Legislative Activity

This bill, the Preventing the Abuse of Immigration Parole Act, aims to drastically restrict the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to grant immigration parole. It mandates that parole decisions must be made strictly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Furthermore, the legislation imposes an annual cap on parole grants starting in FY 2029 and grants states the authority to sue the Secretary over perceived misuse of this authority.

The Restoring American Freedom Act prohibits the State Department, its employees, and its funded entities from censoring the free speech of United States citizens. This legislation strictly forbids the use of federal funds to support or facilitate such censorship activities, including the creation or use of advertising blacklists. Furthermore, the Secretary of State must promptly notify Congress and the affected citizen if any censorship is discovered.

The Patriots Over Politics Act creates a special, limited window for certain service members separated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine between August 2021 and January 2023 to transfer their unused VA education benefits to an eligible dependent. This transfer option is available for 90 days following the bill's enactment. If transferred to a child, the benefit use is contingent upon the service member having completed at least six years of service.

This resolution strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. It specifically honors the memory of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were tragically murdered while promoting peace. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of hate and ensuring the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom.

This resolution calls upon all Americans to observe Memorial Day, 2025, as a solemn occasion to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and peace. Congress recognizes the profound debt owed to these patriots who have died defending American values globally. The bill encourages a national expression of respect, pride, and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

The Safe Prescribing Through Reporting Act of 2025 amends federal law to allow the disclosure of patient records related to substance use disorder medications to state prescription drug monitoring programs. This sharing is contingent upon the specific requirements and mandates set forth by individual state laws. The goal is to enhance oversight and safety in prescribing these critical medications.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude certain military bonuses from gross income for federal tax purposes. Specifically, it adds bonuses paid to uniformed service members under Chapter 5 of Title 37, U.S. Code, to the list of qualified military benefits that are tax-exempt. This exclusion applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

The USCP Empowerment Act of 2025 grants the United States Capitol Police Board new authority to detect, disrupt, or seize unmanned aircraft systems (drones) that pose a credible threat to Capitol facilities. This allows the USCP to override certain communication interception laws when necessary to neutralize a threat. The Act mandates strict privacy safeguards for any intercepted communications and requires regular reporting to Congress on the use of these new powers.

The BOP Direct-Hire Authority Act grants the Director of the Bureau of Prisons the authority to directly hire qualified individuals into competitive service jobs, bypassing standard federal hiring procedures. This expedited hiring power is intended to speed up staffing efforts across all BOP facilities. This special authority will automatically expire once 96% of all competitive service positions within the Bureau of Prisons are filled.

The No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act directs the Secretary of State to pressure Western Hemisphere nations to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and crack down on its criminal and financial networks. The bill mandates an assessment to identify any region operating as a "terrorist sanctuary" for such groups. If a sanctuary is designated, the President can revoke the visas of foreign officials connected to that area, subject to national security waivers.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The DEFENSE Act authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize state and local police to use drone countermeasures for protecting specific large public events and restricted areas. This authority is contingent upon officers completing mandatory, specialized training developed in coordination with the FAA. The bill also mandates federal oversight and limits the use of equipment to an officially approved list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act aims to strengthen consumer protections for service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This bill mandates improved financial literacy training focusing on SCRA interest rate caps and requires specific notifications of these benefits upon entry or mobilization to active duty. Additionally, it ensures financial institutions must retroactively apply maximum interest rates to pre-service debts from the start of active duty and expand those protections to all debts held by the creditor.

The Police Officers Protecting Children Act amends federal law to allow qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry and discharge concealed firearms within a school zone, provided they meet existing authorization requirements. This legislation clarifies exceptions to the general prohibition on firearms in school zones for these specific personnel.

The NFA SBS Act redefines short-barreled shotguns under federal tax law, removing specific restrictions and ensuring they are not treated as destructive devices. This legislation eliminates disparate federal restrictions on these shotguns and preempts state or local laws that attempt to impose special taxes or registration requirements referencing the National Firearms Act. Furthermore, the Act mandates the destruction of specific government records related to the registration and transfer of these shotguns.

The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act repeals the federal ban on mailing certain concealable firearms. This legislation also prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from enacting rules that would block or unduly restrict the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. Furthermore, the USPS cannot require sellers to disclose customer records or firearm serial numbers as a condition for mailing these items.

The Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act ensures that Coast Guard members with combat-related injuries receive the same tax fairness on their severance payments as other military branches. This legislation clarifies which Secretaries are responsible for correcting improperly withheld taxes from past payments. It also sets deadlines for identifying past errors and immediately stopping future improper tax withholdings.

This bill, the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act, prevents landlords of federally assisted rental housing from banning tenants who lawfully possess firearms within their private dwelling units. It ensures residents in subsidized housing can legally keep their firearms inside their apartments. The legislation also permits the transportation of firearms through common areas only when moving directly to or from the unit.