Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" to raise awareness of the crisis, remember victims, and support their families. It acknowledges the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls and the need for continued action and updated research on this issue. The resolution also recognizes past and present efforts to address the crisis, including Operation Lady Justice, the Savannas Act, the Not Invisible Act, and the establishment of dedicated units and commissions.

The United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act permits the USPS to ship alcoholic beverages under specific conditions, aligning with state and local laws regarding private alcohol shipments. This act requires the Postal Service to establish regulations ensuring age verification, direct delivery, and compliance with state alcohol laws, while also allowing state, local, and tribal governments to sue the Postal Service for violations of alcohol-related laws. These changes will take effect upon the issuance of Postal Service regulations or within two years of the law's enactment.

This bill recognizes and congratulates the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on its 60th anniversary. It acknowledges PNNL's contributions to research and development, including advancements in energy, cybersecurity, and STEM education. The bill also highlights PNNL's collaborations and successful innovation in various fields.

The "Defending our Dams Act" prohibits federal funds from being used to breach, alter, or study the breaching of the Lower Snake River dams. It also restricts the Army Corps of Engineers from carrying out spillage operations on these dams without approval from the Secretary and the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration.

The "Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025" establishes a multi-agency task force (JTFISN) to coordinate and lead U.S. efforts against illicit synthetic narcotics, including investigating and prosecuting trafficking crimes, and addressing the role of foreign entities like China in the opioid crisis. The JTFISN will develop strategic plans, improve interagency collaboration, and share information to disrupt synthetic drug trafficking networks. The task force is prohibited from targeting individuals for personal drug use or low-level dealing without ties to larger networks.

The POWER Act prohibits the Secretary of the Army from breaching federally operated dams if it increases carbon emissions or negatively impacts commercial navigation and prohibits the Secretary from retiring an energy generation source if it increases electricity rates or decreases energy reliability in certain states. It requires consultation with other agencies and a study on land usage before breaching a dam. The Act also mandates replacement of any retired energy generation source's baseload within 30 days.

This bill censures Representative Al Green of Texas for disrupting the President's address to Congress on March 4, 2025. It condemns his actions and orders him to appear before the House of Representatives to receive a formal reprimand. During this time the Speaker of the House will publicly read the resolution of censure.

The "Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025" adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for agricultural matters. It mandates CFIUS review of agricultural land transactions, particularly those involving entities from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, to safeguard American agriculture. This ensures scrutiny of foreign investments in agricultural land and related industries, addressing potential threats to national security. The requirements for a specific country will end if that country is removed from the list of foreign adversaries in section 791.4 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

The "No American Land for Communist China Act" prohibits the President from allowing individuals or entities associated with the Chinese government from purchasing real estate near covered federal lands. Covered lands include those managed by the Departments of Interior, Defense, Agriculture (Forest Service), and Energy, as well as Indian country. This restriction applies to entities with at least 25% equity interest held by Chinese government-affiliated individuals or businesses. The Act defines "United States" broadly to include states, territories, and other U.S. possessions.

The "Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025" aims to bolster U.S. agricultural exports by increasing funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program. It amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend and significantly increase financial support for these programs through 2029. These changes seek to address the competitive disadvantage faced by U.S. producers due to increased foreign competition and the impact of inflation on static funding levels. By increasing funding, the Act strives to enhance access to foreign markets, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs within the agricultural sector.

The "Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025" reauthorizes and modifies the Department of Defense's authority to sell aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression, extending it to October 1, 2035. It allows sold aircraft to drop water in addition to fire retardant and specifies that these aircraft can only be used for wildfire suppression services.

The Northwest Energy Security Act mandates that the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) be operated as outlined in the 2020 Supplemental Opinion, with limited exceptions for public safety, grid reliability, or removal of unnecessary requirements. It also prevents restrictions on electrical generation at FCRPS dams and navigation on the Snake River without explicit Congressional authorization. This act preserves the ability of the Secretaries to conduct operation, maintenance, and capital improvements.

The "Federal Employee Return to Work Act" changes the pay and locality adjustments for certain federal employees who telework. Specifically, covered employees will not receive annual pay adjustments and their pay will be based on the "Rest of US" locality pay scale. This act goes into effect on the first day of the fiscal year following its enactment.