Legislative Activity

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Having Overdose Protection Equipment (HOPE) Act amends existing federal grant guidelines to explicitly allow states and tribes to use funds from the 21st Century Cures Act for acquiring, stocking, and maintaining public access opioid overdose reversal kits. This legislation defines these kits as containing the necessary reversal medication and clear administration instructions. The bill aims to increase the availability of life-saving overdose reversal tools in public settings.

The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025 (RESULTS Act) aims to improve Medicare payment rates for clinical lab tests by mandating the collection of more accurate, real-world payment data directly from large, independent private insurance claims databases. This legislation updates definitions, collection timelines, and calculation methods to ensure Medicare payments for widely available tests reflect current market rates. It also establishes default payment rules if sufficient private payor data cannot be secured.

This resolution formally condemns the horrific political assassination of conservative spokesman Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. It expresses deep condolences to his family and recognizes the bravery of the first responders at the scene. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the fundamental American right to peaceful assembly and stands firmly against political violence.

The PART Act aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new vehicles to have traceable identifying markers on these parts. It establishes a federal grant program to help entities stamp identifying numbers onto existing converters. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict record-keeping requirements on businesses that buy used converters and creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking stolen catalytic converters.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

The Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act revises federal recognition standards for accrediting agencies, prohibiting them from basing decisions on the race, color, sex, or national origin of a school's constituents. The bill also establishes new "free inquiry" standards based on First Amendment principles for public institutions, while providing broad religious exemptions. Finally, it grants affected institutions a specific right to sue if their accreditation is threatened due to an agency violating these new prohibitions.

The Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act mandates that schools receiving federal funding must obtain explicit parental consent before taking any action supporting a student's gender transition that differs from their biological sex. This legislation prohibits school staff from encouraging students to keep secrets from parents regarding gender identity or from hiding information about a student's transition plans. Parents are granted the right to sue schools directly for violations of these parental notification and consent requirements.

The Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act establishes stricter requirements for temporarily converting former railroad rights-of-way into public trails. It mandates landowner approval, financial guarantees, and comprehensive public review, including a cost-benefit analysis, before interim trail use can be certified. Furthermore, the bill requires periodic review of existing trail corridors and creates an advisory committee to recommend maintenance standards for trail sponsors.

The Save Our Seniors Act (SOS Act) mandates that reports on the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds must now include a new graphical comparison. This comparison will show the difference between initial budget assumptions and the actual projected payouts from the Trust Funds based on dedicated funding sources. The goal is to provide clearer transparency regarding the financial status and projections of these vital funds.

This bill would require the District of Columbia to recognize valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry a concealed firearm held by Members of Congress from their home states. Specifically, it allows Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners to carry a concealed firearm in D.C. provided they meet federal eligibility requirements and carry proper identification.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, recognizing his lifelong commitment to the conservative movement. It specifically commends his foundational work in establishing the Heritage Foundation and his significant influence on national policy. The House of Representatives expresses its condolences to his family and respectfully suggests he be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Habitat Enhancement Now Act establishes competitive grant programs managed by the Secretary of the Interior to boost the nesting success of migratory waterfowl. These grants will fund the placement and maintenance of "hen houses" in the prairie pothole region and support habitat restoration, pond creation, and landowner incentives in California. A total of $7 million annually will be dedicated to these efforts from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

This bill amends federal law to explicitly include violations related to rioting within the definition of "racketeering activity." By adding this specific crime to the list under Title 18, Section 1961(1), the legislation makes participation in such activities subject to serious federal racketeering charges. This change treats rioting violations similarly to other established offenses like bribery or extortion for the purposes of federal prosecution.

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 No DOT Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from awarding federal transportation funds to any city designated as a "sanctuary city." This designation applies to localities with policies that restrict sharing immigration status information or complying with certain federal immigration detainers. Waivers for funding may only be granted if the Secretary certifies the activity is in the national interest and notifies relevant Congressional committees.

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.

The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act mandates that electronic communication and remote computing service providers must report to the Attorney General within 60 days upon gaining actual knowledge of illegal activity involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, or counterfeit prescription drugs. This legislation outlines specific reporting requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and privacy protections that limit monitoring and data retention. The Act also requires the Attorney General to issue an annual public report detailing the statistics of these reports.