Legislative Activity

The SALT Act, or the "Start Applying Labor Transparency Act," amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to require increased transparency in labor organization activities. It mandates labor organizations and individuals to report payments, agreements, and activities aimed at influencing employees' organizing rights or gathering information during labor disputes. The Act directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations for implementation within 6 months.

The "Say No to Indoctrination Act" prohibits the teaching or promotion of gender ideology, as defined in Executive Order 14168, within educational programs covered by Section 8526 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

The "One Door to Work Act" allows states to apply for consolidated grants to fund innovative workforce development projects for 5 years, with rigorous evaluations to assess outcomes. The Secretary can waive certain requirements for approved projects, which must still comply with performance accountability and priority of service for veterans and low-income individuals. Projects are limited to a certain number per period and must meet performance targets to be renewed, with sanctions for underperformance.

The "Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prevent accreditation agencies from imposing political or ideological requirements on institutions, ensuring viewpoint neutrality. It protects religious institutions' rights to maintain their religious missions and standards. The bill also limits the Secretary of Education's authority to set criteria for accrediting agencies and ensures institutions meeting federal standards remain eligible for program participation.

The "Mining Schools Act of 2025" aims to bolster domestic mining education by establishing a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Energy, to support mining schools in recruiting and educating mining engineers and other professionals. This act awards up to 10 competitive grants each year to enhance programs related to mining, mineral extraction, critical mineral exploration, and reclamation technology. It also establishes a Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate grant applications and provide recommendations. Finally, the act repeals the Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Act of 1984 and states that the implementation of the act is subject to the availability of appropriations.

The "Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the process for higher education institutions undergoing changes of control, including conversions from for-profit to non-profit status. It introduces application fees to expedite reviews by the Department of Education and the IRS, mandates transparency in the approval process, and establishes stricter monitoring for institutions post-conversion to ensure financial responsibility and compliance. The bill also requires a GAO report on the implementation of these changes to identify areas for further improvement.

The Ensuring Distance Education Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, modifying the 90/10 rule. This modification changes the treatment of revenue generated from distance education programs.

The Reporting on Investments in Foreign Adversaries Act, or RIFA Act, mandates that higher education institutions disclose investments linked to foreign countries or entities of concern in an annual report to the Secretary of Education. These institutions must appoint a compliance officer, and the Secretary will create a public database of these reports. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and impact eligibility for federal student aid programs.