Legislative Activity

The Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act aims to eliminate unwarranted financial benefits for certain oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. It prevents companies holding specific older leases that lack price caps from obtaining new leases unless they renegotiate those existing leases to include mandatory royalty payments above certain price thresholds. Furthermore, the bill adjusts the terms for royalty suspension on some existing leases, setting new price triggers that will take effect in late 2026.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include military spouses as eligible hires. This allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring individuals certified as spouses of active-duty military personnel. The provision applies to wages paid for individuals hired after the Act's enactment date.

The Smoke Exposure Research Act directs the Department of Agriculture to conduct comprehensive research on mitigating wildfire smoke taint in wine grapes. This research will focus on identifying harmful chemical compounds, developing rapid testing methods, and creating preventative or remedial tools for growers. The effort mandates collaboration with land-grant universities in key wine-producing states and authorizes $6.5 million annually for this purpose from 2026 through 2030.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The Deliver for Democracy Act ties the Postal Service's ability to raise periodical rates to meeting specific on-time delivery performance targets for magazines and newspapers. It mandates annual public reporting by the Postmaster General on newspaper delivery performance, requiring input from relevant industry groups. Finally, the bill directs the GAO to study and report on alternative pricing strategies for periodicals that currently cost the USPS more to handle than they generate in postage.

This Act officially renames the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the **Taiwan Representative Office**. It directs the U.S. to provide Taiwan's representation with de facto diplomatic treatment consistent with existing U.S. policy. Crucially, this change does not alter the official U.S. position on Taiwan's international status or restore full diplomatic relations.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to combat bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states that accept federal funding to establish clear anti-bullying policies, define prohibited conduct based on protected characteristics, and implement systems for reporting and tracking incidents. This legislation mandates that local districts inform all stakeholders about prohibited conduct and establish formal complaint processes. Furthermore, the bill requires regular state and federal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these measures in reducing harmful behavior while respecting existing non-discrimination laws and free speech rights.

The **Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025** significantly increases accountability for higher education institutions by establishing stricter financial performance metrics, strengthening student protections against deceptive practices, and mandating greater transparency in spending and outcomes. The bill aims to empower students by simplifying loan forgiveness, banning coercive practices like forced arbitration, and ensuring they can access their transcripts regardless of outstanding debt. Furthermore, it overhauls federal oversight by creating a dedicated enforcement unit and requiring better coordination among agencies to monitor institutional integrity and contractor performance. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to protect students and taxpayers by cutting off federal aid to underperforming programs and increasing penalties for institutional misconduct.

The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act moves TSA personnel from their special management system into the standard federal employee system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set deadline. This transition aims to grant TSA employees the same workplace protections and benefits as other federal workers while ensuring current pay and service time are protected. The bill also mandates several reviews by the Comptroller General and requires consultation with employee representatives regarding the implementation process. Finally, it preserves existing anti-strike laws and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.

The Baltic Security Initiative Act establishes a new program to deepen U.S. military cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression and implement NATO strategy. This initiative will focus on long-term projects like enhancing air defense, improving cyber resilience, and developing regional military capabilities. The Secretary of Defense must submit a strategy outlining these efforts and is authorized $350 million annually from FY2026 through FY2028 to support the program.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to address the significant retirement savings gap disproportionately affecting women by strengthening spousal protections in defined contribution plans. The bill mandates new consent requirements for distributions and beneficiary changes to safeguard a spouse's interest in retirement assets. Furthermore, it establishes grant programs to boost financial literacy for women and specifically assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in securing their rightful retirement benefits via court orders.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act allows medical and dental interns and residents to defer payments on their student loans during their training programs. This deferment specifically prevents principal payments and stops interest from accruing on the loan balance while the borrower is in residency or an internship. This ensures that medical professionals can focus on their training without accruing additional debt.

The Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025 significantly broadens Medicare coverage by adding comprehensive benefits for dental, hearing aids, and routine vision care starting in 2027. This legislation establishes new fee schedules, payment rules, and utilization limits for these services under Medicare Part B. Furthermore, the bill includes a five-year phase-in plan (2026–2030) to gradually incorporate the cost of the new dental coverage into the standard Part B premium calculation for enrollees aged 65 and older.

The Stop Comstock Act aims to modernize and streamline federal laws concerning obscene materials. This legislation removes outdated and overly broad language, such as "indecent" and "immoral," from various sections of the U.S. Code and the Tariff Act. The bill focuses on technical clean-up to clarify existing statutes regarding the distribution and importation of materials.

This bill prohibits the sale and export licensing of specified U.S. defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This restriction remains in effect until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE has ceased providing material support to the Rapid Support Forces operating in Sudan. The ban covers a broad range of major military equipment listed in the U.S. Munitions List.

This joint resolution seeks to block the proposed sale of specific defense articles and services to the Israeli government. The resolution specifically targets the sale of thousands of 1,000-pound bomb bodies, as well as Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits designed for use with these bombs. It also halts related support services from both the U.S. government and contractors. Effectively, the resolution disapproves of the U.S. proceeding with the Transmittal No. 2526 sale of these items to Israel.

The Farewell to Foam Act of 2025 bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) food service ware, coolers, and loose-fill packaging starting January 1, 2028. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator is tasked with defining terms and enforcing the ban, issuing written warnings for initial violations followed by escalating fines for repeat offenses. The law also grants the Administrator the authority to establish necessary regulations and allows states to take over enforcement duties under specific conditions.

This Act aims to immediately restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support refugees across the region. It repeals previous legislative bans on UNRWA funding and directs the Secretary of State to resume payments promptly. The bill mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing UNRWA's progress in implementing accountability reforms recommended by the Independent Review Group.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement laws allowing for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill mandates specific due process protections for individuals subject to these orders and ensures that any issued ERPO is recognized and enforced across all states and tribes. Furthermore, it updates federal law to prohibit firearm possession by anyone subject to a qualifying court order and requires that these orders be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act designates the Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas to protect their scenic and ecological values, requiring specific wildfire mitigation planning for these new sites. The Act also expands the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, adding significant acreage under strict wilderness management. Finally, it withdraws certain federal lands in Curry and Josephine Counties from mineral entry and disposal to ensure their long-term protection.