Legislative Activity

The CLEAN Pacific Act of 2025 establishes the Pacific Counternarcotics Initiative to help partner nations in the Pacific combat illegal drug production chemicals. This program focuses on improving the seizure, destruction, and safe disposal of seized chemicals while boosting international law enforcement cooperation. The Secretary of State must submit a detailed five-year implementation plan to Congress outlining strategy, benchmarks, and funding, followed by annual progress reports. Funding for the initiative will be redirected from existing authorizations under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

The Supplemental Security Income Equality Act extends full Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. This legislation removes previous payment limitations and updates federal law to explicitly include these territories in the definition of "state" for SSI purposes. The Act ensures that nationals are treated the same as citizens and grants the Commissioner flexibility to tailor program requirements to the needs of these territories. These changes will take effect on the first day of the fiscal year beginning one year after enactment.

The Noncontiguous Disaster Shipping Act allows for the temporary waiver of federal vessel shipping and inspection rules in U.S. territories and states that are not connected to the mainland following a Presidential major disaster declaration. This measure is designed to expedite the delivery of essential relief cargo into affected areas like Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The initial waiver lasts up to 10 days and can be extended, but the total suspension of rules cannot exceed 45 days for any single disaster.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 revises the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 by updating leverage calculation definitions and adjusting the maximum borrowing limits for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). The bill lowers the general maximum leverage cap for standard SBICs from $300 million to $200 million. Furthermore, it expands exclusions from leverage calculations for investments made in specific areas, such as low-income or rural areas, critical technology, or small manufacturers.

The Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act redefines "small manufacturer" to include only businesses with all production facilities located in the U.S. This legislation significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available to these eligible small manufacturers under key Small Business Act and Small Business Investment Act programs. The goal is to provide greater access to capital for domestic manufacturing operations.

This Act codifies and strengthens the trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, building upon the commitments made at the Camp David summit. It emphasizes shared goals in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security and countering disinformation. Crucially, the bill establishes a formal, regular US-Japan-ROK Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue to ensure ongoing high-level communication between the legislative branches of the three nations.

The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act (DLARA) aims to increase transparency and improve management of Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans. It mandates stricter monthly reporting requirements for the SBA, imposes new financial breakdowns in the President's budget requests for disaster loan costs, and establishes limitations on new loan commitments when funding runs low. Furthermore, the bill requires comprehensive reports from the GAO and the SBA Inspector General to review past spending accuracy and the impact of recent program changes.

The Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025 updates the Essential Air Service (EAS) program by requiring airlines seeking federal subsidies to submit contingency plans for non-weather-related service disruptions. This legislation also shifts the selection criteria for subsidy recipients to prioritize the proposed rate of compensation. These changes aim to ensure more reliable air service to smaller communities by mandating operational backups.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

This resolution officially supports the designation of Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day to honor the CHamoru people who survived the harsh Japanese occupation during World War II. It recognizes their incredible loyalty and sacrifice while under duress, including aiding American service members. The bill calls for the entire nation to observe this day to ensure their stories of courage are never forgotten.

This resolution formally supports designating July 21, 2025, as "Guam Liberation Day" to honor the island's history. It recognizes the suffering of the CHamoru people under Japanese occupation and commemorates the sacrifices of U.S. servicemembers during the 1944 liberation campaign. The bill encourages the President to issue a proclamation observing this important anniversary across the nation.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.

The Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution amends House rules to allow public bills and resolutions to have two primary sponsors, provided one is from the majority party and the other from the minority party. This formalizes bipartisan introduction of legislation from the outset. The resolution also adjusts related rules concerning cosponsorship and required submission statements for these jointly sponsored measures.

This resolution officially recognizes June 12, 2025, as the observance of the 127th anniversary of the Philippines Independence Day. It celebrates the enduring friendship between the U.S. and the Philippines, honors the Filipino people and the contributions of Filipino Americans, and reaffirms support for the nation's security. The bill also recognizes the service and sacrifice of Filipino and Filipino American service members.

The Veterans PTSD Screening Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on using RNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. This research will investigate if genetic testing can accurately identify biological markers related to PTSD. The VA must complete the study by September 2027 and report its findings to Congress by September 2028.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the 250th birthday of the United States Army, celebrating its 250 years of service, valor, and dedication to defending American freedom. Congress expresses deep appreciation for the Army's history, its commitment to core values, and its current readiness to meet any future global challenge. The resolution encourages the American public to observe this significant anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.

The MARITIME Act establishes the official U.S. policy that rising sea levels must not diminish a nation's sovereignty or shrink its established maritime zones, such as fishing and economic areas. The law commits the U.S. to supporting international efforts, particularly those by Pacific island nations, to officially map and secure their coastlines under existing international law. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of State to report on diplomatic efforts to encourage other nations to adopt this protective stance.

This resolution condemns the international practice of using "flags of convenience," where ships are registered in countries with lax regulations to avoid U.S. laws and standards. Congress asserts that this practice undermines national security by weakening the U.S. merchant marine fleet and enables illegal activities like illicit trafficking and environmental harm. The bill strongly supports the U.S. maritime industry while calling on international bodies to enforce higher global labor and safety standards for shipping.