursue leadership roles in the field.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2026 establishes the Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton in products sold domestically. This new business tax credit is calculated based on the volume of U.S. cotton used, the market price, and where the product was processed. The bill mandates digital tracing to verify the supply chain and offers significantly increased credit multipliers for products containing U.S.-made cotton yarn or fabric.

The Farm and Family Relief Act provides targeted economic assistance to various agricultural sectors, including producers of eligible commodities, sugar beets, and specialty crops, while also delaying scheduled cost-sharing changes for SNAP benefits. Additionally, the bill establishes new programs to support timber businesses through financial assistance and creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service to commercialize research. Finally, it terminates several specific Executive orders imposing tariffs.

The FIRE Act amends the Clean Air Act to allow states to petition the EPA to exclude air quality monitoring data influenced by "actions to mitigate wildfire risk," such as prescribed burns, from regulatory decisions. This legislation establishes clear criteria and transparency requirements for how the EPA handles these petitions, recognizing the role of proactive wildfire mitigation efforts. The goal is to ensure that air quality data reflecting necessary wildfire prevention measures does not unfairly penalize states in compliance determinations.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

This resolution observes the one-year anniversary of the devastating 2025 Southern California wildfires. It honors the 31 lives lost, recognizes the heroic efforts of thousands of emergency responders, and affirms commitment to supporting the ongoing rebuilding efforts in affected communities.

The SPEED Act aims to streamline and expedite federal project reviews by reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It clarifies NEPA as a procedural statute, narrows the scope of environmental effects agencies must consider, and establishes strict timelines for agency decisions. Furthermore, the bill imposes significant limitations on judicial review, requiring courts to defer to agency judgment and limiting remedies to remanding the action for correction rather than vacating permits.

The Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025 amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prevent deceptive environmental marketing on consumer packaging. It establishes strict standards for "recyclable," "compostable," and "reusable" claims, requiring third-party certification and clear consumer disclosures. The bill aims to increase transparency by ensuring that environmental claims are backed by scientific evidence and actual infrastructure availability.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.