Legislative Activity

This bill, the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025, modifies existing laws to streamline leasing and rights-of-way processes on Indian lands. It expands tribal authority to grant rights-of-way across their own land without direct Secretarial approval, provided the tribe adopts an approved regulatory framework that includes environmental review. The legislation also makes technical corrections to existing leasing provisions for certain trust lands. Ultimately, this Act aims to unlock economic development opportunities by empowering tribes in land management decisions.

This Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand essential services, including telehealth and mail-order pharmacy benefits, to eligible veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. It also requires the VA to provide beneficiary travel payments to these veterans and submit regular progress reports to Congress. Additionally, the bill extends a current limitation on pension payments by two months.

This bill amends the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to establish new grant programs. It authorizes various federal agencies to award grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to support tourism and visitor experience initiatives. The legislation authorizes $35 million in appropriations for these grant programs between fiscal years 2025 and 2029.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding programs for counties containing federal lands through fiscal year 2026. This legislation ensures the continuation of secure payments and resource advisory committee authorities established under the original 2000 Act. It also streamlines payment elections for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 by carrying over the previous year's choice. Finally, the bill includes technical corrections to improve the administration of these rural support programs.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove the Bureau of Land Management's rule regarding the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision. If enacted, this action would nullify the submitted rule, preventing it from taking effect.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to establish a committee to review and recommend updates to policies regarding the medical certification of pilots and air traffic controllers with mental health conditions. The bill mandates regulatory updates to encourage aviation personnel to seek mental health care without fear of penalty. Furthermore, it allocates funding to enhance the FAA's capacity to process reviews and launches a public campaign to reduce mental health stigma within the industry.

This bill establishes the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act, aiming to formally recognize Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) by requiring the Office of Management and Budget to consider creating a distinct occupational category for them in the federal classification system. The legislation also authorizes significant federal grants to states to establish or expand paid family and medical leave programs. If a separate DSP classification is not created, a report explaining the decision must be submitted to Congress.

This joint resolution requests the Secretary of the Interior to authorize unique, one-time displays on the National Mall and the Washington Monument between December 31, 2025, and January 5, 2026. The bill specifically mandates special illumination and projection of historical content onto the Washington Monument to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary. It also authorizes the Secretary to coordinate these commemorative events with the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.

This Act enhances safety and wellness in the commercial fishing industry by expanding federal grant programs for safety training and research. It specifically directs funding toward addressing behavioral and physical health risks, such as worker fatigue and substance use disorder, for vessel operators and crew. The legislation also updates the grant award process and increases authorized funding through fiscal year 2029.

The VA CBA Act of 2025 affirms the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This legislation specifically nullifies Executive Orders 14251 and 14343 as they apply to the VA. The Act ensures that current labor agreements remain in effect for their full term.

The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act mandates that all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers establish dedicated, private, and accessible lactation spaces for women veterans and the public. These spaces must meet specific criteria, such as being clean, shielded from view, and equipped with a chair and working surface. The VA Secretary is required to ensure full compliance within three years of the Act becoming law and must submit annual progress reports until all centers are compliant.

The Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 ensures the uninterrupted continuation of all Head Start projects and activities throughout fiscal year 2026, even if full appropriations are delayed. This legislation provides necessary continuing funding based on the terms of existing 2025 continuing resolutions. Funding authority under this Act will terminate upon the enactment of regular 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

The Pay Our Capitol Police Act ensures that the United States Capitol Police will continue to receive funding for salaries and essential expenses for Fiscal Year 2026, even if standard appropriations are delayed. This bill provides continuing appropriations to cover excepted employees, emergency workers, and necessary support staff. Funds spent under this Act will be charged against future official appropriations once enacted. The authority granted by this Act terminates on September 30, 2026, or earlier if standard appropriations are passed.

This joint resolution officially terminates the national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025, which was used to impose duties on articles imported from Canada. It exercises the authority granted under the National Emergencies Act to end the emergency status established by Executive Order 14193.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that active duty and reserve military personnel continue to receive pay and essential allowances if Congress has not passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026 by the start of that year. This legislation provides automatic continuing appropriations to cover military salaries, support staff, and necessary contractor payments during any funding lapse. The authority granted by this Act is set to terminate on September 30, 2026, or sooner if a comprehensive budget is enacted. Furthermore, the provisions of this Act are made retroactively effective as of September 30, 2025.

The Keep America Flying Act of 2026 ensures that essential Air Traffic Controllers and TSA security personnel continue to receive pay and benefits at the start of fiscal year 2026, even if Congress has not yet passed a budget. This continuing appropriation provides necessary funding for FAA and TSA staff, as well as their contractors, to maintain safe and secure air travel operations. The funding automatically ceases once a full budget is enacted or on September 30, 2026.

The Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates existing law to broaden the system's scope to explicitly include meteorological observations and strengthen data management infrastructure. The bill renames the primary advisory body from the "Council" to the "Committee" throughout the relevant statutes. It also authorizes $56 million annually from 2026 through 2030 and mandates a new post-storm evaluation in the annual report to Congress.

The Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act restructures the federal appellate system by splitting the Ninth Circuit into a new Ninth Circuit and a new Twelfth Circuit. This legislation adjusts the total number of judicial circuits to fourteen and establishes new judgeships across various federal courts. The Act also sets forth a transition plan for handling existing cases and outlines a staggered schedule for adding new district court judgeships through 2035.

The Young Fishermen's Development Extension Act reauthorizes and extends the existing Young Fishermen's Development Act. This legislation pushes the program's scheduled expiration date from 2026 to 2031. The bill ensures continued support for young individuals entering the commercial fishing industry.

This bill amends the Digital Coast Act to enhance the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of program data. It mandates that Digital Coast data be fully and freely available, and expands required data sets to include underground infrastructure. Additionally, the bill extends the program's compliance deadline from 2025 to 2030.