Legislative Activity

The "Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act" amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to broaden the definitions and penalties for kidnapping and sexual offenses involving minors, including redefining abduction, clarifying the circumstances under which consent is not a valid defense, and creating a new offense for the intentional touching of a minor's genitalia with intent to abuse. The Act also updates language and penalties related to abusive sexual contact, ensuring that attempts to commit such offenses are penalized equally with completed acts. Additionally, it modifies language regarding sexual exploitation of children, broadening the scope of the law. Finally, the Act makes conforming amendments to civil rights offense penalties and sentencing classifications to reflect the changes made to the definitions of the underlying offenses.

The "Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act" modifies open meeting requirements for Amtrak, allowing certain discussions on contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and personnel matters to remain private to protect Amtrak's competitive position and individual privacy, unless public discussion is requested in writing. It also applies specific information exemptions to Amtrak meetings.

The AFRIKANER Act prioritizes refugee status for white South Africans facing persecution due to their race, along with their immediate family members. It streamlines the refugee application process, mandates regular reports on application statuses and denials, and ensures that those admitted are not subject to standard immigration limitations. The act aims to provide asylum to a specific group facing humanitarian concerns.

The "Trucker Bathroom Access Act" ensures commercial truck drivers have access to restrooms at businesses where they are delivering or waiting to load goods. It also requires terminal operators to provide adequate restroom facilities for drayage truck operators at ports and intermodal rail yards. The bill aims to address the challenges faced by truckers in finding safe and accessible restroom facilities during their work. This access does not require businesses to make any physical changes to their restrooms.

The American Tank Car Modernization Act of 2025 establishes grant and pilot programs to promote the use of telematics systems and onboard sensors on freight railcars. The grant program will provide funding for the purchase and installation of telematics systems, prioritizing tank cars carrying hazardous materials, while the pilot program supports the development of onboard sensor technologies to improve railcar safety and real-time data collection. These programs aim to enhance data collection, improve safety, increase railcar efficiency, and reduce reliance on manual data capture. The bill authorizes \$100 million annually for the grant program and \$10 million annually for the pilot program from 2026 to 2029.

The "Stop CARB Act of 2025" repeals the Clean Air Act's waivers that allow California to set its own emission standards for nonroad engines, vehicles, and locomotives. This bill stops other states from adopting California's emission standards for new motor vehicles, ensuring a national standard. It voids existing waivers and denies pending applications related to these standards.

The "Save Our Shrimpers Act" aims to protect the U.S. shrimping industry by preventing federal funds from supporting foreign shrimp farming through international financial institutions. It prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from providing funds to international financial institutions that use the funds for shrimp farming, processing, or export activities in foreign countries. Additionally, the Act mandates an annual report from the Comptroller General to Congress on the compliance of U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions regarding opposition to financial assistance for surplus commodities and minerals.

This resolution censures Representative Al Green for disrupting President Trump's address to Congress, violating decorum, and bringing disrepute to the House. It mandates that Representative Green present himself to the House for a public reading of the censure resolution by the Speaker.

The Medal of Honor Act increases the special monthly pension for Medal of Honor recipients to match the compensation rate for a veteran without dependents. It ensures recipients receive a higher pension amount that reflects their extraordinary heroism. Additionally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments to January 31, 2033.

The CARGO Act of 2025 prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research or programs involving live animals outside of the United States. This bill addresses concerns over the lack of oversight and potential mistreatment of animals in foreign research projects funded by American taxpayers. The Act ensures that NIH funding for animal research is restricted to projects conducted within the U.S. and its territories.

The "End Unaccountable Amnesty Act" seeks to reform immigration laws by requiring congressional approval for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and terminations, changing procedures for unaccompanied alien children, repealing cancellation of removal, restricting acceptable identification documents for air travel, and limiting the use of immigration parole. The bill also places restrictions on who can be granted special immigrant juvenile status. Furthermore, it sets a limit on the number of people who can be granted parole and requires a report to Congress on those granted parole.

The "Endowment Tax Fairness Act" increases the excise tax on private colleges and universities' investment income from 1.4 percent to 21 percent. This change applies to taxable years following the law's enactment. The generated revenue will first be used to reduce the national deficit, and then the national debt.

The Justice for Jocelyn Act aims to limit participation in Alternatives to Detention programs, mandating GPS tracking and curfew requirements for aliens in the program. It requires that all detention beds are full and no other detention options are available before an alien can participate in alternative programs. The Act also mandates the removal of aliens who fail to comply with release orders and ensures that if any part of the Act is found unconstitutional, the remaining parts will still be valid.

The "National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act" aims to support the National Law Enforcement Museum's programs for community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness through grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The act authorizes \$6,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for each of the first 7 fiscal years after the law is enacted. It requires annual progress reports to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of funds. The Act allows the Secretary to use funds to continue activities the National Law Enforcement Museum was already doing when this law was enacted.