Legislative Activity

The Department of War Restoration Act of 2025 officially renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This change also renames the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War. The Act ensures all existing laws and documents are updated to reflect this new nomenclature.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating September 22nd as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day." The goal is to formally recognize the sacrifices of service members and veterans while raising crucial awareness about the mental health challenges and suicide risks they face. By establishing this day, the resolution aims to reduce stigma and encourage greater focus on providing necessary support and resources to this population.

The GRACE Act prohibits federal education funding for any school or agency that mandates vaccinations unless they provide a religious exemption based solely on an individual's stated sincerely held religious beliefs. This exemption cannot require any proof or documentation to support the religious objection. Consequently, institutions requiring documentation for religious vaccine exemptions risk losing federal education funds.

The Middle Mile for Rural America Act updates the timeline for expanding essential middle mile internet infrastructure into rural areas. This legislation shifts the designated period for these expansion projects under the Rural Electrification Act from 2018–2023 to the new timeframe of 2026 through 2031. This change ensures continued focus and potential funding for critical rural broadband development in the coming years.

This bill officially repeals the Department of Energy's 2021 definition of a "showerhead" for energy efficiency standards. It reinstates and codifies the definition that was established in 2020. This action clarifies the legal standard used for regulating showerhead water pressure and efficiency moving forward.

The American Protein Processing Modernization Act establishes a formal, time-bound process for meat and poultry plants to request faster USDA inspection rates, known as "alternate inspection rates." The Secretary of Agriculture must respond to these requests within 90 days, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed. This legislation also outlines clear procedures for maintaining, revoking, or reinstating these faster inspection rates based on ongoing food safety compliance.

The ALCATRAZ Act establishes a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program to reimburse state and local governments for the costs associated with detaining migrants within their borders starting in 2025. This program will initially be funded by redirecting unspent money from FEMA's Shelter and Services Program. Furthermore, DHS must report on plans to expedite the construction of new migrant detention facilities and identify underused government accounts for potential funding redirection.

The Fentanyl Kills Act establishes a new federal definition for "trafficked fentanyl," encompassing the manufacture, distribution, and financing of illicit fentanyl and its precursors. Crucially, this bill automatically equates engaging in the defined fentanyl trafficking activities with the crime of attempted murder. This change subjects individuals involved in fentanyl trafficking to the severe penalties associated with attempted murder charges.

The Farm Credit Adjustment Act grants the Farm Credit Administration the option to extend mandatory examination cycles for low-risk Farm Credit System institutions from the current frequency to once every 24 months. This change provides regulatory flexibility for institutions deemed stable by the FCA. This new examination option will take effect starting October 1, 2026.

The Parents Opt-in Protection Act requires schools to obtain prior written consent before collecting specific survey or evaluation data from students. This legislation amends existing law to ensure that participation in certain student surveys is voluntary and requires explicit parental or student permission.

The Make Our Streets Safe Again Act (MOSSA Act) directs federal agencies to prioritize civil commitment and treatment for individuals with serious mental illness or addiction on the streets. It mandates that federal grants prioritize states and cities enforcing bans on public disorder like urban camping and open drug use. Furthermore, the bill aims to reform federal housing and treatment programs to emphasize recovery and accountability over policies that may enable street homelessness.

The Making American Elections Great Again Act modifies the Census process to base Congressional apportionment solely on the number of U.S. citizens, excluding non-citizens from the count. It also establishes strict new federal election requirements mandating that all voters must present both government-issued photo identification and proof of U.S. citizenship to cast a ballot, whether in person or by mail. These changes will take effect for federal elections held in November 2026 and thereafter.

The Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025 updates federal law to expand the definition of "restricted personal information." This expansion adds several new categories of sensitive data requiring enhanced privacy protection. Specifically, the bill now includes items like license plate numbers, biometric information, workplace/school addresses, and GPS coordinates.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

The REMOVE Act mandates the rapid expulsion of migrant offenders who violate or evade U.S. law. This legislation requires the Attorney General to expedite removal proceedings for individuals convicted of deportable crimes. Furthermore, it sets a strict deadline, requiring all immigration court hearings for these cases to be completed within 15 days of initiation.

The End the Vaccine Carveout Act fundamentally changes vaccine injury compensation by allowing individuals to choose between filing a claim through the existing National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program or suing the manufacturer or administrator directly in court. This legislation removes the liability shield for vaccine makers and eliminates time limits for filing claims with the Program. Additionally, it specifically excludes COVID-19 vaccines from existing countermeasure liability protections.

The Restoring Biological Truth to the Workplace Act amends employment law to prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees for expressing views on the binary nature of biological sex or for using sex-segregated facilities. This Act also explicitly protects employees from retaliation for opposing these newly defined unlawful employment practices. Employers cannot use standard defenses like "business necessity" when facing claims related to these specific protections.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.

The Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund career pathway training in forestry. These grants aim to support workforce development in eligible rural areas by focusing on forestry operations and product processing industries. Priority will be given to programs that address aging workforces, retain young residents, and partner with educational institutions. Funding is authorized from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.