Legislative Activity

The Enhanced Penalties for Criminal Flag Burners Act aims to increase punishments for individuals who use fire or incendiary devices while committing federal crimes. This legislation specifically targets the use of open flames, including the burning of the U.S. flag, during the commission of federal offenses that endanger the public or damage property. Anyone convicted under these enhanced provisions will face an additional minimum of one year in prison, though the penalties do not apply to constitutionally protected speech.

The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 amends immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI/DUI) offenses. This legislation establishes that a conviction for, or admission to the underlying acts of, a DWI/DUI offense makes a non-citizen inadmissible to the United States or deportable if already present. This applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under local law.

This bill grants limited legal immunity to manufacturers of essential critical infrastructure equipment against lawsuits stemming from wildfire-related losses. This protection applies unless a plaintiff can prove the manufacturer engaged in willful misconduct during the design or production of the equipment. The legislation aims to bolster the security and resilience of vital national systems by supporting their manufacturers.

The TPS Reform Act of 2025 fundamentally shifts the authority for designating and extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from the executive branch to Congress. Under this Act, Congress must pass specific legislation to grant initial TPS or approve any extensions based on ongoing conflict or disaster conditions. The Secretary of Homeland Security assumes the administrative responsibilities previously held by the Attorney General regarding TPS.

This bill officially renames the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the **Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge**. The renaming honors the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically murdered near Houston. This legislation codifies the name change across all official government records and documents.

The Protect RAIL Act amends immigration law to prevent non-citizens convicted of or admitting to crimes involving the theft or tampering of goods shipped across state or international lines from entering the United States. Furthermore, this bill makes non-citizens already in the U.S. deportable if they have committed such offenses related to interstate or foreign shipments.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court by expanding definitions of harm and restricting the public disclosure of their identities. It mandates new, strict reporting duties for tech providers regarding child sexual exploitation material, backed by substantial criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the Act creates broad new civil remedies allowing victims to sue responsible online platforms and app stores for damages related to exploitation that occurred during their childhood. Finally, it improves restitution procedures, particularly for vulnerable victims, while ensuring existing state and tribal protections remain intact.

The GAMBLER Act establishes the Border Enforcement Trust Fund to finance immigration enforcement operations. This fund will be financed by redirecting specific existing excise tax revenues, such as those on firearms and ammunition, to cover the costs of apprehending, detaining, and removing undocumented immigrants. The money can only be spent on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations if Congress passes an appropriations bill.

The SAFE Cities Act establishes a process for the Attorney General to officially designate certain state or local governments as "anarchist jurisdictions" based on their failure to take reasonable steps to stop violence and property destruction. Once designated, these jurisdictions will face restrictions or unfavorable treatment regarding the distribution of federal grants. The criteria focus on local policies that hinder law enforcement's ability to restore order or that involve significant cuts to police funding.

The Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act mandates that the Attorney General annually identify state and local jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement requests, such as honoring detainers. Jurisdictions deemed non-compliant will immediately lose eligibility for all federal financial assistance for at least one year. Funding will only be restored after the Attorney General certifies that the area has corrected its non-compliance.

The Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act of 2025 significantly tightens federal regulation of foreign manufacturers producing gas cylinders for transporting hazardous materials in the U.S. This bill grants the Secretary of Transportation new authority to approve, inspect, and suspend foreign manufacturers based on compliance and accuracy of submitted information. It also mandates public notice periods for new applications and requires enhanced disclosure regarding the applicant's compliance history and potential national security flags.

The Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive, independent audit of all U.S. gold reserves, including purity testing and inventory. This review must also analyze past financial dealings and report findings publicly within a strict timeline. The goal is to ensure full accountability and public knowledge regarding the nation's gold assets.

The New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the United States' readiness to combat the reintroduction of the New World screwworm, a devastating parasite of warm-blooded animals. This study, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, must assess current threat levels, sterile fly production capacity, surveillance systems, and emergency response plans. The resulting report will provide Congress with critical recommendations to strengthen national preparedness against this costly agricultural and wildlife pest.

This Act establishes the death penalty or life imprisonment as the mandatory punishment for individuals convicted of distributing, manufacturing, or possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, if that action results in another person's death. It significantly increases the penalties for fentanyl offenses that lead to fatalities.

The Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act aims to standardize gaming regulations for the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribes in Texas. This bill ensures these two Tribes are regulated consistently under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, just like all other Tribes nationwide. It achieves this by removing confusing, outdated language specific to Texas and fully applying existing federal gaming laws to their operations.

The New IDEA Act prohibits businesses from deducting wages paid to unauthorized workers from their taxable income unless they use the E-Verify program. This legislation makes the E-Verify program permanent and voluntary, offering employers who comply with its rules a legal presumption of compliance regarding employee work authorization. Furthermore, the bill mandates increased information sharing between government agencies to help enforce these new wage deduction and employment verification rules.

This resolution supports designating a "Family Month" to emphasize the importance of the traditional married mother and father family structure as the foundation of a healthy society. It criticizes current policies and cultural trends for discouraging marriage and notes the decline of the nuclear family. Ultimately, the bill calls for a national rededication to strengthening this specific family unit.

The Do or Dye Act mandates the removal of specific artificial color additives from the U.S. food supply. Starting in late 2025, "qualified color additives" will be banned from food, followed by a ban on "covered color additives" like Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5 by the end of 2026. Foods containing these prohibited colors after the respective deadlines will be deemed adulterated under federal law.