Legislative Activity

This resolution designates September 30, 2025, as "Impact Aid Recognition Day" to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Impact Aid program. The program provides essential financial assistance to local school districts that educate students living on tax-exempt federal property. This recognition underscores Congress's continued commitment to ensuring quality education for federally connected students.

This resolution supports designating the week of September 21 through September 27, 2025, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." The measure aims to officially recognize and honor the profound sacrifices made by families who have lost a loved one serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It encourages communities nationwide to observe this week through acts of service and by celebrating the lives of these fallen service members.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act aims to grant qualified Tribal law enforcement officers the authority to enforce federal law within their jurisdiction under specific federal contracts or compacts. This requires Tribal officers and their departments to meet rigorous federal training and procedural standards comparable to those of Bureau of Justice Services employees. When acting under this authority, these Tribal officers will receive the same legal protections and benefits as federal law enforcement officers. The bill also mandates the Department of Justice to improve coordination and accountability for public safety efforts on tribal lands.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to expand the definition of a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) under Medicare to include certain hospitals located on Indian reservations. This change allows reservation-based facilities to qualify for CAH status even if they do not meet standard geographic distance requirements. Furthermore, qualifying hospitals on reservations can establish specialized psychiatric or rehabilitation units without being subject to typical bed count limitations.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to expand eligibility for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status under Medicare for certain hospitals located on Indian reservations. It allows qualifying reservation hospitals to receive special Medicare payment rates, even if they don't meet all standard CAH criteria. Furthermore, it permits these newly designated CAHs to operate psychiatric or rehabilitation units without typical bed-size limitations.

This bill establishes a new "Cargo Circumvention Tax" aimed at deterring companies from bypassing U.S. import regulations by routing goods through Canada or Mexico. The tax, set at 0.125% of the cargo's value, will be levied on U.S.-bound shipments that stop in those countries before entering the United States. Importers are responsible for paying this tax upon the cargo's final entry into the U.S., with the provisions taking effect after December 31, 2025.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls." It highlights the severe crisis of violence against Native women and girls and calls for remembrance and support for affected families. Additionally, the bill urges the Department of Justice to conduct an updated study on the data surrounding this ongoing national tragedy.

The United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act amends federal law to permit the mailing of alcoholic beverages through the USPS under strict new regulations. These regulations will require age verification upon delivery, restrict shipments to personal use, and mandate that shippers be registered entities. This change does not preempt any existing state or local laws regarding alcohol sales or shipment.

This resolution formally recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and commends its significant contributions to science, energy, and national security. Congress acknowledges PNNL's evolution from a nuclear research facility to a major national laboratory driving innovation across critical sectors. The bill celebrates the lab's extensive research, collaborations, and commitment to developing future STEM talent.

The Defending our Dams Act prohibits the use of federal funds for any study, action, or support related to breaching, changing the function of, or removing the four Lower Snake River dams. This legislation also restricts special water spillage operations at these dams without dual approval from the Secretary of the Army and the Bonneville Power Administration Administrator. The Act specifically targets the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite Dams.

This Act establishes the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTFISN), a high-level body composed of representatives from key federal departments like Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security. The JTFISN's primary mission is to lead and strategically coordinate federal efforts to disrupt the trafficking and supply chains of synthetic narcotics, with a specific focus on foreign actors like the People's Republic of China. The task force is authorized to investigate related crimes but is explicitly barred from targeting individuals solely based on personal drug use.

This bill allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant an extension of up to six additional years for certain hydropower projects licensed before March 13, 2020, to commence construction. Licensees must apply for this extension, which will be granted in up to three consecutive two-year periods. Furthermore, the legislation provides a mechanism for FERC to reinstate licenses whose construction deadlines expired after December 31, 2023.

The POWER Act restricts the Secretary of the Army from breaching federally operated dams if doing so negatively impacts carbon emissions, navigation, product prices, or land use acreage. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the retirement of federally owned hydropower sources if it significantly increases electricity rates or decreases energy reliability in several Western states. Any retired generation source must have its baseload power replaced 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.