Legislative Activity

This resolution designates February 15–22, 2025, as "National FFA Week" to honor the National FFA Organization’s vital role in cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders. It celebrates the organization’s commitment to personal growth and career readiness while commemorating the 90th anniversary of the New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the FFA’s federal charter.

This bill transfers the functions, assets, and responsibilities for implementing the Food for Peace Act from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Secretary of Agriculture will now administer the program, though the Famine Early Warning Systems Network will remain under USDA control. This change allows the USDA to quickly update necessary rules to ensure a smooth transition of the program.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the USDA’s proposed "Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products." It effectively blocks the Food Safety and Inspection Service from moving forward with the regulatory changes published on August 7, 2024.

The Reining In Federal Licensing Enforcement (RIFLE) Act of 2025 reforms the federal firearms licensing system by establishing a graduated penalty structure that distinguishes between unintentional and willful violations. The bill mandates increased procedural protections for licensees, including expanded notice requirements, opportunities to cure violations, and the right to formal administrative hearings and judicial review. Additionally, it sets stricter standards for proving "willful" violations, provides a 90-day window for inventory liquidation upon license termination, and requires the Attorney General to establish formal, public standards for inspections and enforcement actions.

This bill mandates the immediate removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the federal lists of threatened and endangered species. Furthermore, it amends the Endangered Species Act to permanently prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from designating the species as threatened or endangered in the future.

The FAITH in Small Business Act codifies into law the Small Business Administration’s 2021 rule ensuring equal access to loan and disaster assistance programs for faith-based organizations. This legislation guarantees that these entities can participate in federal support programs without compromising their religious character or independence.