Legislative Activity

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 505 East 9th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas. The building will now be known as the "Mayor Jerry H. Hodge Post Office Building." This designation requires all official records and documents to use the new name for this specific location.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

This act, officially titled the "No FED in West Texas Act," prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from implementing or enforcing the specific Land Protection Plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. Essentially, it blocks the finalization and administration of that particular refuge management plan.

This bill amends federal law to explicitly include violations related to rioting within the definition of "racketeering activity." By adding this specific crime to the list under Title 18, Section 1961(1), the legislation makes participation in such activities subject to serious federal racketeering charges. This change treats rioting violations similarly to other established offenses like bribery or extortion for the purposes of federal prosecution.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act aims to eliminate "disparate-impact liability" across major federal laws. This bill prohibits lawsuits claiming discrimination based solely on the unintended, disproportionate negative effect of a rule or practice. Consequently, it removes the ability to challenge employment and housing practices unless discriminatory intent can be proven. The Act also nullifies specific prior regulatory approvals related to civil rights enforcement.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

The Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 extends the timeline for current Sport Fish Restoration funding allocation rules until 2031 and removes the spending cap for Interstate Fisheries Commission activities. The bill also updates boating infrastructure priorities to specifically include funding for alternative marine fuel facilities for larger vessels. Finally, it significantly reduces the federal excise tax rate on portable, electronically-aerated bait containers from 10 percent to 3 percent.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The Defend Girls Athletics Act mandates that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions must certify compliance with Executive Order 14201 regarding biological fairness in women's sports to receive federal funding. This certification must be renewed annually for K-12 districts and by July 1st for colleges and universities. Failure to comply or report results in the immediate requirement to return unobligated federal funds and ineligibility for future federal financial assistance until compliance is restored.

This resolution officially commends Petty Officer 3d Class Scott Ruskan for his heroic actions during the devastating central Texas floods of July 2025. It specifically recognizes him for personally rescuing 165 individuals and coordinating triage efforts under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, the bill extends deep gratitude to all federal, state, and volunteer responders who risked their lives during this major natural disaster.

The Association Health Plans Act amends federal law to allow certain groups or associations of employers to sponsor a single group health plan, treating them as a single employer for coverage purposes. This aims to expand access to health coverage by enabling broader risk pooling across different industries. The bill establishes specific criteria these associations must meet to qualify, including minimum size and operational standards. Finally, it outlines rules for setting premium rates and prohibits discrimination based on health status for plans established under this Act.

This bill officially renames the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the **Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge**. The renaming honors the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically murdered near Houston. This legislation codifies the name change across all official government records and documents.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

The Protect RAIL Act amends immigration law to prevent non-citizens convicted of or admitting to crimes involving the theft or tampering of goods shipped across state or international lines from entering the United States. Furthermore, this bill makes non-citizens already in the U.S. deportable if they have committed such offenses related to interstate or foreign shipments.

This proposed constitutional amendment seeks to grant Congress the explicit power to prohibit the physical desecration of the United States flag. If ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years, this would allow Congress to enact federal laws protecting the flag from physical damage or destruction.

This joint resolution expresses Congressional disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule regarding California's "Advanced Clean Cars II" vehicle pollution standards. By rejecting this rule, Congress is effectively canceling the EPA's decision to grant California a waiver allowing it to set stricter emission standards than federal law typically permits. Consequently, the approved California standards will not take effect.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court by expanding definitions of harm and restricting the public disclosure of their identities. It mandates new, strict reporting duties for tech providers regarding child sexual exploitation material, backed by substantial criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the Act creates broad new civil remedies allowing victims to sue responsible online platforms and app stores for damages related to exploitation that occurred during their childhood. Finally, it improves restitution procedures, particularly for vulnerable victims, while ensuring existing state and tribal protections remain intact.

This resolution formally renames the House Press Gallery in the U.S. Capitol to the "Frederick Douglass Press Gallery." This action honors Douglass's pioneering role as a journalist and the first Black reporter granted access to the Capitol press galleries. The resolution serves as a formal recognition of his significant contributions to American journalism and civil rights history.

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.