Legislative Activity

The Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act establishes new federal standards for states issuing Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) to individuals who do not reside in that state. This bill sets specific, strict requirements for foreign nationals seeking a CDL, including proof of lawful status and job-related visas, while also outlining distinct procedures for applicants residing in U.S. territories. The legislation mandates enhanced record-keeping and reporting by states to the Secretary of Transportation regarding these non-domiciled licenses.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. policy by imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign persons and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, drone, and terrorist activities. The bill specifically targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to cut off funding for these malign programs. Additionally, it expands the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program to incentivize the reporting of individuals who evade these sanctions.

The Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act prohibits federal agencies from providing funding or support for the creation and maintenance of state-level firearm ownership databases. This legislation ensures that federal resources cannot be used to track lawful gun owners, with a specific exception for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms.

This resolution recognizes the 10th anniversary of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export shipment from the lower 48 states in February 2016. It celebrates this milestone as a turning point that established the U.S. as a leading global LNG supplier, significantly boosting economic growth and strengthening international energy security. The bill honors the innovation and hard work that supported this vital sector.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act aims to promote de-escalation by exempting specific, clearly defined less-than-lethal projectile devices from federal firearm restrictions and excise taxes. This legislation provides a formal process for determining which devices qualify for these exemptions under both federal law and the National Firearms Act. The bill also modernizes tax regulations by exempting qualifying less-than-lethal devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes.

The Pay Less at the Pump Act of 2026 terminates the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing tax starting January 1, 2026. The bill also modifies how existing Superfund money is repaid to the Treasury. This aims to reduce the financial burden on consumers at the gas pump.

The Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act aims to significantly boost support for foster youth pursuing higher education. It increases the maximum annual education and training voucher amount from $\$5,000$ to $\$12,000$. The bill also mandates that states actively inform eligible youth about these benefits and requires the creation of a simplified, standardized application process. Furthermore, it introduces flexibility for states to allow youth a grace period for program participation even when not fully enrolled in a qualifying program.

The TSP Fiduciary Security Act of 2026 mandates that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board protect national security as part of its fiduciary duty when managing the Thrift Savings Fund. The bill requires the Secretary of Labor to establish new regulations presuming non-compliance for investments in entities linked to prohibited foreign adversaries or certain shareholder votes. Furthermore, it explicitly prohibits TSP mutual fund window investments in entities based in the People's Republic of China.

The TRAIN Act establishes a formal subpoena process allowing copyright owners to obtain information from generative AI developers. This mechanism enables copyright holders to request records regarding the use of their specific copyrighted works in training AI models. The bill aims to provide transparency and a means for copyright owners to protect their rights against unauthorized use in AI development.

The New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act aims to expand access to self-employment assistance programs for unemployed individuals. This legislation removes barriers to entry, modifies required participation activities, and increases the cap on program enrollment nationwide. The goal is to encourage entrepreneurship by allowing more people to start businesses while receiving unemployment benefits.

The SAFE KIDS Act addresses national security concerns by invalidating surrogacy agreements between U.S. surrogates and prospective parents from designated "foreign entities of concern." This legislation voids such contracts and imposes penalties on surrogacy brokers who facilitate these arrangements. The bill ensures that custody decisions for children born under these void agreements are based solely on the child's best interests under state law.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The AI OVERWATCH Act establishes strict new licensing requirements for exporting advanced integrated circuits to designated countries of concern, including China and Russia. This legislation mandates detailed national security certifications to Congress before any license can be approved for these high-performance technologies. Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption process for trusted U.S. companies while terminating existing licenses for these sensitive exports.

The Respect State Housing Laws Act aims to clarify federal housing regulations by amending the CARES Act. Specifically, this legislation removes Section 4024(c) from the CARES Act.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

The MERICA Act of 2025 seeks to update the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands by extending its leasing authority to cover hardrock minerals. This bill specifically defines hardrock minerals to include base metals, precious metals, and gemstones, while excluding resources like coal, oil, and gas. This change expands the federal leasing framework for certain hardrock mineral deposits on acquired lands.

The CFIUSMCA Act establishes a policy for the U.S. to align its foreign investment review standards with Canada and Mexico under the USMCA. It directs the U.S. Trade Representative to advocate for the three nations to adopt similar national security screening frameworks for foreign investment. Furthermore, the bill seeks to create a coordination mechanism to address shared threats from investments in critical infrastructure and strategically important sectors across North America.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Clergy Act allows certain religious workers currently exempt from Social Security self-employment taxes to voluntarily revoke that exemption and begin paying into the system. This option for revocation must be exercised by a specific deadline in 2030 or 2031, with the change being permanent once elected. The legislation also mandates that the IRS develop a plan to inform eligible clergy about this new option.