Legislative Activity

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

The Make American Guns Again (MAGA) Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of Defense to study the prevalence of foreign-made or foreign-owned small arms and light weapons used by the U.S. military. Within 180 days, the Secretary must report these findings to Congress and the President. This report must also include recommendations for increasing the procurement of domestically manufactured and owned small arms.

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must promptly add specific, FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications to its National Formulary. This ensures veterans have access to alternative pain management options that do not rely on opioids. The VA is required to implement these changes within 90 days of the Act becoming law.

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 Hookah Clarification Act of 2025 establishes a distinct federal tax classification for waterpipe tobacco, commonly known as hookah or shisha. This legislation sets a significantly lower tax rate of $0.5662 per pound specifically for waterpipe tobacco, while maintaining the current rate for other types of pipe tobacco. The Act also provides a clear definition for what constitutes "waterpipe tobacco" for tax purposes.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act generally prohibits federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Exceptions are allowed only for specific federal units where scientific data proves lead use is causing wildlife decline, and the restriction aligns with state law or policy. This legislation aims to maintain traditional hunting and fishing practices across most federal domains.

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 Qualified to Serve Act aims to standardize and clarify medical accession standards for individuals joining the Armed Forces. It prohibits disqualification based on certain medical conditions diagnosed before age 13, provided specific conditions regarding subsequent treatment and current fitness are met. The bill also mandates formal review and national security waiver processes for medical disqualifications and requires annual reporting on disqualifications and waivers to Congress.

The No Tax on Home Sales Act eliminates the existing dollar limitations on the amount of profit an individual can exclude from taxes when selling their principal residence. This change removes the caps on the tax-free gain from the sale of a primary home. The provisions of this Act take effect immediately upon enactment.

This bill mandates increased transparency and verification for all federal government spending by requiring agencies to report detailed payment information to the Treasury. It enhances program integrity by granting the Treasury access to new hire and tax data to prevent and recover improper payments. Agencies must also verify recipient bank accounts before disbursement, with exceptions allowed only for sensitive national security or law enforcement operations.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump, condemning the multiple violent attempts against the President's life. It honors the victims of the shooting, including the late Corey D. Comperatore, and recognizes the bravery of first responders. Furthermore, the resolution condemns all incitement of violence against elected officials and calls for national unity against political violence.

This bill amends the Sikes Act to increase flexibility for cooperative and interagency agreements regarding land management. It expands the scope of these agreements beyond federal military installations to include land management related to the operations of military or State-owned National Guard installations. This allows for broader partnerships in managing surrounding or associated lands.

The Iranian Campaign Medal Act establishes a new military decoration, the Iranian Campaign Medal, to recognize service members deployed in support of operations during the Iran-Israel War. This medal will be awarded by the Secretaries of the military branches upon approval of its design by the Secretary of Defense. Eligibility requires active duty service in a designated area or performing qualifying service related to the operation.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the "Jim Kolbe Memorial Post Office." This action ensures all official records reflect the new name honoring Jim Kolbe.

This resolution officially supports the designation of Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day to honor the CHamoru people who survived the harsh Japanese occupation during World War II. It recognizes their incredible loyalty and sacrifice while under duress, including aiding American service members. The bill calls for the entire nation to observe this day to ensure their stories of courage are never forgotten.

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.

The GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive, next-generation missile defense shield to counter rapidly evolving threats from adversaries like China and Russia. It creates a powerful, direct-reporting Program Manager with broad authority to accelerate the development, acquisition, and deployment of integrated air and missile defense systems across all domains. This funding prioritizes space-based sensors, advanced interceptors, and modernized command and control capabilities to ensure the defense of U.S. citizens against all aerial and missile attacks. The Act also includes provisions to streamline procurement processes and protect the competitive space industrial base.

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.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.