Legislative Activity

This joint resolution officially terminates the national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025, which was used to impose duties on articles imported from Canada. It exercises the authority granted under the National Emergencies Act to end the emergency status established by Executive Order 14193.

This resolution commemorates the seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's murder and addresses ongoing transnational repression by the Government of Saudi Arabia. It calls for accountability for those responsible for Khashoggi's death and urges Saudi Arabia to release all wrongfully detained individuals. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes that these human rights abuses strain the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency declared by Executive Order 14323 on July 30, 2025. The declaration was originally put in place to impose duties on articles imported from Brazil. This bill officially ends that emergency status using the authority granted by the National Emergencies Act.

The Shenandoah Mountain Act establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests to protect its scenic quality, water resources, and unique biological values. This legislation also designates five new Wilderness Areas within the National Forest System. Management within the Scenic Area prioritizes conservation while allowing for existing and improved nonmotorized recreation opportunities. Furthermore, the Act withdraws the area from new mineral entry, leasing, and renewable energy development.

The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2025 seeks to expand protected lands within the George Washington National Forest. This bill adds approximately 1,000 acres to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. Additionally, it designates about 4,600 acres as a potential addition to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area, allowing for necessary water quality improvement activities before its final inclusion, which will occur within five years or upon completion of those projects.

This joint resolution directs the President to immediately remove United States Armed Forces from any hostilities within or against Venezuela that lack explicit authorization from Congress. It asserts that only Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war or approve such military actions. The bill ensures that U.S. forces can only remain if acting in self-defense against an armed attack.

This joint resolution officially terminates the national emergency concerning energy that was declared on January 20, 2025. By enacting this measure, all special authorities and regulations implemented under the National Emergencies Act due to the energy crisis are immediately canceled.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to \$30,000 taken due to a shutdown. Furthermore, it establishes rules allowing furloughed or non-paid employees to take TSP loans and prevents missed loan payments during a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, or military status. This expansion broadens protections to cover lawful income sources, including housing vouchers and various benefits, alongside military service. The Act ensures these new protected classes are covered across all aspects of the housing transaction, from advertising to rental agreements.

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act aims to strengthen the cooperative management model for the Appalachian Trail and other National Scenic and Historic Trails. It officially recognizes and empowers non-profit partners, like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, to take on significant operational roles in trail maintenance and stewardship. The bill also mandates new planning requirements, including determining visitor capacity and assessing economic impacts on gateway communities.

This resolution formally requests the Secretary of State to submit a detailed report on the human rights practices of the Kingdom of Eswatini to Congress within 30 days. The report must specifically detail alleged human rights violations, particularly concerning non-U.S. citizens removed to Eswatini by the U.S. government. Furthermore, the Secretary must outline U.S. actions taken to promote human rights and assess the risks associated with U.S. security assistance in the country.

This resolution directs the Secretary of State to provide Congress with a detailed report on the human rights practices of the Republic of Rwanda within 30 days. The report must specifically detail credible allegations of abuses, focusing on the treatment of non-citizens removed to Rwanda by the U.S. government. Furthermore, the Secretary must assess the risk that U.S. security assistance could support Rwandan officials involved in these abuses.

This resolution formally requests the Secretary of State to provide a detailed report on the Republic of Panama's human rights practices, particularly concerning non-citizens transferred there by the U.S. government. The report must detail alleged abuses, due process protections, and U.S. actions taken to promote human rights observance in Panama. It also requires an assessment of the risk that U.S. security assistance could support officials involved in the detention or mistreatment of these individuals.

This resolution formally directs the Secretary of State to report on the human rights practices of the Republic of South Sudan within 30 days. The required report must detail credible information regarding abuses, particularly concerning non-citizens removed by the U.S. government. It also mandates an accounting of U.S. actions taken to promote human rights or discourage violations in South Sudan. Finally, the report must assess the risks associated with U.S. security assistance and detail pre-removal assessments conducted for removed individuals.

This resolution formally requests the Secretary of State to provide Congress with a detailed report on the human rights practices of the Republic of Costa Rica within 30 days. The report must specifically address credible allegations of abuses, particularly concerning non-citizens transferred to Costa Rica by the U.S. government. It must also detail the actions the U.S. has taken to promote human rights and assess the risk of U.S. security assistance supporting any violations.

The Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act directs U.S. agencies to combat transnational crime fueling Amazon deforestation through training, technical assistance, and asset recovery efforts in partnership with Brazil. The bill also mandates the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to identify sustainable investment opportunities in the region. Furthermore, it requires the U.S. to use its influence in international financial institutions to oppose lending that contributes to Amazon degradation. Finally, the Act calls for detailed reports on supply chains, China's role in illegal extraction, and the effectiveness of U.S. anti-crime assistance.

This resolution formally requests the Secretary of State to provide Congress with a detailed report on the human rights practices of the United Mexican States within 30 days. The report must specifically detail abuses committed by the Mexican government against individuals, particularly non-citizens removed by the U.S. government. Furthermore, the Secretary must outline the steps the U.S. is taking to encourage human rights compliance and assess the risk of U.S. security aid supporting abuses.

The OTC Monograph Drug User Fee Transparency Act enhances public accountability by requiring the FDA to provide detailed annual performance reports on over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drug orders, safety activities, and fee collection. This legislation also mandates the public posting of detailed minutes from industry negotiation meetings within 30 days. Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must assess the stability of the OTC monograph drug supply chain within two years.

The Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act aims to improve support for residents in long-term care facilities. This bill updates volunteer training standards for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to ensure relevance and efficiency. It also mandates that the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs serve in a full-time capacity. Finally, the Act calls for a comprehensive study on the effectiveness and staffing ratios of state Ombudsman programs.

The Charting My Path for Future Success Act reestablishes a crucial project managed by a nonprofit organization to support students with disabilities. This project focuses on training high school educators to help students set goals, create action plans, and monitor progress for success both during and after graduation. The awarded contract for this initiative is secured and cannot be terminated without Congressional approval.