Legislative Activity

The Holy Sovereignty Protection Act ensures that any U.S. citizen elected as the Pope cannot have their citizenship revoked by the United States. Furthermore, this legislation grants federal income tax exemption to any U.S. citizen serving as Supreme Pontiff for any tax year they hold the position. This protection and tax break take effect upon the bill's enactment.

The Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act mandates the Secretary of the Army to eliminate the existing backlog of applications for certain permits and jurisdictional determinations with the Army Corps of Engineers. Within 60 days of enactment, the Corps must prioritize and expedite the review of all pending applications existing as of June 5, 2025. This is achieved by immediately shifting or adding necessary staff and resources to clear the accumulated workload.

The Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act of 2025 establishes numerous new protected zones, including Special Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Areas, Protection Areas, and Recreation Management Areas, across federal lands in Gunnison County, Colorado. The bill mandates conservation and protection for the natural, scenic, and wildlife resources within these designated areas. It also significantly restricts off-highway vehicle and bicycle use to pre-existing trails, while simultaneously expanding certain Wilderness Areas. Finally, the Act addresses specific land management issues, including oil and gas restrictions in the North Fork Valley and the transfer of certain tribal lands into federal trust status.

The Productive Public Lands Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to promptly reissue nine specific Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land management plans finalized between late 2024 and early 2025. This reissuance requires the BLM to formally update its preferred alternative for each plan. Crucially, these reissued documents are automatically deemed compliant with major environmental review and administrative procedure laws, bypassing further environmental analysis.

The Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025 allows individuals and businesses harmed by the 2015 Gold King Mine spill to receive compensation from the federal government for specific, documented losses, such as injury, lost business income, and agricultural damages. Claimants must have submitted a claim by August 5, 2017, and meet specific criteria to be considered an "injured person" under the Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator will investigate and settle claims, adhering to Colorado state law for calculating damages, with a limited fund of $3,300,000 appropriated for this purpose. Claimants can challenge the Administrator's final decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

The LOCAL Act mandates the Bureau of Land Management headquarters be located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It requires a study on the feasibility of relocating additional BLM employee positions to Grand Junction or another western state. The study will assess the potential benefits of relocation on federal land management, community coordination, and various land uses. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Energy and Natural Resources within 365 days.