Legislative Activity

The CAL Repayment Act mandates that states immediately use specific federal funds received to repay any outstanding unemployment insurance (UI) advances within five business days. This requirement takes precedence over all other uses for those funds. States that fail to comply face a penalty equal to the amount improperly spent.

This Act strengthens national security by expanding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of real estate transactions involving foreign adversaries. It specifically targets purchases of farmland and property near sensitive national security sites. The legislation introduces a presumption that such "elevated risk" transactions pose unresolvable risks, placing a high burden on CFIUS to prove otherwise. Furthermore, it mandates consideration of U.S. food security during transaction reviews and ensures state laws restricting foreign adversary land ownership remain in effect.

The VA Home Loan Affordability Act aligns the VA housing loan program with certain Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requirements to make homeownership more accessible for veterans. This legislation streamlines processes by waiving appraisals for certain refinances and removing development approval requirements for condominiums. It also establishes new limits on veteran-paid closing costs and seller fees, while requiring regular review of debt-to-income ratios.

This bill, the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026, prohibits federal and state courts from hearing lawsuits seeking damages or relief against energy companies for harms related to climate change. It voids existing state laws that impose liability on energy businesses for climate-related issues, asserting that the regulation of emissions falls under exclusive federal jurisdiction. The Act aims to protect the energy industry from litigation and ensure affordable, reliable energy.

The Targeted Operations to Remove Catastrophic Hazards Act aims to significantly reduce wildfire risks across federal lands by streamlining hazardous fuel removal and accelerating forest management activities. It expands tools for emergency response, encourages the use of livestock grazing for vegetation control, and reforms environmental review processes for restoration projects. Furthermore, the bill modifies utility regulations to mandate wider vegetation clearing around power lines, potentially limiting environmental oversight in favor of faster hazard mitigation.

The Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act aims to combat "chameleon carriers" who evade safety regulations and enforcement actions. It mandates a GAO study on the prevalence and impact of these carriers and requires the FMCSA to develop an advanced automated tool to detect them during the DOT registration process. The bill ensures human oversight remains in final registration decisions and establishes reporting requirements on the tool's effectiveness.

This act restricts executive bonuses at certain electric utilities starting in 2025. Bonuses are only permitted if the utility's rate increases do not exceed the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). If allowed, the bonus amount is capped at 25% of the median compensation of non-executive employees. Bonuses paid in violation of these rules will be forfeited and distributed directly back to the utility's customers.

The Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act establishes a direct payment program administered by the USDA to compensate specialty crop growers and wine producers for specific financial losses, such as those related to increased tariffs or reduced exports. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to purchase surplus crops for distribution through federal nutrition assistance programs. This assistance is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with required reporting to Congress on payments and purchases.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 28201 Franklin Parkway in Santa Clarita, California, as the "Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all future official references to this location will use the new name.

This bill temporarily extends and modifies the enhanced premium tax credit for health insurance through 2027. It also introduces significant changes to Medicare Advantage risk adjustment by requiring the use of two years of diagnostic data starting in 2026. Finally, the legislation aims to reduce fraudulent enrollment in health plans by increasing civil and criminal penalties for agents and brokers and establishing new consumer protection and oversight processes.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The FEMA Act of 2025 establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent, cabinet-level agency to lead a unified, all-hazards approach to national emergency management. The bill enacts sweeping reforms across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation programs to accelerate recovery, streamline funding, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disaster survivors and communities. Furthermore, it mandates significant new transparency measures, including public data reporting and GAO oversight, to ensure accountability for federal disaster spending.

The Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide direct financial assistance to producers who suffer qualified losses due to natural disasters like drought, fire, or floods. To receive payments, producers must agree to purchase Federal Crop Insurance or enroll in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the next two succeeding crop years. Payment calculations vary based on whether the producer already has existing crop insurance coverage, and strict payment limits are set based on the producer's average adjusted gross farm income.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 significantly expands and permanently secures access to Medicare telehealth services by eliminating outdated geographic restrictions and allowing more practitioners to offer remote care. The bill also strengthens program integrity by dedicating funds for telehealth oversight while clarifying rules around providing necessary technology to patients. Finally, it mandates the creation of tailored educational resources and public reporting to improve quality measurement and transparency in remote care delivery.

The SKIM Act, or Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act, mandates stricter sentencing guidelines for crimes involving counterfeit or stolen credit and debit cards, ensuring a minimum offense level for such offenses. It also requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on federal and local cooperation in combating access device fraud. This legislation aims to increase penalties and improve coordination against identity and payment card misuse.

The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025 significantly increases the penalty-free withdrawal limit from retirement accounts for first-time homebuyers. This legislation raises the maximum allowable distribution from $\$10,000$ to $\$50,000$. This change is designed to provide greater financial flexibility for individuals purchasing their first home, taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Election Results Accountability Act establishes strict, new deadlines for states to count and officially certify the results of federal elections. States must release initial results within 72 hours and finalize certification within two weeks of poll closure. Penalties for missing these deadlines include the loss of federal election assistance funds, unless the delay is due to specific, agreed-upon emergencies or technical issues.

The IDEA Full Funding Act establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs through fiscal year 2035. This legislation sets specific appropriation targets based on student counts and national average spending to ensure greater financial support for special education services. Furthermore, the bill requires that these new IDEA appropriations adhere to "cut-as-you-go" budget offset rules.

The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 mandates new federal research to understand and mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes and resulting wine. This research will focus on identifying harmful chemical compounds, developing reliable testing methods, and creating practical solutions for growers. The Secretary of Agriculture will coordinate this effort with universities in key wine-producing states using dedicated funding through 2030.

The Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025 allows individuals to exclude from their gross income any payments or benefits they receive from state-based catastrophe loss mitigation programs designed to help homeowners protect their properties from disasters such as windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. These payments will not affect the property's basis, and the exclusion is applicable retroactively for taxable years starting after December 31, 2020, allowing individuals to claim the exclusion retroactively.