Legislative Activity

This bill, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act, adjusts retirement benefits for certain CBP Officers hired around July 2008 to ensure they receive the correct annuity entitlements. It mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to correct these benefits retroactively for eligible individuals. Furthermore, the Comptroller General must review CBP's hiring practices related to these retirement benefits.

The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to enhance transparency in lobbying registration. This bill requires lobbyists to explicitly state whether they are exempt from registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This ensures clearer disclosure regarding potential foreign agent activities.

The HELP Response and Recovery Act repeals obsolete contracting requirements within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Following this repeal, the Secretary of Homeland Security must submit annual reports detailing how the change has promoted taxpayer savings. These reports will also provide specific information on FEMA contracts awarded under urgent circumstances without competitive bidding.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to streamline the federal disaster recovery process by establishing a single, unified intake system for all disaster assistance programs. This system will allow survivors to submit one consolidated application, track their status, and enable agencies to share necessary data securely. The goal is to reduce applicant burden and speed up the delivery of aid following a declared disaster.

The SAFER SKIES Act expands the authority of federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement to counter unauthorized drone threats to public safety and critical infrastructure. It establishes strict training, certification, and reporting requirements for state and local agencies utilizing these new counter-drone measures. Furthermore, the bill increases criminal penalties for using drones during felonies or to smuggle contraband and allows grant funds to be used for purchasing public safety drones and counter-UAS technology.

This bill mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop and submit a strategy for accelerating its response to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination from its activities. The strategy must prioritize cleanup based on health risks and establish clear timelines for remediation efforts. Furthermore, the DoD is required to create a public online dashboard detailing funding, cleanup status, and timelines for every affected military installation.

The BIOSECURE Act of 2025 prohibits federal agencies from contracting with or using federal funds to support biotechnology providers identified as national security risks. This measure aims to safeguard sensitive biological data by restricting the use of equipment and services from designated "biotechnology companies of concern." The Director of OMB is tasked with establishing and maintaining a list of these prohibited entities. The Act includes specific waiver authorities and exceptions for national security and overseas healthcare needs.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to provide alternative drinking water to households whose private wells are contaminated with PFOS and PFOA originating solely from Department of Defense activities. Eligibility is restricted to homes downgradient from a military installation where contamination previously exceeded EPA levels and where other nearby households already receive similar relief. The provision of water—such as bottled water or connection to a municipal system—must be coordinated with existing environmental cleanup efforts.

The Emergency Response Authority Act allows state governors, with Department of Defense consent, to order National Guard Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) members to assist with state disaster response for up to 14 days annually. States must fully reimburse the federal government for the costs associated with this duty. This provision clarifies liability protections for members serving under these state-directed orders.

This Act settles historical land claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community regarding uncompensated transfers of reservation lands to the State of Michigan. It provides the Community with a $33.9 million payment as just compensation for the lost "Reservation Swamp Lands" and "Reservation Canal Lands." In exchange, the bill extinguishes all future claims by the Community to those specific lands, thereby confirming clear title for current non-Indian landowners. The settlement also prohibits the use of these funds for gaming purposes.

The Quantum Readiness and Innovation Act of 2025 mandates the creation of guidance for upgrading computer systems to post-quantum cryptography to defend against future quantum attacks. It requires the development of a national strategy outlining how federal agencies should assess and execute their transition to quantum-safe security measures. Furthermore, the Act establishes a voluntary pilot program to assist high-risk entities in upgrading critical systems.

This act, the Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025, aims to strengthen the quality of care within the Veterans Health Administration by eliminating conflicts of interest in medical peer reviews. It mandates that reviewers with direct involvement in a case must recuse themselves. Furthermore, it ensures that reviews of VA medical facility peer review committee members are conducted by a neutral committee at a different VA facility.

The Motorcycle Safety Awareness Act of 2025 updates federal grant eligibility for states by increasing the required safety criteria from two to three. This new requirement mandates that states include specific instruction on motorcyclist awareness, including state laws and share-the-road principles, in their driver education courses. These changes aim to enhance driver awareness and improve safety for motorcyclists nationwide.

The Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act mandates a comprehensive one-year study by the Secretary of Commerce to review and streamline the Department's programs related to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing innovation. This review must identify responsible offices, assess their effectiveness, and propose recommendations to eliminate overlaps and improve coordination across federal agencies. The final report, developed with the National Academy of Public Administration, will then be submitted to Congress along with legislative suggestions.

The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act ensures that federal employees, military members, and covered contractors receive their full standard compensation for work performed or time furloughed during a lapse in government appropriations occurring after September 30, 2025. This bill appropriates necessary funds for agencies to make these retroactive payments. Payments must be made promptly, generally within seven days of enactment for furloughed individuals. This legislation guarantees that no covered individual loses pay due to a government shutdown during the specified period.

This bill, the Counter-UAS Authority Extension Act, extends the existing authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to detect, track, and stop dangerous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Specifically, it pushes the expiration date for these counter-UAS powers from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2028. This ensures federal agencies maintain their current legal framework for addressing drone threats for an additional three years.

The Youth Prevention and Recovery Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and extends the existing Youth Prevention and Recovery program through Fiscal Year 2030. This bill expands eligibility for grants to include consortia of local educational agencies and refines the focus to target youth at increased risk for substance misuse. It also adds a requirement for grantees to submit sustainability plans for post-grant activities.

This resolution formally recognizes the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service, acknowledging its vital role in American history and infrastructure since 1775. Congress celebrates the USPS for connecting communities and commerce across the nation for two and a half centuries. The resolution honors current and past postal employees and encourages the public to celebrate this historic milestone.

The Extending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act ensures the continuation of vital cybersecurity information sharing between the government and private industry. This bill extends the authority for sharing cyber threat information for an additional ten years, pushing the expiration date from 2025 to 2035. Furthermore, it retroactively applies this extension to prevent any lapse in coverage and officially renames the program to the "Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act."

The Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance science-based fisheries management in the Great Lakes. This initiative authorizes funding to systematically mass-mark hatchery-stocked fish to accurately assess stocking effectiveness and the impact of management strategies. The collected data will be shared with Federal, State, and Tribal partners to support restoration goals and sustain the region's vital fisheries economy.