Legislative Activity

The Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act updates regulations governing which passenger vessels can operate between U.S. ports. This change clarifies that a ship can qualify for coastwise endorsement even if it makes a stop at a foreign port, provided the itinerary connects U.S. locations where coastwise laws apply. The bill aims to modernize rules for domestic passenger travel while ensuring compliance with all other applicable U.S. laws.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a temporary amendment passed by the D.C. Council concerning open meeting rules. Specifically, it rejects the "Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025." By passing this resolution, Congress prevents the D.C. temporary rule change from taking effect.

This bill establishes an expedited process for Congress to disapprove of emergency legislation enacted by the District of Columbia Council. Under this measure, most D.C. emergency laws will be paused for ninety days upon enactment, allowing Congress time to review and potentially reject them. Only emergency acts immediately transmitted to Congress by the D.C. Council Chairman will take immediate effect.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act seeks to eliminate the use of "disparate-impact liability" in federal law. This bill specifically prohibits lawsuits claiming employment or housing discrimination based on disparate impact, meaning challenges against seemingly neutral policies that disproportionately harm protected groups are no longer permitted. Furthermore, the Act nullifies specific prior Presidential approvals of regulations related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Not A Trusted Organization Act (NATO Act) declares that U.S. membership in NATO is no longer in the national interest due to changes in European security and disproportionate U.S. contributions. This bill mandates the President to formally begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty within 30 days of enactment. Furthermore, it prohibits the use of any federal funds for contributions to NATO's common budgets or investment programs.

The Allied Burden Sharing Report Act requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual, unclassified report to Congress detailing allied defense spending and contributions. This report must specify each covered nation's defense budget as both a dollar amount and a percentage of its GDP. The goal is to ensure transparency regarding allied commitments to shared global defense efforts against major competitors.

The NATO Burden Sharing Report Act requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual, detailed report to Congress regarding allied contributions to collective defense. This report must outline each NATO member's defense spending, operational commitments, and industrial capacity. The goal is to ensure all allies are meeting their fair share of security responsibilities as threats evolve.

The Open America's Waters Act aims to modernize U.S. maritime law by repealing outdated restrictions on which vessels can engage in coastwise trade. This legislation simplifies the requirements for obtaining coastwise endorsements for vessels operating in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard is mandated to issue new regulations within 90 days to ensure all newly eligible vessels meet current safety and security standards. Overall, the Act cleans up numerous specific references and repeals the section detailing the loss of trade privileges.

This resolution supports designating June as "Fidelity Month" to encourage the United States to rededicate itself to the core values of faith, family, and patriotism. Congress believes these traditional values are essential for national cohesion and addressing current societal challenges. The designation serves as an annual call for citizens to recommit to these foundational bonds.

This resolution formally condemns former FBI Director James B. Comey for allegedly inciting violence against President Donald J. Trump through a social media post. Congress views this action as a dangerous threat to the President's security while abroad. Furthermore, the resolution demands investigations into Comey's actions and urges that he be permanently barred from future federal employment.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's intent to disapprove and nullify the Federal Trade Commission's recently finalized "Negative Option Rule." The rule specifically targeted automatic subscription renewal practices that charge consumers unless they actively cancel. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this resolution ensures the FTC's new regulation will have no legal effect.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the regulatory pathway for biosimilar biological products by simplifying application requirements and clarifying the criteria for automatic interchangeability. This legislation sets a specific transition date after enactment to determine when newly licensed biosimilars are deemed interchangeable with their reference products. Furthermore, it protects existing exclusivity periods and mandates the Secretary to update all relevant FDA guidance documents within 18 months.

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability within agricultural checkoff programs. This bill establishes strict new rules prohibiting checkoff boards from using funds for lobbying or engaging in anticompetitive behavior. It mandates public disclosure of all spending records and requires regular audits by the Department of Agriculture's Inspector General to ensure compliance.

The Energy Freedom Act primarily focuses on repealing a wide array of existing federal tax credits and deductions related to energy efficiency, clean energy production, and clean vehicle purchases. This legislation systematically eliminates numerous incentives within the Internal Revenue Code, such as credits for residential clean energy, new and used clean vehicles, and various clean electricity and fuel production incentives. Most of these significant repeals and associated technical cleanups are scheduled to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act updates federal law by establishing a specific, three-part test to define "obscene" visual content, focusing on prurient interest and lack of serious value. This legislation clarifies the standard for obscenity in pictures and graphic files across interstate communications. Additionally, it makes technical adjustments to existing communication laws, including changes regarding harassing phone calls.

The Liberating Incandescent Technology Act of 2025 (LIT Act) primarily makes technical updates to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act concerning general service lamps. This involves renumbering definitions and updating cross-references throughout the relevant sections of the law. The bill also officially cancels several previous Department of Energy rules related to energy conservation standards for these lamps.

The App Store Accountability Act establishes new federal rules for large app stores and developers regarding user age verification and parental consent. It mandates that covered app stores must accurately determine user age and secure verifiable parental consent for minors before they can access or download apps. The law grants the FTC enforcement authority and allows states to sue violators, while providing developers a safe harbor if they rely on the age data provided by the app store.

The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 expands the legal definition of "critical minerals" to explicitly include materials previously designated as "critical materials" by the Secretary of Energy. This legislation mandates the Secretary to promptly update the official list of critical minerals upon such a designation. The goal is to ensure consistency in how these vital resources are legally defined and tracked.

This bill proposes to repeal the Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025. By striking down this temporary law, the legislation restores the previous rules regarding open meetings exactly as they were before the 2025 emergency amendment was enacted.

The Fairness for Stay-at-Home Parents Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to clarify rules regarding intermittent leave for the birth of a child. It also establishes a new requirement for employers to notify employees taking birth-related FMLA leave that they may not be required to repay health insurance premiums if they choose not to return to work. This legislation aims to provide greater clarity and protection for parents utilizing FMLA after welcoming a new child.