Legislative Activity

The Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2025 mandates security inspections of foreign-made cranes used at high-risk U.S. ports, assessing and mitigating cybersecurity risks associated with these cranes. The Act prohibits the operation of new foreign cranes and, within five years, foreign software on cranes at U.S. ports, particularly those connected to a "covered foreign country". These covered foreign countries are identified as foreign adversaries by the intelligence community or the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence. The goal is to enhance port security and protect against potential cyber threats.

The Litigation Transparency Act of 2025 requires parties in civil actions to disclose the identity of any third party entitled to payment contingent on the outcome of the case, along with the relevant agreements. This disclosure aims to increase transparency in civil litigation by revealing who financially benefits from the lawsuit's outcome. Certain payments, such as loan repayments and attorney's fees, are exempt from this disclosure requirement. The Act applies to both ongoing and future court cases.

The "REAL Meat Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding for cell-cultured meat production, research, and promotion, defining it as lab-grown meat from animal cells. An exception is made, allowing NASA to use federal funds for cell-cultured meat intended for consumption off-planet.

The "No Kill Switches in Cars Act" repeals a section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The repealed section required the Department of Transportation to create a rule mandating that all new cars have advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology. This bill prohibits the government from requiring car manufacturers to install kill switches in vehicles.

The "Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2025" aims to prevent the obstruction of interstate highways. It establishes penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who knowingly disrupt traffic flow or endanger vehicles on these highways. Increased penalties are applied if emergency vehicles are obstructed or if a death occurs as a result of the obstruction.

The "Marc Fischer Memorial Act" aims to combat the flow of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, into Federal prisons through the mail. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to equip all Federal correctional facilities with the technology and processes needed to scan mail, protect staff and inmates, and ensure timely delivery of mail copies while maintaining legal mail privileges. The strategy includes assessing current practices, identifying necessary resources, and providing a budgetary proposal for implementation, with ongoing reporting to Congress on its effectiveness.

The DRONE Act of 2025 allows the Department of Justice to use certain grants to purchase and operate unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for public safety purposes. This includes grants from the Byrne program and the COPS program. The goal of the act is to provide law enforcement and other public safety agencies with an additional tool to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.

The "UNPLUG EVs Act" rescinds any unspent funds allocated for electric vehicle charging and fueling grants, as well as funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. The recovered funds will be deposited into the Treasury's general fund and used to reduce the federal deficit.

The BOWSER Act repeals the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which currently grants a degree of self-governance to the District of Columbia. This repeal would take effect one year after the enactment of the BOWSER Act. Effectively, this would end the current form of local government in DC.

The "Fair Access to Banking Act" aims to prevent financial institutions from denying services to legal businesses based on subjective or political reasons. It prohibits large banks, credit unions, and payment card networks from discriminating against legal businesses and requires them to provide fair access to financial services based on impartial, risk-based standards. Financial institutions that violate these provisions may face penalties, including ineligibility for taxpayer-funded discount window lending programs and civil penalties. Individuals or businesses who are unfairly denied services can sue the financial institution in U.S. district court.

The "Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act" amends Title 36 of the United States Code to define "female" and "male" based on reproductive systems. It stipulates that individuals whose sex is male are prohibited from participating in amateur athletic competitions designated for females.

This bill stops the distribution of China Daily, a Chinese Communist Party propaganda outlet, in House buildings. It prevents the Chief Administrative Officer from distributing these publications or using internal mail for their delivery, aiming to protect the House from foreign influence. The policy does not restrict private subscriptions by individuals, access through public facilities, or collection by the Library of Congress. The bill defines a CCP-controlled publication as one registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

The "Prison Rape Prevention Act of 2025" mandates that the Bureau of Prisons house and transport prisoners based on biological sex. It defines biological sex as the natural reproductive system of male or female individuals, even with developmental or genetic anomalies. The bill prohibits the Bureau of Prisons from providing or funding gender-related medical treatments, with specific exclusions for certain disorders of sex development or ambiguous biological sex characteristics. "Gender" is explicitly defined to mean the natural differences between males and females, not gender identity or expression.

The "Voter Eligibility Verification Act of 2025" aims to ensure accurate voter rolls by requiring the prompt release of immigration status information to state officials. The Attorney General or Secretary of State must receive an individual's immigration status within 15 days of requesting it, including for potential voters. This will allow states to verify the eligibility of individuals for voter registration.

The "PATROL Act" prevents the Department of Justice from suing states for building barriers along their borders to prevent illegal immigration and protect their territory. This bill specifically applies to civil actions under Section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899, concerning unauthorized obstruction of navigable waters. The term "barrier" includes physical structures like walls, fences, or floating buoys.

The "Stop the Censorship Act" seeks to narrow the scope of Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, modifying the protections for online platforms regarding user-generated content. It redefines protected material as "unlawful material" and includes actions taken to restrict access to other material, regardless of constitutional protection, within the scope of the Act. These changes aim to revise the immunities provided to online platforms concerning content moderation.

The Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 aims to immediately rescind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates across the federal government, including shutting down related offices and banning specific ideological training for federal personnel and contractors. The bill prohibits the use of federal funds for DEI activities by grant recipients and mandates that federal advisory committees cease all such practices or face termination. Furthermore, it establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals to sue violators and seek financial penalties for non-compliance.

The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 ensures that monetary penalties from False Claims Act cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This excludes payments to whistleblowers and reimbursements to the government. This will increase the amount of money available to help victims of crimes.

The "Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act" aims to address and prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault against Bureau of Prisons staff by incarcerated individuals. It mandates a comprehensive review and analysis by the Inspector General of the incidence and effects of such acts, including current punishment practices. Following the review, the Attorney General is directed to establish national standards for preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and sexual assault in prisons.

The "National Human Trafficking Database Act" aims to combat human trafficking by establishing a national database within the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime. It incentivizes state agencies through grants to collect and report comprehensive data on human trafficking cases, prosecutions, and victim services, while ensuring survivor confidentiality. This data will be used to create a public database and inform Congress, enhancing awareness and strategies to combat human trafficking. The act authorizes specific appropriations for both state grants and the maintenance of the national database.