Legislative Activity

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

This resolution officially commends Petty Officer 3d Class Scott Ruskan for his heroic actions during the devastating central Texas floods of July 2025. It specifically recognizes him for personally rescuing 165 individuals and coordinating triage efforts under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, the bill extends deep gratitude to all federal, state, and volunteer responders who risked their lives during this major natural disaster.

This bill establishes a pilot program for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test whether allowing canine handlers to keep their working dogs at home is effective compared to traditional central kenneling. The program must run for at least two years across various ports of entry, with handler participation being voluntary. Upon completion, CBP must report findings to Congress comparing the two methods regarding cost, performance, and animal/handler well-being, along with recommendations for future policy.

The GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive, next-generation missile defense shield to counter rapidly evolving threats from adversaries like China and Russia. It creates a powerful, direct-reporting Program Manager with broad authority to accelerate the development, acquisition, and deployment of integrated air and missile defense systems across all domains. This funding prioritizes space-based sensors, advanced interceptors, and modernized command and control capabilities to ensure the defense of U.S. citizens against all aerial and missile attacks. The Act also includes provisions to streamline procurement processes and protect the competitive space industrial base.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

The Patriots Over Politics Act creates a special, limited window for certain service members separated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine between August 2021 and January 2023 to transfer their unused VA education benefits to an eligible dependent. This transfer option is available for 90 days following the bill's enactment. If transferred to a child, the benefit use is contingent upon the service member having completed at least six years of service.

The Supporting Our Surviving Spouses Act removes the statute of limitations for certain survivor benefit claims filed by the spouses of armed forces members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. This change allows eligible survivors to file these specific claims at any time after the law is enacted. The bill ensures that no deadline prevents these survivors from seeking entitled benefits.

The STOP Screwworms Act mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile New World screwworm flies in high-risk areas to combat infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture must build these modular facilities within 180 days of enactment and provide annual public reports on the threat and control efforts. The bill authorizes up to $300 million to fund these necessary actions.

This resolution expresses the strong sense of the House of Representatives affirming the enduring U.S.-Israel alliance based on shared democratic values. It emphasizes the necessity of expanding defense cooperation to address evolving regional threats and maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. The bill calls for continued joint efforts in missile defense, technology sharing, and intelligence to ensure the security of both nations.

This Act restricts federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for U.S. colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or designated "Chinese Entities of Concern." These entities are broadly defined to include Chinese schools involved in military fusion, intelligence support, or human rights abuses. Institutions must sever ties with these groups to remain eligible for DHS funding, though limited, case-by-case national security waivers may be granted. The DHS is also required to report annually to Congress on the implementation of these restrictions.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The ACES Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies to investigate the prevalence and mortality rates of various cancers among active duty fixed-wing aircraft crew members due to potential service-related exposures. This legislation also extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veteran pension payments by one month. The study will analyze specific cancer types and utilize data from the VA, DoD, and other federal sources.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the month of May as "Fallen Heroes Memorial Month." It honors the more than 1.3 million service members who have died protecting American liberty throughout history. Furthermore, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation encouraging all Americans to reflect upon and honor the ultimate sacrifice made by these heroes.

The Military Chaplains Act of 2025 affirms the historical importance of religious freedom within the U.S. Armed Forces. This bill fundamentally redefines the duties, responsibilities, and protections for chaplains across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. Crucially, it guarantees that chaplains must perform their duties according to their sincerely held religious beliefs and are explicitly protected from being forced to conduct any religious act contrary to their faith. Violations of these new protections for chaplains can result in prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The VARIANCE Act temporarily allows commercial trucks hauling specific dry bulk goods, like grain or gravel, to exceed standard weight limits on individual axles or axle groups by up to 110 percent. This change only applies to axle weight distribution and does not permit trucks to exceed the overall maximum gross vehicle weight limit. The exception is strictly for unpackaged, homogeneous, non-liquid materials transported in specialized trailers.

The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish standard operating procedures for all mental health and suicide prevention grant or pilot programs administered by the Veterans Health Administration. These procedures mandate clear, measurable goals and detailed evaluation plans for every program. The goal is to ensure all initiatives are rigorously assessed so that successful strategies can be identified and scaled up to better prevent veteran suicide.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The ENLIST Act mandates that secondary schools receiving federal funding must prominently display and ensure student access to military recruiting information during school hours. This ensures that information about military service and training opportunities is readily available to students.