Legislative Activity

The Veteran Jobs Training Act extends and increases the authorization of appropriations for Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs through fiscal year 2025. This legislation sets a new annual funding cap of $75,000,000 for these vital programs starting in fiscal year 2024. The bill ensures continued support for veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to provide immediate relief for disaster loan recipients. It mandates a one-year waiver of all interest accrual and principal payments for certain SBA disaster loans made after the date of enactment. This ensures borrowers have a full year of relief following the disbursement of disaster recovery funds.

The Save Our Forests Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the management and health of the National Forest System. This legislation mandates the immediate hiring of additional Forest Service personnel and the reinstatement of recently departed employees. Furthermore, it ensures the continuation of all previously authorized and funded Forest Service projects under various existing laws.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and updates the successful program through 2034. This legislation broadens the program's focus to include pathogens and mandates specific federal staffing support for local restoration collaboratives. It prioritizes projects that reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, enhance cross-ownership restoration, and improve watershed health, while also expanding funding mechanisms.

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act mandates the completion of a continuous route for the Trail within ten years, subject to funding. It establishes a joint Trail Completion Team to develop a comprehensive roadmap for finishing and optimizing the route. This plan must identify gaps, explore easement options, and estimate total development costs. The Act emphasizes that it does not grant new powers for land acquisition beyond existing legal authorities.

This resolution formally recognizes Clela Rorex, the 1975 Boulder County Clerk who courageously issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in the United States. It honors her pioneering role in advancing civil rights for all couples, four decades before nationwide legalization. The bill also supports the designation of a "Clela Rorex Day" to commemorate her bravery and lasting legacy.

The Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act officially designates approximately 6,817 acres of land within the Routt National Forest as an addition to the existing Sarvis Creek Wilderness. This legislation ensures that established wilderness protections immediately apply to the newly added acreage upon enactment. Furthermore, the Act explicitly preserves existing Tribal treaty rights while allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to permit traditional cultural uses by Indian Tribes in the area. The Secretary also retains authority to manage wildfires, insects, and diseases within the new wilderness addition.

The Secure Background Checks Act of 2025 updates federal law to prohibit firearm possession for individuals who fail to meet both federal and state age requirements simultaneously. It also bans possession for out-of-state purchasers who do not qualify for specific interstate transaction exceptions. The bill includes minor technical amendments to existing penalty statutes.

The Safe Workplaces Act directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop non-binding guidance to help employers reduce the threat of violence in various workplaces. This process begins with a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to inform the development of tailored recommendations. The resulting guidance must address strategies like engineering controls, work practice controls, and environmental risk factors specific to different industries.

The STOP Violence Act of 2025 authorizes $20 million in new federal grants to help public assembly facilities prepare for and defend against mass violence. This funding is specifically designated for training, technical assistance, and compensation to enhance security at places like schools, stadiums, and shopping centers. The Act clearly defines "mass violence" to include both active shooter incidents and targeted violence against specific locations or groups.

The End Gun Violence Act of 2025 prohibits the sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition to any person convicted of a "violent misdemeanor" within the preceding five years. This act establishes a specific federal definition for a violent misdemeanor, requiring that the crime involve the use or threat of physical force and meet certain procedural safeguards regarding legal representation and trial rights. The law includes conforming amendments to update federal background check systems and clarifies that it does not supersede stricter state or local firearm regulations.

The Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act of 2025 allows states to use Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funds to purchase life-saving opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, for schools. These funds can also cover essential training for school staff on administering the antagonists and providing fentanyl awareness education to students. This legislation aims to enhance school safety by equipping them to respond to opioid emergencies.

The TRACE Act mandates updates to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NMUPS) to specifically track cases involving federal land. This includes adding data fields to record when a missing person's last known location or the discovery of unidentified remains occurred on federal property. Furthermore, the Attorney General must submit an annual report detailing these cases, categorized by the managing federal agency.

The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025 establishes permanent, higher base pay rates for federal wildland firefighters based on their GS grade. It also creates a significant daily premium pay bonus for time spent responding to qualifying wildfire incidents. Finally, the bill mandates new paid rest and recuperation leave for firefighters following deployment to ensure proper recovery.

The Affordable College Textbook Act aims to lower the cost of college textbooks for students by expanding the use of open educational resources and increasing transparency in textbook pricing. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to higher education institutions to create and expand the use of open textbooks. It also requires colleges and universities to disclose textbook price information, including whether materials are open educational resources, on online course schedules. Additionally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to report on textbook costs and the impact of open textbooks.

The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act mandates that lobbyists must now disclose on their registration forms whether they qualify for an exemption under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This change enhances transparency by requiring registrants to explicitly state their status regarding representation of foreign entities.

The "Rocky Mountain Judgeship Act" authorizes the appointment of two additional district judges for Colorado and one for Idaho, pending Senate approval. It also updates the U.S. Code to reflect these changes in judicial positions. Additionally, the bill amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to include Fort Collins as a location where court is held in Colorado.

* **Title I (Continental Divide):** Expands wilderness areas and designates wildlife conservation areas within the White River National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park to protect natural habitats and recreational spaces, while also protecting existing rights and uses. * **Title II (San Juan Mountains):** Focuses on land management and conservation in the San Juan Mountains region by expanding wilderness protections, designating new special management areas, and protecting traditional tribal rights. * **Title III (Thompson Divide):** Withdraws the Thompson Divide area from mineral and geothermal leasing to protect its natural resources, offers compensation to leaseholders, and establishes a methane capture program to reduce emissions from coal mines. * **Title IV (Curecanti National Recreation Area):** Establishes the Curecanti National Recreation Area as part of the National Park System, outlining management, land acquisition, and usage guidelines to ensure preservation while allowing for recreational activities and existing rights.

The "Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes and modifies the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, allowing funds to be used for hiring crime analysts, covering overtime costs, and acquiring technology to reduce violent crime. It extends the program's authorization through fiscal year 2030 and supports multi-jurisdictional task forces. Additionally, it mandates the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Judiciary Committees detailing fund expenditures, community outreach, and violent crime statistics in areas using program funds.

The Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act allows federal disaster aid recipients to retain and use unspent management funds for future preparedness, recovery, or mitigation activities. This change applies to grants awarded for disasters declared after the Act's enactment. Furthermore, the GAO is required to study current and historical disaster management costs to assess the appropriateness of current cost allocations.