Legislative Activity

This bill establishes the National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the Department of Commerce to serve as a direct link between the federal government and the U.S. manufacturing sector. The Council's primary mission is to advise the Secretary of Commerce on policy, assess competitiveness factors, and produce an annual national strategic plan with recommendations for Congress. It is tasked with seeking diverse input from industry, labor, and communities to address challenges like supply chain issues and workforce development before automatically terminating five years after its first meeting.

The Securing Our Propane Supply Act directs the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility and impact of establishing a national strategic propane reserve. This study must analyze supply chain risks, storage logistics, market effects, and consumer impact within 180 days. Following the study, the DOE must develop and submit a formal implementation plan to Congress regarding the creation of this reserve or alternative solutions.

This bill establishes the **Space Commerce Advisory Committee** to advise the Secretary of Commerce and Congress on strengthening the U.S. commercial space sector. The committee will consist of 15 industry experts who will provide recommendations on policy, innovation, and challenges facing the industry. This advisory body is authorized to operate for ten years from its establishment date.

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025 officially recognizes the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians as a federally recognized Tribe. This Act restores their eligibility for all federal services and benefits available to recognized Tribes. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of the Interior to acquire and hold land in trust for the Tribe within specific Michigan counties. This legislation affirms the Tribe's continuous existence and rights despite past administrative delays.

The Broadcast VOICES Act aims to increase ownership diversity in the broadcasting industry by incentivizing sales to socially disadvantaged individuals through a temporary tax certificate program. It also requires the FCC to report on current ownership statistics and recommend future growth strategies. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new tax credit for donating broadcast stations to qualified training organizations.

The RAPID Reserve Act establishes a new program requiring the Secretary of HHS to contract with companies to create and maintain rolling reserves of critical drugs and their active ingredients, focusing on those with vulnerable supply chains. These contracted entities must store a six-month supply, keep it fresh, and agree to surge production or transfer stock upon government direction. The goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and ensure supply chain resiliency against shortages or national security threats.

The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act mandates that federal agencies conduct comprehensive software inventories and develop detailed modernization plans to consolidate licenses and improve management. These assessments must detail software usage, contracts, and associated costs, with findings reported to key oversight bodies. The law aims to increase efficiency, reduce unnecessary spending, and ensure better governance over agency software assets without authorizing new appropriations.

The Streamlining Federal Cybersecurity Regulations Act of 2025 establishes an interagency Harmonization Committee, chaired by the National Cyber Director, to create a unified baseline of cybersecurity requirements across federal agencies. This Act mandates the development of a regulatory framework to reduce conflicting or redundant rules and includes a voluntary pilot program to test these harmonized standards. Ultimately, the goal is to improve efficiency and consistency in federal cybersecurity oversight without granting new authorities to any agency outside of the pilot program's scope.

The Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act directs the SelectUSA program to coordinate with state economic development organizations to attract foreign direct investment into U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. This effort aims to secure the critical supply chain for computer chips, which are vital for the economy and national security. The Act requires a report detailing strategies to boost investment while ensuring foreign adversaries do not benefit from these efforts. All activities under this law must be funded using existing operational budgets.

The Mapping America's Pharmaceutical Supply Act (MAPS Act) aims to strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain by requiring the regular updating of an Essential Medicines List and mandating comprehensive risk assessments of drug sourcing. This legislation directs federal agencies to map the supply chains for these critical drugs, identifying vulnerabilities related to foreign reliance and national security risks. Furthermore, the Department of Defense must report biannually on pharmaceuticals sourced or manufactured in China.

The Strong Communities Act of 2025 establishes the COPS Strong Communities Program to provide competitive grants for local law enforcement training. These funds support officers and recruits attending specialized programs, contingent upon a commitment to serve in their local community for at least four years afterward. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing grant recipients, training plans, and officer retention rates to ensure transparency.

The Nuclear Ecosystem Drone Defense (NEDD) Act of 2025 grants the Secretary of Energy new authority to procure and operate certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems otherwise restricted by law. This allows the Department of Energy (DOE) to acquire necessary drones from flagged foreign entities under specific exemptions. Additionally, the bill expands the Secretary's authority to protect sensitive nuclear assets from drone threats.

The Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2025 aims to enhance border security by mandating the annual hiring of new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, contingent upon funding, until staffing needs are met. The bill also requires a comprehensive report detailing necessary infrastructure and technology upgrades at ports of entry to combat drug smuggling. Furthermore, it establishes stricter quarterly reporting requirements for CBP regarding temporary staff assignments and service agreements to ensure operational transparency.

The Preventing Power Outages Act revises federal funding criteria to enhance the resilience of the electric grid and prevent outages. It mandates the use of specific reliability metrics (SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI) that count all outages over five minutes, prioritizing areas with the worst historical performance for federal grants. Furthermore, the Act prohibits bundling requirements for grant applications and extends the program's funding timeline through 2031.

The Combating CCP Labor Abuses Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Commerce provide specialized training to its employees regarding human rights abuses, particularly forced labor in the Xinjiang region by the Chinese government. Furthermore, the Act requires the Department to issue guidance to U.S. businesses engaged in interstate commerce or foreign investment. This guidance must help companies identify and avoid risks associated with entities tied to these severe human rights violations.

The Vehicle Safety Research Act of 2025 establishes the Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) program within the Department of Transportation. This program mandates the use of an external organization to conduct traffic safety research using voluntarily submitted data. Crucially, the Act provides strong confidentiality protections, ensuring participant data ownership and restricting the release of submitted information and analysis results. The bill also allocates specific funding for the program through Fiscal Year 2030.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025 officially extends the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which supports workers, firms, and farmers negatively impacted by trade, through December 31, 2031. This legislation also clarifies the application of TAA rules for petitions filed between July 1, 2021, and the date of enactment, often requiring reconsideration under current standards. Furthermore, it updates the funding and training calculation windows to align with the new program extension dates.

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Extension Act is a short bill designed to extend the effective period of a key provision within the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Specifically, this legislation pushes back the expiration date for Section 111(a) by ten years. This ensures that the relevant cybersecurity information-sharing provisions will remain active until 2035.

The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to expand dual or concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students. These grants will help colleges partner with local school districts to allow students, particularly those from low-income or rural backgrounds, to earn college credit tuition-free while still in high school. Funds can be used for teacher training, outreach, and ensuring earned credits easily transfer to higher education institutions.

The Artificial Intelligence and Critical Technology Workforce Framework Act of 2025 mandates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and maintain standardized workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. These frameworks must define necessary skills, incorporate support roles, and detail non-traditional career pathways. NIST is also required to regularly review and update these guides, including the existing cybersecurity framework, and report its progress to Congress.