Legislative Activity

The "HELP Response and Recovery Act" repeals an obsolete Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracting requirement from the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. It mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit annual reports to Congress for five years, detailing the impact of this repeal on preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as any contracts entered into without soliciting bids under urgent circumstances by the FEMA Administrator. These reports will include contract details such as subject, funding, and the related disaster or emergency.

The GLRI Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, allocating $500 million annually from 2027 through 2031. This initiative aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The "Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act" amends the Stafford Act to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request and receive fire management assistance grants from FEMA. It ensures tribal governments can still receive assistance through a state if their direct request is not authorized. The President must update regulations to reflect these changes, consider the unique circumstances of tribal governments, and consult with them during the update process.

The Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act requires the FEMA Administrator to develop and submit a human capital operating plan to Congress every three years to improve the agency's workforce. The plan must include performance measures, cost analysis, staffing goals, and strategies to address workforce gaps, recruitment, and retention. The Comptroller General must submit a report analyzing the plan's compliance with the law.

The "Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act" establishes a committee to advise the Secretary of Commerce and Congress on the non-governmental space sector. This committee will provide recommendations on how the U.S. can support a strong commercial space sector, identify challenges, review best practices for avoiding contamination of celestial bodies, and offer advice on commercial space activities. The committee will consist of 15 members with experience in space policy, engineering, and other relevant fields, and will terminate 10 years after its establishment.

The "Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act" directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive study, in consultation with the National Academy of Public Administration, of the Department of Commerce's offices and bureaus involved in critical supply chain resilience, manufacturing, and industrial innovation. The study will assess their effectiveness, identify overlaps or gaps, and recommend improvements to boost their impact. Following the study, the Secretary will submit a report to Congress with recommendations for legislative actions and the Secretary's response to the report's findings.

The "Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act" aims to enhance the safety and supply of infant formula by requiring manufacturers to quickly report contamination issues and implement corrective actions. It mandates the FDA to provide progress reports on strategies to improve the infant formula market and requires ongoing reporting on supply chain data to Congress. The act also directs the FDA to collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to establish best practices for ensuring a stable and safe infant formula supply.