Legislative Activity

The Federal Lands and Waters Leasing Transparency Act aims to increase transparency in oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. It requires the Secretary of Interior to provide detailed reports to bidders on offshore oil and gas leases when their bids are rejected and protects existing leases from legal challenges. Additionally, the Act sets a 60-day deadline for the Secretary of Interior to issue onshore oil and gas leases, regardless of court orders, unless issuing the lease would violate federal law. Finally, the Act ensures that court findings of noncompliance in offshore lease sales do not invalidate existing leases or delay related development plans and permit applications.

The "Restoring Competitive Property Insurance Availability Act" aims to support insurance companies providing real property coverage in federally declared disaster areas. It allows specified insurers to exclude qualified real property insurance income from their gross income for up to five years following a disaster. This applies to disasters occurring after December 31, 2024, and seeks to encourage the availability of property insurance in affected regions.

The "Safeguarding American Workers Benefits Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify Social Security number (SSN) requirements for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. It mandates that to claim these credits, the SSN must be issued by the Social Security Administration to a U.S. citizen or someone authorized to work in the U.S. These modifications will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act" establishes a fund using duties on imported shrimp to enhance seafood safety and promote domestic shrimp consumption. Seventy percent of duties collected on specific imported shrimp products will be allocated to the "Inspection and Consumption of Shrimp and Shrimp Products Fund." Half of the funds will be used by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to inspect imported shrimp for safety and labor violations. The other half will be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage domestic consumption of shrimp.

The Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 nullifies previous presidential actions that withdrew unleased offshore lands from mineral leasing and limits the president's authority to withdraw such lands in the future. It sets acreage and time limits on withdrawals, mandates resource assessments and congressional notification, and establishes a process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals. The Act prioritizes resource assessments of withdrawn lands, emphasizing economic, energy, and national security value, and ensures withdrawals do not conflict with scheduled lease sales.

The CBP Workload Staffing Model Act requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish workload staffing models for the U.S. Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations. These models must consider frontline activities, work environments, infrastructure, technology, and support levels. The Act also mandates the development of standard operating procedures for workforce tracking systems and requires annual status updates to Congress. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General must review the workload staffing model and provide feedback.

The "Finish the Wall Act" mandates the resumption of border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, as planned before January 20, 2021, and requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to use all available funds to complete the wall by September 30, 2026. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to comply with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 and submit implementation plans to Congress for tactical infrastructure and technology elements of the border wall system.