Legislative Activity

The DEFENSE Act allows the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to authorize state and local law enforcement to use drone countermeasures at specific protected events. Law enforcement must complete required training and use approved equipment for drone detection, identification, and monitoring. The use of drone countermeasures will be overseen by various federal departments and agencies.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act allows FEMA to provide financial aid to local governments or electric cooperatives to reimburse interest paid on loans used for disaster relief activities. The amount reimbursed will be the lesser of the actual interest paid or the interest calculated using the prime rate. This applies to interest incurred up to 9 years before the Act's enactment, using only funds appropriated after the enactment date. The Act also establishes procedures for states to be reimbursed for qualifying loan interest for projects awaiting obligation.

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" aims to prevent U.S. taxpayer money from supporting the Taliban by requiring the State Department to actively oppose financial support to the Taliban from foreign countries and NGOs, especially those receiving U.S. aid. It mandates reports to Congress on entities supporting the Taliban, the status of direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan, and the status of the Afghan Fund, including measures to prevent Taliban access to these funds. The Act also requires the development and implementation of a strategy to discourage support to the Taliban, utilizing U.S. foreign assistance as a deterrent.

The "CBO Scoring Accountability Act" requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze major legislation for the first 10 years after enactment, including estimates of costs, revenue changes, and comparisons against previous estimates. It mandates a report to Congress if discrepancies between actual costs/revenue and prior estimates exceed 10 percent, ensuring transparency and accountability in legislative financial impacts. Federal departments and agencies are required to provide the CBO director with the information necessary to conduct these analysis. "Major legislation" is defined as any bill projected to result in mandatory spending or federal revenue changes equal to or greater than 0.25 percent of the current projected gross domestic product of the United States for that year.

The POWER Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for individuals who purchase emergency generators for use in their primary residence. This credit, capped at $500, is available to qualified individuals whose primary residence is in an area declared as a major disaster area at least twice in the last 5 years and who have received individual assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The credit amount is reduced for taxpayers with higher incomes, and it applies to generators purchased within 2 years of the Act's enactment. The bill specifies that disasters declared for public health purposes are not covered.

This bill codifies Executive Order 14248, ensuring its provisions for preserving and protecting the integrity of American elections are legally binding.

The CAPE Canaveral Act would move NASA headquarters to Brevard County, Florida. The move must be completed within one year of the Act's enactment.

This bill recognizes and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps on November 10, 2025. It acknowledges the Marine Corps' distinguished history, readiness, and role as a premier fighting force. The bill also encourages Americans to celebrate the anniversary through various activities and community engagement.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.

This bill extends combat zone tax benefits to members of the U.S. Armed Forces performing services in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. It ensures that these service members receive the same tax advantages as if they were serving directly in a designated combat zone. The benefits apply when the service members are eligible for special pay due to hazardous duty in these areas. This adjustment recognizes the risks and sacrifices of military personnel serving in these specific locations.

The HELPER Act of 2025 amends the National Housing Act to establish an FHA mortgage insurance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and teachers. This program allows the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages up to 100% of the appraised value for eligible first-time homebuyers, waiving down payment requirements but requiring an up-front mortgage insurance premium. Mortgagors must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a first-time homebuyer, completing a housing counseling program, and meeting employment and good standing requirements as a first responder. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 and requires reauthorization of the program after 5 years.

The "Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2025" ensures that the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot deny a veteran's benefits claim solely for missing a medical examination. This bill requires the VA to consider other factors and evidence when a veteran misses an exam, preventing automatic claim denials.

The "Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2025" establishes a Space National Guard in select states as a reserve component of the Space Force, utilizing existing Air National Guard facilities and personnel. It mandates the transfer of space operation staff and resources from the National Guard Bureau to the Space National Guard, without allocating additional personnel or infrastructure. The Act also requires regular briefings to Congress on the implementation and operation of the Space National Guard. Finally, the bill amends existing sections of the US code to include the Space National Guard within the definitions and provisions related to the National Guard.

The "Pay Our Troops Act of 2025" ensures that members of the Armed Forces, essential Department of Defense civilians, and contractors continue to receive pay and allowances during periods when regular funding is disrupted. This act provides necessary appropriations to cover these costs for fiscal year 2025. The Act's provisions will terminate upon the enactment of regular appropriations, a continuing resolution that provides funding for the same purpose, or on January 1, 2026.

This bill codifies Executive Order 14158, officially establishing the President's Department of Government Efficiency into law.

The "Rare Earth Magnet Security Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for the production of rare earth magnets, incentivizing domestic manufacturing. The credit offers \$20 per kilogram for magnets made in the U.S. and \$30 per kilogram if 90% of the magnet's materials are U.S.-sourced. The credit phases out after 2034 and includes restrictions on sourcing materials from non-allied foreign nations, with some temporary exceptions. The act also allows manufacturers to elect to receive direct payments from the government in lieu of the tax credit.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.