Legislative Activity

The Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act broadens criminal penalties for actions that threaten energy transportation infrastructure. This legislation expands prohibited activities beyond simple destruction to include vandalism, tampering, and disrupting the operation or construction of pipelines and related facilities. These enhanced penalties are enforced under existing federal law.

The Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act mandates that federal banking agencies must cease using "reputational risk" as a factor in the supervision, examination, or rating of depository institutions. This legislation aims to ensure regulators focus solely on a bank's financial safety and soundness, rather than public perception or political pressure. The Act requires all relevant agencies to remove references to reputational risk from their guidance and policies within 180 days of enactment.

The Protecting Americans Retirement Savings Act (PARSA) prohibits retirement plan fiduciaries from making new investments in entities deemed to be foreign adversaries or sanctioned entities. This legislation also mandates that employee retirement funds must provide detailed new disclosures regarding any existing holdings in these restricted entities. The bill provides limited exceptions for pre-existing investments and contracts, provided specific reporting requirements are met.

The Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2025 immediately creates the Space National Guard as the reserve component of the U.S. Space Force, initially drawing personnel from existing National Guard space units across seven states. This Act mandates that the new Guard utilize existing infrastructure and requires regular reporting to Congress on its implementation and operations. The legislation also makes conforming amendments across federal law to formally define and integrate the Space National Guard into the military structure.

The BITCOIN Act of 2025 establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and mandates the U.S. government to purchase one million Bitcoins over five years to strengthen national financial standing. This legislation outlines strict security protocols for the reserve, requires public proof of holdings through cryptographic attestations, and protects private Bitcoin ownership rights. Furthermore, the Act details funding mechanisms, including adjustments to Federal Reserve surplus funds and gold certificate exchanges, to finance these acquisitions.

The Return to Sender Act focuses on fiscal cleanup by officially repealing specific funding authorizations within Public Law 117-169. This action immediately rescinds any unspent, obligated funds previously set aside under those repealed sections. In essence, the bill cancels old spending authority and returns the remaining money to the Treasury.

The Make American Flags in America Act of 2025 mandates that all U.S. flags displayed or purchased by federal agencies must be 100% manufactured in the United States using entirely domestic materials. This requirement takes effect for purchases within 90 days and for display within two years of enactment. Additionally, the bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and report on the current enforcement of country-of-origin labeling for American flags.

This joint resolution seeks to exercise congressional disapproval of the IRS rule regarding "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales." If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule, ensuring it has no force or effect.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to significantly speed up the process for newly unionized employees to secure their first collective bargaining agreement. It establishes mandatory timelines for negotiations, requiring mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration if a deal is not reached within a set period. This legislation is designed to prevent lengthy delays that often undermine the unionization process.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to disapprove and nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule titled "Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Withdrawal of Technical Amendment." Upon enactment, the specified rule will have no force or effect.

The "Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act" streamlines the Medicaid and CHIP enrollment process for out-of-state providers, allowing them to furnish services to individuals under 21 more efficiently. By reducing excessive screening and enrollment requirements, the bill aims to improve access to care for children. Enrolled providers will have a 5-year enrollment period, and the changes will take effect three years after enactment.

The Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025 extends duty-free treatment for certain apparel articles imported from Haiti to the United States until September 30, 2035, under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. It clarifies the applicable percentage for preferential treatment and restores eligibility for specific articles that previously lost it due to revisions in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The Act aims to promote economic growth in Haiti through trade preferences.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to disapprove the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule regarding "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing." If passed, this measure would nullify the rule, rendering it without force or effect.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" mandates pilot projects to evaluate advanced technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling at U.S. land ports of entry. These projects aim to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce wait times, and improve existing detection equipment. The Act requires reports to Congress on the effectiveness, impacts on privacy and civil liberties, and recommendations for implementing new technologies, while forbidding new funding appropriations.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act enhances U.S. trade laws to counteract unfair trade practices by foreign countries. It strengthens the ability of the International Trade Commission to address successive instances of unfair trade, expands countervailing duty authority, and prevents duty evasion. The Act also counters currency undervaluation and sets clear guidelines for implementation and applicability.

The "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act" aims to enhance cooperation between federal and local law enforcement by allowing state and local officers to act as agents of the Department of Homeland Security and protecting them from liability when complying with immigration detainers. It defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those that restrict information sharing or compliance with federal detainment requests, and it makes these jurisdictions ineligible for certain federal grants, reallocating those funds to non-sanctuary jurisdictions. This act does not protect individuals who knowingly violate civil or constitutional rights.

The Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act aims to prevent fentanyl from entering the U.S. by suspending the entry of individuals illegally crossing the border from Canada or Mexico who do not have the required travel documents. These individuals will be returned to their country of origin or the country they entered from. The Department of Homeland Security is authorized to transport these individuals.

The "One Flag for All Act" generally prohibits the display of flags other than the United States flag on the exterior and publicly accessible areas of federal buildings, military installations, and U.S. embassies. It includes exceptions for flags such as the POW/MIA flag, flags of visiting diplomats, state flags displayed by Members of Congress, flags representing branches of the Armed Forces, flags of historical significance, and flags representing religious organizations or churches during religious events at military installations. Additional exceptions are made for flags representing public safety, special national observances, a Federal agency, an Indian Tribe, and the State, territory, county, city, or local jurisdiction where the covered public building is located.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, while also modifying gift tax laws. It adjusts gift tax calculations, addresses transfers in trust, sets an initial $10,000,000 amount for calculating tentative tax, and adjusts for inflation. These changes apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers occurring, and gifts made on or after the enactment date of this Act.

The GLRI Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, allocating $500 million annually from 2027 through 2031. This initiative aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem.