Legislative Activity

The Justice for Angel Families Act establishes new federal grants to compensate families of homicide victims killed by certain unlawfully present aliens or drug traffickers, covering medical, funeral, and emotional distress-related wage costs. Additionally, the bill creates a new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within DHS to provide proactive support, resources, and updates to victims of crimes committed by removable aliens. This office will operate a dedicated hotline and report annually to Congress on its impact and victim demographics.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

The Gulf of America Act officially renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change mandates that all federal laws, maps, and official records must immediately reflect the new designation. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with overseeing the implementation of this name change across all federal agencies within 180 days.

This resolution formally honors mothers and recognizes the vital role they play in raising the next generation, coinciding with Mother's Day. It reaffirms that motherhood is defined by women and strongly rejects alternative terminology that diminishes this role. Ultimately, the bill encourages the nation to celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers to families and the country.

The SERVICE Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program to create specialized Veterans Response Teams within local law enforcement agencies through federal grants. These teams will focus on improving interactions between law enforcement and veterans in crisis by fostering collaboration with the VA and providing specialized training. The teams will also establish 24/7 volunteer response networks and track outcomes to better serve the veteran community.

The Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025 significantly increases prison sentences for non-citizens who commit crimes after entering the U.S. illegally or after being previously removed. This legislation mandates substantial minimum prison terms—including an additional five years for illegal entry followed by a felony conviction and a new ten-year minimum for re-entry after deportation coupled with a crime. The bill aims to impose much harsher penalties on undocumented immigrants who commit serious offenses.

The Constitutional Hearing Protection Act aims to treat firearm silencers equally under federal tax law by updating definitions and removing certain registration requirements if existing firearm laws are followed. The bill also preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration burdens on silencers. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners within one year of enactment.

The American Energy Act streamlines the process for handling drilling permit applications, requiring the Secretary to continue processing them even when litigation is pending, unless the underlying lease is vacated. It also establishes a four-year validity period for new drilling permits. Furthermore, the Act places significant limitations on the ability of courts to halt oil and gas lease sales or stop the awarding of leases once bidding has commenced.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how veterans receive assistance with their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. It establishes new rules for the recognition, fees, and conduct of agents and attorneys who represent veterans. The bill also mandates increased transparency regarding available assistance and requires a review of the entire representative recognition process.

The No Official Palestine Entry Act of 2025 aims to restrict the Palestine Liberation Organization's status within United Nations agencies to observer status or less. It also modifies existing law to limit the United States' status in UN organizations to something beyond mere observer status, but short of full membership. This Act explicitly states that its provisions do not apply to Taiwan.

The SALUTE Act establishes a pilot program to allow certain active-duty service members and their dependents to purchase supplemental private insurance for uncovered cancer-related medical expenses. This optional coverage will be offered through agreements with selected insurance companies, with participants paying the full premium cost. The Department of Defense must report on the program's success after three years to determine if it should become permanent.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives to formally recognize the Robert Aitken Bible as a historical document of the U.S. Congress. This Bible holds historical significance as the first English-language Bible printed in North America and was officially endorsed by the Continental Congress in 1782. The resolution simply affirms Congress's acknowledgment of this important piece of American history.

The Clean Slate Act of 2025 establishes new federal rules for automatically sealing certain criminal records, particularly for nonviolent marijuana offenses or arrests that did not result in conviction. It also creates a process allowing individuals convicted of specific nonviolent federal offenses to petition the court to seal their records after completing their sentences. Once sealed, these records are generally inaccessible, promoting rehabilitation, though exceptions exist for law enforcement and specific background checks.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to provide financial assistance to qualifying rural hospitals. These grants can be used for facility upgrades or to cover essential operational costs, ensuring continued local access to care. Hospitals must demonstrate a plan for long-term sustainability to receive funding, which is capped at $5 million per facility over five years.

The No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act prohibits the federal government from providing funds to colleges and universities that require students or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This measure ensures that institutions of higher education cannot mandate vaccination for enrollment, employment, or access to services without risking the loss of federal funding.

The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act repeals the federal ban on mailing certain concealable firearms. This legislation also prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from enacting rules that would block or unduly restrict the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. Furthermore, the USPS cannot require sellers to disclose customer records or firearm serial numbers as a condition for mailing these items.

The GUARD Act expands the use of federal grant funds to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" scams, and general financial fraud. This legislation allows agencies to hire specialized staff, receive advanced training on emerging technologies, and acquire necessary investigative tools. Furthermore, the Act mandates comprehensive federal reports to Congress detailing the scope of these scams and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.