Legislative Activity

The Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act establishes a new Office of Biotechnology Policy within the Department of Agriculture. This office will be responsible for coordinating all USDA policies, research, and activities related to biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology. The Director will report directly to the Secretary of Agriculture and must coordinate efforts with other federal agencies like the EPA and FDA. The Act also mandates engagement with relevant stakeholders, including researchers and farmers.

The Foundation for Enabling Biotechnology Innovation Act establishes a new, private, non-profit organization to accelerate the transition of biotechnology products from the lab to the U.S. market. This Foundation will foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies to overcome commercialization hurdles. It is explicitly prohibited from creating or enforcing regulations and must develop a plan to become financially self-sustaining within five years.

This resolution officially designates July 2025 as "American Grown Flower and Foliage Month." It encourages consumers to support domestic agriculture by purchasing flowers and foliage grown in the United States. The designation aims to highlight the economic and community benefits provided by American flower growers.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act allows states to authorize highly qualified, accredited conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This grants states flexibility in ensuring the long-term protection of forest lands by utilizing experienced external partners. The bill establishes strict criteria for these organizations and includes a clear reversion process if they fail to uphold their monitoring or enforcement responsibilities.

The Expanding the VOTE Act clarifies existing requirements for providing voting materials in minority languages under the Voting Rights Act. It establishes a new grant program to incentivize jurisdictions to offer language assistance beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill addresses specific provisions for American Indian and Alaska Native languages and directs a study on lowering language assistance thresholds.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual funding to states specifically for improving election administration, security, and accessibility. This funding is sourced from a dedicated Trust Fund and administered by a new federal office. States must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use the money for upgrades like cybersecurity and expanded voting options, while being prohibited from using funds for voter intimidation or other prohibited activities.

The Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act establishes a clear, six-fiscal-year deadline for states to begin construction on federally funded emergency road repair projects following a disaster declaration. This bill provides states with greater certainty regarding federal funding obligations while allowing for necessary extensions upon gubernatorial request and justification. Additionally, the Act mandates regular updates to the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Manual.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements Act grants the NCUA Board the authority to determine which credit unions are eligible to serve as agents within an agent group. This change updates existing law by replacing a specific list of eligible credit unions with broader discretionary power for the Board.

This bill, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, updates the eligibility requirements for a specific immigration registry status. It replaces outdated entry date requirements with a new standard requiring applicants to have resided in the United States for at least seven years prior to applying. These changes aim to modernize the criteria for long-term residents seeking this status.

The Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 establishes a national strategy to improve mental health awareness and reduce stigma within Hispanic and Latino communities. This plan requires culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach tailored to the diverse needs of these populations. The Act also mandates annual reporting on the strategy's effectiveness and authorizes funding for its implementation.

The Equal Health Care for All Act aims to eliminate systemic bias and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on race, sex, disability, and age. It mandates comprehensive data collection to expose inequities, incorporates fairness measures into hospital quality assessments and payment programs, and establishes a Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor progress. Furthermore, the Act strengthens anti-discrimination enforcement and creates grant programs to help hospitals actively promote equitable care.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress conditions. This Act requires the Secretary (of Labor) to rapidly establish comprehensive, science-based worker heat protection standards, including mandatory rest, water, and shade provisions. Furthermore, it grants enforcement power to OSHA, ensuring these new heat safety rules carry the full weight of existing occupational safety law. The legislation also establishes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who report heat hazards.

This Act authorizes the creation and sale of commemorative coins to celebrate the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. The Secretary of the Treasury is empowered to mint various denominations of gold, silver, and clad coins for each event, with designs reflecting American participation. A mandatory surcharge on each coin sold will directly fund the respective organizing committees for the Games and their legacy programs, provided the government recovers all minting costs first.

The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act establishes dedicated federal programs managed by the EPA to restore water quality in the severely polluted Tijuana and New Rivers, which impact public health in Southern California. The bill mandates the creation of comprehensive, science-based action plans and priority project lists for both watersheds, requiring extensive coordination with U.S. and Mexican partners. It authorizes significant funding mechanisms to support infrastructure construction, operation, and maintenance aimed at improving sanitation and environmental health near the border. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure long-term accountability and measurable improvements in water quality for affected border communities.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes federal standards to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas pollution from large commercial vessels engaged in U.S. trade. It mandates a phased reduction in the carbon intensity of marine fuels, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires large ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters to meet zero-emission standards for air pollutants by 2035. The law also institutes comprehensive annual monitoring and public reporting of fuel usage and emissions data for covered voyages.

The VISIBLE Act mandates that federal immigration officers (CBP and ICE) clearly display their agency and name/badge number on their outermost clothing during all public-facing enforcement activities. This law aims to increase transparency and public trust by ensuring officers are easily identifiable from a distance. The Department of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on compliance rates and disciplinary actions taken for violations. Furthermore, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will investigate public complaints regarding these new identification standards.

The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act requires the Attorney General to publicly list licensed firearms dealers whose sales are frequently traced in connection with crime guns. Federal agencies are prohibited from awarding contracts to these "covered dealers" within two years of their listing, unless a national security waiver is granted. This aims to restrict federal business with dealers whose firearms are quickly recovered after sale in criminal investigations.

The Stopping the Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act makes it a federal crime to use lies, false promises, or deceptive claims when importing, manufacturing, or selling firearms or ammunition. This legislation also bans using electronic or broadcast media to promote such fraudulent gun sales. The bill updates existing federal law to ensure these deceptive practices carry appropriate penalties.

This bill authorizes the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept external funds from federal and non-federal sources for wastewater treatment and flood control projects. These funds must be deposited into a dedicated Treasury account for use on authorized activities. The bill places a $5 million annual cap on using these funds for non-federal cost-sharing and prohibits accepting funds from entities connected to "foreign countries of concern." The IBWC must report annually to Congress on the use of these accepted funds.