Legislative Activity

The NFIP Extension Act of 2025 is a short-term measure designed to keep the National Flood Insurance Program operational. This bill extends both the program's authorization and its financing authority for two years, setting the new expiration date to September 30, 2025. This ensures continued coverage and funding for flood insurance nationwide.

The Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act aims to increase hospital price transparency by requiring hospitals to publish standard charges annually and prohibits hiding this information online. It establishes financial penalties for non-compliance, varying with hospital size, and mandates the public listing of hospitals failing to meet these transparency requirements. This act ensures that hospitals provide clear pricing information to patients, promoting informed healthcare decisions.

The "Protecting Investors Personally Identifiable Information Act" prohibits the SEC from requiring the collection of personally identifiable information under consolidated audit trail reporting requirements, defining such information as data that can identify an individual. The SEC is only allowed to request this information if it is related to an investigation or enforcement action concerning violations of Federal securities laws, and this information must be destroyed after the conclusion of the investigation. This bill aims to protect investors' personal data while still allowing the SEC to investigate potential securities law violations.

The LEOSA Reform Act amends the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 to allow qualified law enforcement officers and retired officers to carry concealed firearms in school zones. It also modifies the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, clarifying its relationship with other federal laws, updating firearms proficiency requirements for retired officers, and including magazines in the definition of ammunition. Additionally, the Act permits qualified current and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms in certain federal facilities.

The "Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act" establishes an Office of the Special Inspector General to independently audit and investigate programs and operations receiving U.S. aid to Ukraine. The Special Inspector General will be responsible for monitoring how funds are spent, preventing waste and fraud, and reporting findings to Congress and relevant agencies. The act authorizes \$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the act and rescinds \$20,000,000 from the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. The office will terminate 180 days after unspent funds for Ukraine's reconstruction fall below \$250,000,000, at which point a final audit report to Congress will be submitted.

The No IRIS Act of 2025 prohibits the EPA from using risk assessments generated by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) in rulemakings, regulatory actions, enforcement, or permitting. This includes preventing IRIS assessments from informing air toxics assessments or other mapping and screening tools used by the EPA.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent rule regarding the regulation of trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule, rendering it without legal force or effect.

The "Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act" amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to include rural-area small businesses in the list of entities the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation should focus on. This ensures that the Advocate identifies problems and provides assistance to these businesses, as well as conducts outreach activities to support them.

The "1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act" repeals Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which mandated data collection on small business loans. This repeal aims to reduce compliance costs for financial institutions, especially smaller ones, and improve small businesses' access to credit by removing regulatory barriers. The act also makes related amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The "No Propaganda Act" prohibits the use of federal funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and prevents the CPB from accepting such funds. It rescinds any remaining funds allocated to the CPB in recent Consolidated Appropriations Acts.

The "Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act" introduces a work requirement for able-bodied adults aged 18 to 65 to be eligible for Medicaid, beginning January 1, 2026. These adults must work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, on average, to maintain their medical assistance. Certain individuals, such as those medically unfit for employment, pregnant, primary caretakers, or those in treatment programs, are exempt from this requirement.

The Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2025 aims to revise sentencing guidelines for fentanyl-related offenses by reducing the quantity thresholds that trigger mandatory minimum sentences for flunitrazepam and its analogues. It directs the Sentencing Commission to update its guidelines to align with these changes. Additionally, it mandates increased resources for the USPS, including chemical screening devices and personnel, to enhance the detection and interdiction of illegally imported fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

The "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' personal information with the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) based solely on the appointment of a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Information can only be shared if a judicial authority determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.

The "Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2025" increases the collateral threshold for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans from $14,000 to $50,000. The Act also requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the performance and default rates of these loans. Finally, the SBA must now tailor its outreach and marketing for disaster loans to address the specific challenges faced by rural communities in accessing them.

The "No Red and Blue Banks Act" prohibits the General Services Administration from awarding federal contracts to FDIC-insured banks that deny services to lawful businesses based on social policy considerations rather than financial risk. This legislation ensures that federal banking partners prioritize business merit over ideological agendas.

The Bureaucratic Limitation and Overreach Control (BLOCK) Act replaces the current Congressional Review Act with a more rigorous oversight framework that requires Congress to affirmatively vote on agency rules before they can take effect. Under this legislation, "major" rules require a joint resolution of approval to be enacted, while "nonmajor" rules remain subject to a congressional disapproval process. Additionally, the bill mandates a systematic review of existing federal regulations, requiring them to receive congressional approval within five years to remain in effect.

This joint resolution nullifies the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's guidance on listing voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts. By disapproving the rule, Congress prevents the guidance from being implemented or enforced.

This joint resolution disapproves a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have automatically extended employment authorization and documentation for certain applicants. By disapproving the rule, Congress prevents its implementation.

The "Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025" mandates that large local prosecutor offices report annual data on case outcomes and declination policies to the Attorney General to maintain eligibility for federal funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits the distribution of Byrne-JAG grants to jurisdictions that implement policies banning cash bail for firearm-related offenses. This legislation aims to increase transparency in prosecution and restrict federal funding for jurisdictions that eliminate cash bail for specific crimes.

The Reinforce Occupancy Obligations for Maximized Interagency Efficiency (ROOMIE) Act addresses the chronic underutilization of federal office space by mandating that federal agencies maintain at least 80% in-person staffing and 60% building occupancy. Agencies failing to meet these requirements must develop consolidation plans or face the mandatory disposal and divestment of their underused real estate assets.