Legislative Activity

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospital transport and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child is protected from prosecution. The bill also allows the woman on whom the abortion was performed to file a civil action against anyone who violated the requirements if a child was born alive.

The "Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act" extends the statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil actions related to fraud in pandemic-era programs, increasing the time to bring charges or initiate actions to 10 years after the offense or discovery of the violation. This extension applies to offenses and violations related to funding and programs authorized under laws like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. The bill aims to provide more time to identify and prosecute those who defrauded COVID-19 relief programs.

The "Improving Federal Financial Management Act" aims to improve federal financial management by modifying the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), updating the government-wide financial management plan, and requiring agencies to conduct audits. It mandates CFOs to oversee various financial aspects, prepare agency plans with performance metrics, and coordinate with other senior personnel. The act also updates the government-wide financial management plan to a 4-year strategic plan with performance-based metrics and requires annual financial management status reports.

The "Safeguarding the Transparency and Efficiency of Payments Act" or "STEP Act," aims to enhance transparency and reduce improper payments within federal programs. It mandates executive agencies to identify and report on programs susceptible to significant improper payments, implement corrective action plans, and report annually to Congress on their progress in curbing fraud. The Act stipulates that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

The TRUE Accountability Act mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide guidance to federal agencies on developing internal control plans for emergency spending, aimed at preventing improper payments and fraud. Agencies must create and regularly update these plans, submitting them to OMB and Congress for oversight. This act seeks to improve the financial management and accountability of taxpayer resources used during emergencies.

The Telework Reform Act of 2025 updates federal telework policies by clarifying definitions, requiring annual reviews of telework agreements, and mandating training and monitoring protocols. It also directs agencies to conduct surveys, update telework policies, and report on telework usage and outcomes. Additionally, the Act allows for non-competitive appointments of qualified veterans and military spouses to remote work positions and establishes a pilot program for spouses of law enforcement officers.

The SMART Act of 2025 seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of major federal regulations by requiring agencies to develop frameworks for assessing the impacts of new rules, including costs, benefits, and whether the rule is still necessary. Agencies must analyze the data gathered and publish their assessment results, and the head of each agency will be responsible for ensuring timely compliance and publication. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs will provide guidance and may grant exemptions or extend deadlines. Judicial review is limited to whether the agency published the required framework and assessments, not the substance of those documents, and necessary appropriations are authorized to carry out the amendments.

The ACCESS Act aims to reform contractor education requirements in federal contracts. It mandates that contracting officers provide written justification when a minimum education level is required for contractor personnel, ensuring the agency's needs cannot be met otherwise. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is directed to issue guidance to executive agencies on implementing these changes and encouraging alternatives to strict education requirements. The Comptroller General will also submit a report to Congress evaluating executive agency compliance within 3 years.

The Early Participation in Regulations Act of 2025 amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to require agencies to publish advance notice of proposed rulemaking for major rules, providing the public with an opportunity to comment on potential regulations before they are formally proposed. This advance notice must include details about the problem the agency aims to address, regulatory alternatives under consideration, and the legal basis for the proposed rule. Exceptions are provided for situations where advance notice is unnecessary, not in the public interest, or impractical due to deadlines, as determined by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA's decisions on these exceptions are not subject to judicial review, nor are differences between the initial statement and the proposed rule.