Legislative Activity

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The Research Integrity and Foreign Influence Prevention Act updates existing restrictions on talent recruitment from countries of concern. Effective January 1, 2026, this bill broadens the definition of a "foreign country" to explicitly include special administrative regions and controlled territories of those nations. This measure aims to enhance research integrity by strengthening limitations against malign foreign influence.

The Public Land Search and Rescue Act establishes a new federal grant program to support search and rescue operations conducted on remote federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior or Agriculture. This program prioritizes funding for high-visitation areas, covering up to 75% of eligible costs for equipment, maintenance, and direct rescue activities. Eligible recipients include state and local entities with existing legal authority and proven capability to perform these specialized remote rescues.

This bill, the Preventing the Abuse of Immigration Parole Act, aims to drastically restrict the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to grant immigration parole. It mandates that parole decisions must be made strictly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Furthermore, the legislation imposes an annual cap on parole grants starting in FY 2029 and grants states the authority to sue the Secretary over perceived misuse of this authority.

The Strengthening American Nuclear Energy Act officially codifies several recent Executive Orders into federal law. This action solidifies policies aimed at modernizing nuclear reactor testing, accelerating advanced nuclear technology deployment for national security, reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and revitalizing the domestic nuclear industry. Essentially, the bill makes key presidential directives regarding nuclear energy permanent law.

This Joint Resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a recent rule submitted by the National Park Service concerning motor vehicles within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this bill effectively nullifies and cancels the Park Service's submitted regulation. As a result, the proposed motor vehicle restrictions will not take effect.

This resolution strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. It specifically honors the memory of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were tragically murdered while promoting peace. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of hate and ensuring the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom.

The Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act mandates that federal agencies develop and implement a "permitting by rule" system as an alternative to slow, traditional permitting processes. This new system requires applicants to certify compliance with written standards, streamlining approval with a 180-day automatic grant deadline if the agency fails to act. Agencies retain the right to audit and enforce compliance after permits are issued, with the burden of proof shifting to the agency during appeals.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

This bill prohibits graduate medical schools from receiving federal funding or participating in federal student loan programs unless they certify they do not mandate adherence to specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) tenets. This certification bans forcing faculty, staff, or students to pledge beliefs regarding inherent group status or collective guilt, and prevents the establishment of offices that compel such adherence. Furthermore, accrediting agencies cannot require medical programs to adopt policies conflicting with these restrictions to maintain accreditation.

The Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025 significantly increases prison sentences for non-citizens who commit crimes after entering the U.S. illegally or after being previously removed. This legislation mandates substantial minimum prison terms—including an additional five years for illegal entry followed by a felony conviction and a new ten-year minimum for re-entry after deportation coupled with a crime. The bill aims to impose much harsher penalties on undocumented immigrants who commit serious offenses.

The "Prove It Act of 2025" aims to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses by requiring agencies to consider indirect costs when creating new rules, allowing small businesses to petition for reviews of agency certifications, and mandating agencies to publish guidance documents and allow comments on rules with a significant economic impact on small businesses. Additionally, the Act amends the periodic review process for rules, requiring agencies to consider indirect costs and providing a mechanism for the Small Business Administration to address rules not reviewed within a 10-year period. The Act specifies that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a research program focused on developing novel technologies to rapidly detect fentanyl vapor or particles. The Secretary of Energy must coordinate this research with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, as well as the Postal Service. The goal is to support rapid screening efforts in high-risk areas such as mail facilities, prisons, and U.S. borders.

The Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act clarifies legal jurisdiction involving the Tribe and its lands. It grants Utah state courts authority over civil disputes occurring on tribal lands while ensuring that lawsuits arising from contracts or leases involving the Band are heard in federal court. Crucially, the Act explicitly preserves the sovereign immunity of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes from being sued without their consent. Finally, it expands the Tribe's authority to lease land held in trust by the U.S. government.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 final rule removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 60 days of enactment. This action is intended to finalize the gray wolf's delisting status. Furthermore, this section prohibits any judicial review of the Secretary's reissued rule.

The Safeguarding American Property Act of 2025 expands mandatory detention requirements for certain non-citizens who commit specific property crimes. This legislation adds offenses like trespassing, vandalism, and arson to the list of crimes that require immigration authorities to detain an individual during removal proceedings. The bill also clarifies language related to violent offenses to ensure comprehensive grounds for detention.

The Worker Enfranchisement Act establishes stricter requirements for a union to become the exclusive representative for a group of employees. Under the new rules, a union must win a secret ballot election where more than half of the votes cast favor the union, and at least two-thirds of all eligible employees must participate in the vote. These new turnout and majority standards will apply to elections held six months after the Act's enactment.

The SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 aims to overhaul poverty measurement by mandating more detailed data collection and establishing new valuation methods for federal benefits. Additionally, the bill significantly modifies the SNAP program by tightening work requirements, increasing state financial responsibility for administration, and imposing new eligibility hurdles for recipients. These changes seek to better reflect economic reality while increasing incentives for employment within the nutrition assistance program.

The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025 aims to establish stricter federal standards for prior authorization decisions made by Medicare contractors and private Medicare plans. This bill mandates that coverage denials must be based on clear, evidence-based clinical criteria developed with input from practicing physicians. Furthermore, it requires plans to post their authorization rules online, provide advance notice of changes, and publicly report approval and denial statistics. Finally, all final denials of care must be reviewed and issued by a qualified, board-certified physician.