Legislative Activity

The "Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act" prevents states and local governments from imposing excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and related components if the manufacturers or dealers are engaged in interstate or foreign commerce. This limitation does not affect the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

The "Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act" prohibits colleges and universities from supporting events that promote antisemitism, using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition to identify antisemitism. This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure institutions do not authorize, facilitate, or fund antisemitic activities on campus.

The "Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing private-sector employees to choose compensatory time off instead of overtime pay, under certain conditions like a pre-work agreement and a cap of 160 hours accrued. The Act requires employers to compensate employees for unused time and prohibits coercion regarding the choice of compensatory time. The Secretary of Labor must update employee notices, and the Comptroller General will report to Congress on the use and impact of compensatory time. This act will automatically terminate 5 years after it becomes law.

The "Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act" aims to combat illegal trafficking by increasing inspections of vehicles and individuals traveling from the U.S. to Mexico. It mandates the purchase of additional inspection equipment, the hiring of more Homeland Security personnel, and increased reporting to Congress on inspection activities and seizures of illegal items. The Act sets a minimum inspection requirement of 10% of southbound vehicles by 2027 and requires a plan to increase this to 20%.

The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 allows state and federal correctional facilities to use jamming systems that interfere with wireless communications to or from contraband devices within the facility. The jamming system's operation must be limited to the housing facilities, and the state is responsible for funding the entire cost if a state correctional facility operates the system. Before implementing the system, correctional facilities must consult with local law enforcement and public safety officials and notify the Director of the Bureau of Prisons about its operation. This act limits the FCC's authority regarding jamming systems in correctional facilities.

The "Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act" mandates and expands the use of E-Verify for all employers in the United States, phasing in requirements for federal agencies, contractors, and critical infrastructure employers first. It increases penalties for employers who fail to comply with E-Verify or who hire unauthorized workers, and it protects employers from liability if they act in good faith based on E-Verify information. The act also includes provisions for information sharing between agencies, improvements to the E-Verify system, measures to combat identity theft, and the establishment of an Employer Compliance Inspection Center. Additionally, the bill requires reverification of employees' work authorization and simplifies the Form I-9 process.

The Vessel Tracking for Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Homeland Security to create a pilot program using big data analytics to identify vessels evading sanctions and export controls by manipulating their tracking systems. This program will provide intelligence to domestic and international law enforcement agencies and will analyze various data points, such as the type of goods, destination, and vessel ownership. The program will be assessed after four years, and a report will be submitted to Congress detailing its effectiveness in interdicting high-risk vessels and providing recommendations for future use of big data analytics in sanctions enforcement. No new funds are authorized, and no new data collection is authorized.

The "Safeguarding Medicaid Act" mandates asset verification for all Medicaid applicants and recipients nationwide, requiring states to implement electronic asset verification programs and report data to the federal government. It requires states to apply a resources eligibility test to determine if an individual qualifies for Medicaid based on their assets, ensuring that those with excessive resources are not eligible, with the state determining the maximum resource amount allowed. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must establish a federal tracking system to monitor savings resulting from asset verification, and states must report detailed eligibility and renewal data. Non-compliant states may be required to implement corrective action plans.

The "Fair and Open Competition Act" seeks to ensure open competition on federal and federally funded construction projects by preventing requirements or prohibitions related to agreements with labor organizations. It promotes federal government neutrality in labor relations, aims to reduce construction costs, and expands job opportunities, especially for small and disadvantaged businesses. The Act allows exemptions only in special circumstances, such as threats to public health or national security, but not based on labor disputes.

The "Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025" prohibits the federal government from conducting, funding, or supporting research using human fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions. It allows for research on fetal tissue from miscarriages or stillbirths and promotes the development of alternative cell lines. The bill also prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of fetal tissue donations from induced abortions.

The "Hearing Device Coverage Clarification Act" directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to clarify that implanted active middle ear hearing devices are prosthetics, thus ensuring they are not excluded from Medicare coverage. This clarification will ensure coverage for these devices under Medicare, as they are not subject to the hearing aid coverage exclusion. The clarification must be made within 60 days of the bill's enactment.

The "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025" repeals the EPA's multi-pollutant emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles. It also amends the Clean Air Act to prevent regulations from mandating specific technologies in vehicles or limiting vehicle availability based on engine type. The EPA must revise existing regulations to comply with these changes within 24 months.

The "Traveler's Gun Rights Act" clarifies the definition of "State of residence" for firearm purchases, particularly for military personnel and those without a fixed residence. It allows active duty military members and their spouses to purchase firearms in the state of their permanent duty station or where they commute from, and individuals without a physical residence to use the location of their private mailbox or post office box. The bill also updates background check requirements to accommodate these new definitions, ensuring accurate identification of firearm transferees.

The "GATE Act of 2025" prohibits National Laboratories from admitting citizens of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba as visitors or assignees, with exceptions for US citizens and lawful permanent residents. The Secretary of Energy may waive this prohibition if the benefits outweigh the risks, after consulting with intelligence officials. Congress must be notified within 30 days of any waiver issued, including the reasons for the waiver.

The ATF Transparency Act aims to increase transparency and efficiency in the firearm transfer application process. It mandates administrative relief for denied firearm transfer applications, including appeals and reimbursement for attorney fees if the appeal is successful. The bill also requires timely processing of applications, with automatic approval if the Secretary fails to act within 3 business days, and directs reports and agreements related to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025" aims to increase transparency in federal spending by mandating the reporting of "other transaction agreements" on USAspending.gov. It requires the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure this data is accessible within three years and to publish annual reports on federal spending data. The Act also directs Inspectors General to submit reports to Congress, mandates specific federal agencies to post information, and instructs the Comptroller General to provide recommendations for updating the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to streamline the process for disaster survivors to apply for and receive federal aid by creating a unified intake system. This system will consolidate applications, expedite assistance, prevent fraud, and ensure data security while allowing disaster assistance agencies to share information more efficiently. The Act mandates the FEMA Administrator to develop this system, certify participating agencies, and report to Congress on its implementation and impact. Ultimately, this bill seeks to speed up community recovery and protect survivors' information.

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 task force to assess and address the United States' reliance on foreign nations, especially China, for critical minerals and to mitigate associated national security risks. The task force will develop recommendations to secure domestic supply chains, promote cooperation among government levels, and enhance domestic mining, processing, and recycling capacities. Additionally, the act mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the regulatory environment affecting critical mineral supply chains.

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.