Legislative Activity

The Silver Shield Act of 2025 establishes a new Department of State-led program to rigorously monitor U.S. defense items and services transferred overseas for evidence of use in committing serious human rights or international law violations. The Act mandates written agreements ensuring recipients comply with international law and authorizes the suspension of future transfers if violations are confirmed. Furthermore, it requires comprehensive reporting to Congress on the program's operations, staffing, and ongoing investigations.

This resolution declares a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting children due to prior administration directives that promoted fossil fuels and suppressed climate science. Congress asserts that these actions harm children's fundamental rights to life and a stable environment by worsening climate change impacts. The bill demands the current administration cease policies that increase greenhouse gases and restore access to suppressed climate research. Ultimately, it calls for aligning all energy and climate laws with the duty to protect the rights and future of young people.

This bill amends federal law to establish strict limits and reporting requirements for donations made to Presidential Libraries and Centers. It prohibits certain restricted entities, such as lobbyists and federal contractors, from donating while a President is in office or for two years after they leave. The legislation also imposes an aggregate $10,000 lifetime donation cap per person and mandates public disclosure of all significant contributions.

The Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 extends the timeline for current Sport Fish Restoration funding allocation rules until 2031 and removes the spending cap for Interstate Fisheries Commission activities. The bill also updates boating infrastructure priorities to specifically include funding for alternative marine fuel facilities for larger vessels. Finally, it significantly reduces the federal excise tax rate on portable, electronically-aerated bait containers from 10 percent to 3 percent.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to lower the eligibility requirements for spouses of active duty service members. It reduces the required length of employment from 12 months to just 90 days for these military spouses to qualify for job-protected leave. This change ensures military families can access necessary leave more quickly during active duty periods.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, to honor Corporal Patrick D. Tillman. The renaming recognizes Tillman's heroic service and ultimate sacrifice after leaving his NFL career to join the U.S. Army following the September 11th attacks. This legislation ensures the San Jose VA Clinic will forever bear the name of the San Jose native and national hero.

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to increase the number of mental health professionals in high-need school districts. This funding is specifically designed to help eligible agencies recruit, hire, and retain school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Grantees must demonstrate a plan to improve student-to-provider ratios and report annually on staffing improvements and provider retention.

Canyon's Law prohibits the use of M44 cyanide predator control devices on all public lands across the United States. This action is taken due to documented incidents where these highly toxic devices have harmed people, pets, and non-target wildlife. Any M44 devices currently deployed on public land must be removed within 30 days of this Act's enactment.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025 updates federal law to broaden protections against intimate partner violence by expanding the definition of an "intimate partner" to explicitly include dating relationships. This bill also introduces a new federal prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. These changes aim to close loopholes and ensure comprehensive safety measures for survivors of abuse and harassment.

This resolution formally recognizes the constitutional right to peaceful protest while strongly condemning violence and illegal acts committed during demonstrations. It criticizes the federal government's deployment of military forces during recent events, arguing the actions were an overreach that bypassed proper legal and state authority. Ultimately, the bill asserts the importance of transparency in law enforcement and denounces rhetoric that escalates community tensions.

The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act addresses the growing problem of technological abuse against survivors. This bill establishes a temporary pilot program to fund partnerships between tech experts and victim service providers to combat digital abuse. Additionally, it creates a separate grant program to develop and provide educational resources and training on technological abuse for support organizations.

The Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to significantly upgrade its capabilities by integrating advanced computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning into its weather and climate modeling. This legislation mandates the creation of Centers of Excellence and a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan to ensure NOAA has the necessary high-performance computing infrastructure for faster and more accurate forecasting of hazardous weather events. The bill also requires collaboration with the Department of Energy and regular reporting to Congress on progress and future needs.

The Veterans Energy Transition Act of 2025 (VET Act) establishes a new grant program administered by the Secretary of Labor to incentivize organizations to hire active duty military members, veterans, and their spouses for jobs in the energy industry. These grants reimburse employers for training, recruitment, and other costs associated with employing these "covered individuals." The program prioritizes hiring those with relevant skills and aims to coordinate with existing transition services to ensure effective job placement.

The Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act prohibits states from interfering with or retaliating against individuals who provide or receive abortion services that are legal in the state where the service occurs. This protection extends to interstate travel for legal abortion care and the movement of FDA-approved abortion-related drugs across state lines. Individuals harmed by violations can sue in federal court for damages and legal fees.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal statutory right to access abortion services, prohibiting medically unnecessary restrictions that impede care before fetal viability. This Act protects the right of patients to travel across state lines to receive reproductive healthcare and allows providers to offer services free from state interference that conflicts with established medical standards. It preempts conflicting state and local laws and provides robust enforcement mechanisms for individuals and the Attorney General to challenge violations.

The Insurrection Act of 2025 completely rewrites the rules governing when the President can deploy the U.S. Armed Forces domestically to suppress insurrection or quell severe domestic violence. This deployment is strictly limited to being a last resort, requiring specific triggers such as overwhelming local failure or the denial of constitutional rights. Before acting, the President must issue a proclamation and provide a detailed report to Congress, whose approval is required to extend military authority beyond seven days. The Act also establishes expedited congressional procedures for reviewing and approving the deployment and allows for judicial review of the President's legal basis for action.

The Service Member Housing Relief Act temporarily adjusts the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) calculation by lowering the temporary cap on rate increases from 20 percent to 15 percent. Additionally, the bill permanently removes an outdated provision related to the BAH calculation structure. This legislation aims to modify housing allowances for members of the uniformed services.

The MONARCH Act of 2025 addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population, which has dropped by over 99% in recent decades due to habitat loss and climate change. This bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to provide grants for habitat restoration projects led by local and Tribal entities. Furthermore, it mandates the implementation of the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan through a partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Finally, the Secretary of the Interior must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of the butterflies and the effectiveness of funded conservation efforts.

The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 amends existing federal law to significantly enhance collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring. This bill mandates increased input from diverse stakeholders, including industry, coastal networks, and Indigenous groups, in guiding federal research priorities. Furthermore, it restructures the Advisory Board to ensure stronger representation from Tribal entities and requires the development of specific coordination policies with affected Tribes. The legislation also directs NOAA to prioritize collaboration with State, local, and Tribal governments when conducting vulnerability assessments.