Legislative Activity

The Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 amends the Lacey Act to prohibit the importation, sale, breeding, and possession of most nonhuman primates across state lines. This sweeping ban includes species like monkeys and lemurs, with limited exceptions for registered research facilities and existing owners who register their animals promptly. The law establishes immediate prohibitions, even before the Secretary of the Interior finalizes all associated regulations.

The Honoring our K9 Heroes Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Homeland Security to help cover medical expenses for retired Federal working dogs. Eligible non-profit organizations with a history of supporting these retired K9s can apply for funding. This initiative is authorized with $1 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to support dogs living with their former handlers.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act prohibits the use of federal funds for medical research or experiments involving live vertebrate animals conducted in or controlled by designated foreign countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. This legislation prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from directly funding or supporting any entity in these nations that conducts such animal testing. The Secretary of HHS is also granted the authority to add other "countries of concern" to this banned list, subject to reporting requirements to Congress.

This bill, the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act, prevents landlords of federally assisted rental housing from banning tenants who lawfully possess firearms within their private dwelling units. It ensures residents in subsidized housing can legally keep their firearms inside their apartments. The legislation also permits the transportation of firearms through common areas only when moving directly to or from the unit.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) significantly amends federal law to require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This legislation mandates that states actively clean their voter rolls and cooperate with federal agencies to verify citizenship status. It establishes new criminal penalties for officials who fail to enforce these documentation requirements.

This bill, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, strictly prohibits the sale or release of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to any entity owned, controlled, or influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. Furthermore, it prevents the sale of SPR products to non-Chinese buyers if those products are intended for export to the People's Republic of China. The legislation aims to safeguard U.S. energy reserves from benefiting the Chinese government.

The Nuclear Family Priority Act significantly restructures U.S. family-based immigration by redefining "immediate relatives" to only include spouses and children of U.S. citizens, removing parents from that top category. It also establishes a new, temporary nonimmigrant visa for parents of adult U.S. citizens, which prohibits work and public benefits. Furthermore, the bill revises the annual cap for family-sponsored visas and makes numerous technical amendments across immigration law to align with these changes.

The POWER Act of 2025 establishes a new, temporary tax credit of up to $500 for individuals who purchase an emergency generator for their primary residence. To qualify, homeowners must have experienced at least two major disasters in their area within the last five years and personally received federal assistance for one of those events. The credit amount is subject to phase-out based on the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.

This resolution formally condemns the recent wave of violent domestic terrorism attacks targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships across the nation. It highlights numerous incidents, including arson, gunfire, and vandalism, that have occurred in multiple states. In response to this escalation, the bill notes that the FBI and ATF have established a joint task force to investigate these serious, politically motivated attacks.

The FISCAL Act updates the National School Lunch Program requirements regarding milk offerings. This legislation mandates that schools must offer both traditional fluid milk and plant-based milk options to students. Furthermore, the bill establishes a framework for the Secretary to set nutritional standards for any qualifying plant-based milk offered under the program.

The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act mandates that federal agencies conduct comprehensive software inventories and develop detailed modernization plans to consolidate licenses and reduce unnecessary spending. This legislation requires agencies to identify all software entitlements, usage restrictions, and redundant assets to improve interoperability and cost efficiency. The resulting reports and plans must be submitted to key oversight bodies, with the GAO later reviewing government-wide software asset management trends. No new funding is authorized for the implementation of this Act.

This resolution formally recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps in 2025. Congress is honoring the Corps' long history, core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and its consistent readiness to defend the nation. The bill encourages the public to join in celebrating this significant milestone and acknowledging the service and sacrifice of all Marines.

The Paycheck Protection Act prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from an employee's paycheck. This act amends existing sections of Title 5 and Title 39 of the United States Code to reflect these changes.

The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 updates the laws governing presidential executive reorganization plans. This bill expands the objectives for these plans to include reducing federal employees and eliminating burdensome regulations. It also extends the authority for the President to submit reorganization plans to Congress until the end of 2026.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 significantly increases humane treatment standards for dog dealers under the Animal Welfare Act. This legislation mandates specific minimum space requirements, daily exercise access, and mandatory socialization for housed dogs. Furthermore, it establishes strict limits on female dog breeding frequency and age, alongside enhanced veterinary care protocols.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This change allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring qualified military spouses. A qualified military spouse is defined as someone certified as being married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.