Legislative Activity

**Title I:** This bill seeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government by revoking prior directives, terminating DEI offices, and restricting DEI-related training and activities. **Title II:** This bill restricts federal training programs from including topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protects employees from mandatory training on these subjects. **Title III:** This bill modifies federal contracting practices by prohibiting the use of federal funds for DEI-related activities and ensuring non-discrimination in federal programs. **Title IV:** This bill restricts the use of federal grant and cooperative agreement funds for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, while exempting certain offices and institutions. **Title V:** This bill aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within federal advisory committees by outlining specific prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, and responsibilities for agency administrators and heads to ensure compliance. **Title VI:** This bill addresses accreditation standards for higher education institutions and restricts the use of federal funds by the Secretary of Education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. **Title VII:** This bill eliminates certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and related requirements across various federal agencies and acts. **Title VIII:** This bill focuses on the enforcement and legal standing of the Act, ensuring individuals have the right to seek justice if they believe the law has been violated, and clarifies that the law remains effective even if parts of it are deemed unconstitutional.

The Fair Access to Banking Act aims to ensure equal access to financial services by preventing banks and credit unions from denying services to individuals or entities engaged in lawful activities based on subjective or politically motivated reasons. It sets requirements for banks with over $10 billion in assets, prohibiting them from denying services based on reputational risk and requiring them to justify denials with documented, risk-based standards. The act also allows individuals to sue financial institutions that violate these requirements, with the potential for treble damages and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs. Furthermore, it restricts access to Federal Reserve lending programs and the Automated Clearing House Network for institutions that fail to comply with the Act.

The Hearing Protection Act seeks to remove silencers from special regulation under federal tax law, treating them similarly to standard firearms components. This bill preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration requirements on silencers involved in interstate commerce. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners and establishes new serial number marking requirements for manufacturers.

This resolution designates the week beginning February 3, 2025, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week," recognizing the vital role of TCUs in providing culturally relevant education to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other students. TCUs serve over 230 federally recognized Indian Tribes by offering high-quality postsecondary education and workforce preparation. The resolution encourages the public to participate in activities and programs that support these institutions.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The "A PLUS Act" allows states to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to consolidate certain federal education funds, excluding those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to improve academic achievement. States must ensure transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. The Act limits administrative expenses and requires equitable participation of private schools in funded activities. This aims to provide states and local communities more flexibility in deciding how to improve academic achievement and implement education changes.

This resolution designates January 26 through February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week," recognizing the importance of diverse educational options (public, charter, magnet, private, online, and homeschooling). It emphasizes the role of parents in choosing the best educational environment for their children and encourages awareness of the benefits of school choice. The resolution supports celebrating educational choice and acknowledges the contributions of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders.

The "Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025" aims to protect vulnerable children by establishing rigorous vetting standards for sponsors, including comprehensive background checks and mandatory home visits. It also requires retroactive vetting of past sponsors and mandates monthly reports to Congress on the well-being and whereabouts of these children. The bill prioritizes the safety and accountability in the placement of unaccompanied alien children.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" seeks to restrict federal funding to foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities involved in such activities. It expands existing policies to include a broader range of organizations and activities, including counseling, lobbying, and training. The bill also requires domestic organizations receiving federal funds to maintain complete separation from abortion-related activities. The goal is to codify these restrictions to ensure consistent application across different presidential administrations.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025" seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortions and for health benefits coverage that includes abortion coverage, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It clarifies that premium credits and cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be used for health plans that include abortion coverage, allowing for separate purchase of abortion coverage without federal tax credits. The Act also requires health plans to transparently disclose the extent of abortion coverage and any related premium surcharges to enrollees.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospital transport and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child is protected from prosecution. The bill also allows the woman on whom the abortion was performed to file a civil action against anyone who violated the requirements if a child was born alive.

The Student Empowerment Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 savings accounts to cover a broader range of elementary and secondary education expenses, including homeschooling costs such as curriculum, materials, tutoring, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. This expansion aims to provide families with greater flexibility in using 529 accounts to support their children's education.

The "Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act" extends the statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil actions related to fraud in pandemic-era programs, increasing the time to bring charges or initiate actions to 10 years after the offense or discovery of the violation. This extension applies to offenses and violations related to funding and programs authorized under laws like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. The bill aims to provide more time to identify and prosecute those who defrauded COVID-19 relief programs.

The "AMERICANS Act" aims to provide remedies for members of the Armed Forces who faced adverse actions due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. It restricts new mandates, prohibits negative actions against unvaccinated service members, and allows those discharged or negatively affected to apply for remedies such as discharge upgrades, reinstatement, compensation, and expungement of records. The Act prioritizes retaining unvaccinated members and limits consideration of vaccination status for deployment and assignment decisions, and provides exemptions for COVID-19 vaccination based on natural immunity, health conditions, or religious beliefs. Additionally, it terminates bonus repayment obligations for those separated for refusing the vaccine and reimburses any prior repayments.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" (SAVE Act) aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens register to vote in federal elections by requiring documentary proof of citizenship during voter registration. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include citizenship verification and mandates states to verify citizenship using various databases and federal information. The Act also establishes penalties for registering non-citizens and provides guidance for states to implement these changes.

The "Thin Blue Line Act" amends the U.S. Code to include the killing or targeting of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders as an aggravating factor in death penalty cases. This applies if the victim was targeted due to their status or duties as a public safety official.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025" permits individuals legally authorized to carry a concealed firearm in their home state to do so in any other state that allows concealed carry, provided they possess a valid photo ID and either a concealed carry permit or the legal right to carry without one in their home state. When carrying a concealed handgun in another state, individuals must adhere to the same restrictions imposed on residents of that state. This law does not override state laws regarding the issuance of concealed carry licenses or permits.