Legislative Activity

The Tribal Police Department Parity Act amends federal law to grant Tribal law enforcement agencies the same access to regulated firearms and equipment as federal and state agencies. The bill removes restrictions on the possession and importation of certain firearms and provides exemptions from federal excise taxes for Tribal departments. This legislation ensures Tribal police have the necessary tools to effectively maintain public safety within their communities.

The Tribal Firearm Access Act amends federal law to recognize government-issued identification from federally recognized Tribes as valid documentation for purchasing firearms from licensed dealers. This legislation ensures that Tribal members can use their official Tribal identification to verify their identity during the firearm background check process.

Kamisha's Law eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting specific non-capital federal homicide offenses, including second-degree murder and manslaughter. This means federal charges can be brought against perpetrators at any time for these crimes. The legislation ensures that there is no time limit for seeking justice in these serious cases.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System project. The study will assess the viability of supplying municipal, rural, and industrial water to the service area, adhering to federal reclamation feasibility standards. The federal government is authorized to cover up to 100% of the study costs, capped at $5,000,000, through a cooperative agreement with the non-Federal entity.

This bill temporarily modifies the rules for handling questions of privilege in the House of Representatives concerning the conduct of a Member for the remainder of the 119th Congress. It establishes a new cosponsorship threshold of one-fifth of the House membership for resolutions addressing member conduct offered from the floor by leadership. This change also applies to the announcement of intent to offer such a resolution.

This Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed rural water supply project in Western South Dakota, drawing water from the Missouri River. The study, conducted in partnership with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., will determine the project's viability and recommend a non-Federal cost share of at least 25% for future construction. The resulting report will be submitted to relevant Congressional committees.

This bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for expanding the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System into Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The study must analyze engineering, economic, environmental, and social impacts of the proposed rural water supply project. Upon completion, a report with recommendations for construction authorization and cost-sharing will be submitted to Congress.

The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 establishes strict deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to review and process mortgages and right-of-way documents related to Indian land. It mandates the creation of a Realty Ombudsman position within the BIA to ensure compliance with these new processing timelines and to serve as a liaison for resolving related inquiries and complaints. The Act also grants relevant federal agencies and Tribes read-only access to the BIA's land document system.

The Shutdown Fairness Act automatically appropriates necessary funds to ensure federal employees and essential contractors receive their regular pay during a government shutdown. This legislation mandates timely payment for covered personnel, regardless of whether they were deemed "excepted" or furloughed. The funds are charged against the agency's subsequent regular appropriations once they are enacted.

This Act directs the transfer of approximately 40 acres of federal land at the Wounded Knee Massacre site to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The land will be held in a restricted fee status, ensuring it remains a protected memorial and sacred site under tribal jurisdiction. This transfer is conditioned upon the Tribes entering a covenant prohibiting commercial or residential development, except for a memorial or museum.

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 proposes to reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for a set period, ensuring its continued operation and oversight of the U.S. ocean shipping industry. This legislation aims to maintain the FMC's authority to regulate common carriers and address issues related to competition and consumer protection in maritime commerce.

The ePermit Act mandates the creation of a unified, digital system for managing all federal environmental reviews and project permits. This system will standardize data, automate processes, and provide real-time public access to review status and documents. The goal is to increase transparency, efficiency, and data interoperability across federal agencies involved in project authorizations.

The Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025 expands eligibility for certain USDA programs by including agricultural cooperatives with fewer than 2,500 employees. This amendment modifies the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to broaden access to these federal resources for a wider range of agricultural cooperatives.

The Beef Origin Labeling Accountability Act mandates the reinstatement of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef. It requires the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a WTO-compliant method for bringing back these labels. Furthermore, the Act requires regular progress reports to Congress and directs consultations to resolve existing World Trade Organization disputes related to previous labeling requirements.

The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees and contractors deemed essential are automatically paid for the work they perform during a lapse in appropriations, starting in fiscal year 2026. This automatic funding mechanism from the Treasury covers standard pay and benefits for excepted employees until Congress passes a full-year budget. Once regular funding is enacted, these payments are charged against the agency's final appropriation.

The Eliminate Shutdowns Act establishes an automatic, 14-day continuing appropriation mechanism to keep federal programs operational if Congress fails to pass a new budget by the start of the fiscal year. This funding continues to renew every 14 days until a full appropriation is enacted, ensuring essential services remain active. The Act also includes specific budgetary rules for counting this funding and sets an effective date of September 30, 2025.

The Balanced Agricultural Support and Efficiency Act mandates a one-time update to farm base acres for covered commodities starting with the 2025 crop year. This update will use a five-year average of actual planted or prevented-planting history from 2020 through 2024. The bill also removes outdated references to "generic base acres" in existing agricultural law.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or contracting for the use of certain foreign-made LiDAR technology identified in related defense legislation. This ban applies to purchases, contracts, and the use of federal loan or grant funds for this restricted technology, generally beginning in mid-2026. The Secretary of Transportation may only waive this prohibition if it is certified to be in the national interest of the United States. Certain safety testing and regulatory exemption activities remain exempt from these restrictions.

The FASTER Act mandates a biennial survey of all tactical infrastructure and technology along the southern border to assess its condition and operational status. The Secretary of Homeland Security must report these findings to Congress and take immediate action to fix any identified deficiencies. This process includes the authority to waive normal legal requirements to expedite necessary repairs and maintenance.

The No DOT Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from awarding federal transportation funds to any city designated as a "sanctuary city." This designation applies to localities with policies that restrict sharing immigration status information or complying with certain federal immigration detainers. Waivers for funding may only be granted if the Secretary certifies the activity is in the national interest and notifies relevant Congressional committees.