Legislative Activity

The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025 prohibits all federal funding and support for research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained as a result of an induced abortion. The bill restricts federal agencies to only conducting or supporting research using tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth, subject to new regulations. Furthermore, it makes it illegal for individuals to solicit or knowingly accept donations of human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an induced abortion.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act allows medical and dental interns and residents to defer payments on their student loans during their training programs. This deferment specifically prevents principal payments and stops interest from accruing on the loan balance while the borrower is in residency or an internship. This ensures that medical professionals can focus on their training without accruing additional debt.

The Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. National Laboratories from granting access to foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba, regardless of the length of their intended visit. This immediate ban applies to both current and future visitors and assignees from these specified countries. Exceptions can only be granted by the Secretary of Energy if they certify that the benefit to the U.S. outweighs the national security risks, following consultation with the FBI. Any granted waiver must be reported to Congress within 30 days.

The Traveler's Gun Rights Act updates the federal definition of "State of residence" for individuals, including military members, to better reflect where they actually live or are stationed. This change also modifies the identification requirements for firearm background checks to accommodate those without a traditional physical residence. The goal is to clarify residency rules across various federal firearms laws.

The ATF Transparency Act aims to streamline firearm transfer and registration processes by mandating a 3-business-day review period, after which applications are automatically approved unless legal requirements are not met. The bill also establishes an administrative appeal process for applicants whose transfers are denied based on federal or state law concerns, including reimbursement for legal fees upon a successful appeal. Furthermore, it requires reports on unresolved background checks and mandates an agreement between the ATF and FBI on processing future NICS inquiries.

The Patients Before Middlemen Act aims to increase transparency and fairness in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans by regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and improving pharmacy access. The bill requires PBMs to limit their compensation to bona fide service fees and mandates extensive annual reporting on drug costs and rebates. Additionally, it establishes standards to ensure all pharmacies have fair access to Medicare networks and protects independent pharmacies.

The "Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act of 2025" modifies the Drug Price Negotiation Program by adjusting the negotiation timeline for drug prices. For 2026 and 2027, negotiation can begin 7 years post-approval. Starting in 2028, this period extends to 11 years post-approval.

The Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act establishes a new presidential task force to address the national security risks posed by U.S. dependence on foreign adversaries, particularly China, for critical minerals. This body is charged with coordinating federal, state, and tribal efforts to secure domestic supply chains through increased mining, processing, and recycling. The Task Force must deliver comprehensive recommendations to Congress on reducing foreign reliance and strengthening domestic capacity within two years.

The Book Minimum Tax Repeal Act completely eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) for corporations, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. For non-corporate taxpayers, the bill updates the tentative minimum tax calculation with new tiered tax rates of 26% and 28%. This legislation also makes necessary technical adjustments across the Internal Revenue Code to remove references to the repealed corporate AMT structure.

The HIDTA Enhancement Act reauthorizes funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) through 2030, mandating specific reporting on fentanyl trafficking and associated challenges. It increases funding for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center to support law enforcement efforts against fentanyl and directs the Attorney General to prioritize fentanyl trafficking prosecutions by providing additional resources. The bill allocates $333,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2030 for HIDTAs.

The Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act allows the President to redirect excess funds from disaster relief grants towards preparedness and mitigation activities. These excess funds, defined as the difference between the allocated and actual spending on management costs, can be used to enhance disaster resilience and cover management expenses related to disaster preparedness. The bill mandates a report to Congress on the adequacy of current management cost allocations based on recent disaster experiences. This act aims to optimize the use of disaster relief funds and improve community resilience.

The "Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act" prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing or enforcing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. It also establishes an advisory panel to assess and provide recommendations on strengthening the nursing home workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and to address workforce shortages. The panel will be composed of 17 members and will submit regular reports to the Secretary and relevant committees.

The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that host or provide pornographic content to use technology to verify users' ages, preventing minors from accessing harmful material. Platforms must implement age verification measures within one year of the Act's enactment, prioritizing data security and user privacy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will oversee compliance, conduct regular audits, and provide guidance to platforms, while the Comptroller General will report to Congress on the Act's effectiveness and impact. This act aims to protect children from the harmful effects of online pornography by ensuring only adults can access such content.

The "Regulation Decimation Act" mandates that for every new regulation issued, federal agencies must repeal at least 10 existing regulations, prioritizing those related to the new rule. For major regulations, the cost of the new rule must be equal to or less than the cost of the repealed rules, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The Act also requires agencies to review and identify costly, ineffective, or outdated rules and submit reports to Congress on rule reduction progress.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" mandates pilot projects to evaluate advanced technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling at U.S. land ports of entry. These projects aim to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce wait times, and improve existing detection equipment. The Act requires reports to Congress on the effectiveness, impacts on privacy and civil liberties, and recommendations for implementing new technologies, while forbidding new funding appropriations.

The "Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025" changes the appointment process for the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. Going forward, the President will appoint the Director with Senate approval, similar to other high-ranking officials in the Department of Justice, for a single 10-year term. The Director will report directly to the Attorney General.

The "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act" aims to enhance cooperation between federal and local law enforcement by allowing state and local officers to act as agents of the Department of Homeland Security and protecting them from liability when complying with immigration detainers. It defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those that restrict information sharing or compliance with federal detainment requests, and it makes these jurisdictions ineligible for certain federal grants, reallocating those funds to non-sanctuary jurisdictions. This act does not protect individuals who knowingly violate civil or constitutional rights.

This resolution supports designating February 15-22, 2025, as National FFA Week, celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.

This resolution designates March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the importance of speech and debate in education. It highlights the role of educators in developing crucial communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. The resolution encourages schools, businesses, and communities to celebrate and promote speech and debate education.

The "Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025" establishes a trust account within the Department of Interior and authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay \$137.5 million to the Quapaw Nation and individual members, as Claimants, to settle legal claims. It outlines a process for distributing these funds, prioritizing mediation among the Claimants to develop a distribution plan. If mediation fails, the Secretary of the Interior will determine the final allocation of the settlement proceeds based on a set of procedures and deadlines.