Legislative Activity

The United States Citrus Protection Act establishes an immediate and permanent ban on the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit originating from the People's Republic of China. This prohibition supersedes all other existing laws regarding citrus imports. The ban will officially take effect 90 days after the Act is signed into law.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act allows medical and dental interns and residents to defer payments on their student loans during their training programs. This deferment specifically prevents principal payments and stops interest from accruing on the loan balance while the borrower is in residency or an internship. This ensures that medical professionals can focus on their training without accruing additional debt.

The Justice for Murder Victims Act amends Title 18 of the United States Code to allow prosecution for homicide regardless of the time between the act/omission and the victim's death, while maintaining the standard statute of limitations. It prohibits the death penalty if the death occurs more than 1 year and 1 day after the act/omission, and specifies that first-degree murder in such cases will be punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life. This amendment applies to acts or omissions occurring after the enactment of this law.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act updates the Highway Safety Improvement Program to prioritize and increase federal funding for projects that protect cyclists and pedestrians. This legislation explicitly expands eligible safety projects to include connecting existing bike/pedestrian paths and implementing risk-reduction strategies for vulnerable road users. Furthermore, it allows states greater flexibility in financing these safety upgrades, including the potential for 100% federal funding for certain projects.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2025 reauthorizes the HOME program for five years with increased funding and reforms to administrative rules and eligibility. The bill strengthens accountability through stricter property inspections and penalties while offering greater flexibility for local jurisdictions and homeowners facing hardship. It also establishes a new federal loan guarantee program to finance affordable housing construction and preservation.

The Securing American Agriculture Act mandates an annual assessment of U.S. reliance on China for critical agricultural products and inputs. This report will identify supply chain vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign adversaries. Based on these findings, the Secretary of Agriculture must recommend strategies to onshore or nearshore the production of these essential farming supplies. The data collection for this assessment will rely solely on voluntary submissions from private companies to protect confidential business information.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the National Labor Relations Act to bolster worker organizing rights and impose stricter penalties on employers who violate labor laws. It redefines joint employment, makes it harder to classify workers as independent contractors, and bans class action waivers. The bill also establishes mandatory arbitration for first contracts and allows employees to sue employers directly for serious unfair labor practices.

This resolution affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, emphasizing the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the law. It supports the established precedent that the executive branch must comply with Federal court rulings. The resolution expresses concern over statements suggesting the executive branch may disregard the authority of the Federal Judiciary.

The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025 addresses the high rates of PTSD among public safety officers and telecommunicators due to job-related trauma. This bill directs the Attorney General to report on and propose federal programs offering specialized, confidential mental health treatment and preventative care for these essential workers. The goal is to establish effective, accessible support systems across all levels of government to combat behavioral health conditions and reduce suicide among first responders.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to significantly speed up the process for newly unionized employees to secure their first collective bargaining agreement. It establishes mandatory timelines for negotiations, requiring mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration if a deal is not reached within a set period. This legislation is designed to prevent lengthy delays that often undermine the unionization process.

The Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act allows the President to redirect excess funds from disaster relief grants towards preparedness and mitigation activities. These excess funds, defined as the difference between the allocated and actual spending on management costs, can be used to enhance disaster resilience and cover management expenses related to disaster preparedness. The bill mandates a report to Congress on the adequacy of current management cost allocations based on recent disaster experiences. This act aims to optimize the use of disaster relief funds and improve community resilience.

The "Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act" streamlines the Medicaid and CHIP enrollment process for out-of-state providers, allowing them to furnish services to individuals under 21 more efficiently. By reducing excessive screening and enrollment requirements, the bill aims to improve access to care for children. Enrolled providers will have a 5-year enrollment period, and the changes will take effect three years after enactment.

This resolution celebrates Black History Month, acknowledging the historical injustices and significant contributions of African Americans to the United States. It recognizes Black History Month as a time for reflection, commemoration, and learning from the past. The resolution encourages the celebration of Black History Month and emphasizes the importance of moving forward as a united nation with liberty and justice for all.

The "Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2025" aims to improve the treatment and prevention of complications related to sickle cell disease. It amends the Public Health Service Act to broaden the scope of activities eligible for funding through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. The act also increases annual funding for these initiatives to $8,205,000 from 2025 through 2029. Congress supports further research into heritable blood disorders, including sickle cell disease, to improve understanding and find cures.

The "Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct biennial risk assessments of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities within the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It also mandates annual crisis simulation exercises for five years to evaluate and improve the preparedness of government and private sectors in responding to food-related emergencies and cyberattacks. The Act aims to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the agriculture and food sector, protect food safety, and ensure national security. It authorizes \$1,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out these activities.

The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act aims to reduce contraband in prisons by increasing penalties for providing or attempting to provide a phone to an inmate. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to review and update policies regarding inmates who make, possess, or try to obtain prohibited items to improve safety.

The "Helping Heroes Act" establishes a Veteran Family Resource Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide personalized support to veterans and their families by connecting them with VA benefits and community resources. It mandates the appointment of family coordinators in each Veterans Integrated Service Network to assist veterans and their families in accessing needed resources. The Act also requires regular surveys of disabled veterans and their families to identify their needs and ensures that all programs and activities funded by the Act adhere to federal nondiscrimination laws.

Ethan's Law aims to reduce gun violence by promoting responsible firearm storage. It establishes a federal requirement for gun owners to securely store firearms, especially in homes with minors or individuals prohibited from owning firearms, with penalties for improper storage. The law also creates a grant program to assist states and Indian Tribes in implementing similar safe storage laws. Additionally, it expresses the sense of Congress that failing to securely store a firearm constitutes negligence and can establish legal causation for harm resulting from its discharge.

The "Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025" changes the appointment process for the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. Going forward, the President will appoint the Director with Senate approval, similar to other high-ranking officials in the Department of Justice, for a single 10-year term. The Director will report directly to the Attorney General.

This resolution supports designating February 15-22, 2025, as National FFA Week, celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.