Legislative Activity

The "Bonus Tax Relief for America's Seniors Act" increases the standard tax deduction for seniors by raising it from $600 to $5,000. This change will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2026. This adjustment aims to provide additional tax relief to senior citizens. The provisions of this bill will be enacted for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "250 Years of Service and Sacrifice Commemorative Coin Act" directs the Department of Treasury to mint coins in 2028 to recognize the nation's semiquincentennial and honor 250 years of American service and sacrifice. The coins include gold, silver, and clad coins, with designs representing American service and sacrifice. Surcharges from the sale of these coins will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, supporting their programs for Gold Star families, first responders, and veterans. The Act ensures that the coin minting does not create any net cost to the government.

The Motorist Tax Abuse Act prohibits the Secretary from establishing or maintaining congestion pricing for the Central Business District Tolling Program in New York City. This bill effectively blocks the implementation of a congestion pricing plan in Manhattan.

The Goldie's Act seeks to strengthen the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by mandating annual inspections, requiring humane treatment of suffering animals, and imposing significant penalties for violations. It ensures transparency through mandated sharing of violation records and sets firm guidelines for determining penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The Act also enables legal action to recover unpaid penalties and penalizes the disobedience of "cease and desist" orders.

This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from establishing or maintaining value pricing programs that include congestion or cordon pricing.

The "Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act" requires district attorneys in jurisdictions of 380,000+ people receiving Byrne grant funds to report annually to the Attorney General on prosecution data for specific offenses, including cases referred, declined, plea agreements, defendants with prior offenses, and bail requests. The Attorney General must then submit this data to the Judiciary Committees and publish it on a public website. This aims to increase transparency and oversight of prosecutorial decisions in large jurisdictions.

The Transparency of Migration Act mandates the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services to publish weekly reports on their websites. These reports must include data on individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or processed through a Department of Health and Human Services facility. The data includes daily numbers, countries of origin, ages, genders, states to which they were released, and criminal convictions, if any.

This bill lifts restrictions on defense articles, security assistance, and sales to Cyprus, aiming to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Cyprus. By removing specific subsections from existing acts, the bill eliminates previous limitations and exclusions that hindered defense cooperation. This change allows for increased security support and defense trade with Cyprus.

The HELP PETS Act prohibits federal funding to colleges and universities that conduct or fund painful research on dogs and cats. Exceptions include clinical veterinary research benefiting the animal, and studies involving service or military animals. "Painful research" refers to procedures classified as pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture. This law aims to ensure federal funds are not used for painful experiments on pets in higher education institutions.

The HELP PETS Act prohibits federal funding to colleges and universities that conduct or fund painful research on dogs or cats. Exceptions include clinical veterinary research that benefits the animal, physical exams, training programs, and studies involving service or military animals. "Painful research" is defined as research classified in pain categories D or E by the Department of Agriculture. This law aims to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used for painful experiments on dogs and cats in higher education institutions.

This bill condemns Turkey's ongoing occupation of Cyprus, citing violations of international law, human rights, and UN resolutions. It calls for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, adherence to democratic principles, and a resolution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The bill urges Turkey to cease interference in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, assist in locating missing American citizens, and remove illegal settlers from occupied territories. Finally, it encourages the President to prioritize resolving the Cyprus issue.

The "HOV Lanes for Heroes Act" allows disabled veterans to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, even when driving alone, without being charged tolls. Eligibility is determined by the veteran's service-connected disability rating, as defined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Vehicles must have appropriate identification, such as a special license plate or transponder, as required by the public authority. This act amends Title 23 of the U.S. Code to include disabled veterans among those permitted to use HOV facilities.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that the Parthenon Marbles, removed from Greece in the early 19th century, should be returned. It highlights the Parthenon's significance to Greek culture and argues the return of the marbles would demonstrate respect for Greece and classical art. The bill encourages the United Kingdom to negotiate with Greece for the repatriation of these sculptures.

The USPS Subpoena Authority Act enables the Postmaster General to issue subpoenas for investigations into specific offenses, including those related to mail use and controlled substances. These subpoenas can demand relevant records and testimony to ensure the authenticity of the records. The authority to approve these subpoenas is limited to the Postal Service's General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector.

The "High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2025" incentivizes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in high-rise residential buildings by classifying these retrofits as 15-year property for depreciation purposes under the Internal Revenue Code. This classification allows for an accelerated depreciation method, providing a tax benefit for property owners who invest in these life-saving systems. The bill defines specific criteria for qualifying sprinkler systems, ensuring they meet established safety standards and are installed in buildings that pose unique challenges for fire safety. These buildings must have been in service before the installation date and have an occupiable floor more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

The "Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act" mandates an audit by the Department of Transportation's Inspector General on coronavirus relief funds allocated to the five largest transit agencies. This audit will cover the five fiscal years prior to the Act's enactment, detailing the amount of funds received and how they were spent. A report summarizing the audit findings must be submitted to Congress within 180 days.

The "Defund Heroin Injection Centers Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding from being allocated to any entity that operates or controls an injection center that violates the Controlled Substances Act. This includes state, local, tribal, and private entities. The goal of the bill is to ensure that federal resources are not used to support facilities where illegal drug use occurs.