Legislative Activity

The ICELAND Act would allow Icelandic nationals to be eligible for E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas to the United States, which are for treaty traders and investors, respectively. This would occur if the Government of Iceland provides similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals.

The Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025 aims to bolster local meat and poultry processing by providing resources, grants, and training programs to smaller establishments. This includes creating a database of HACCP plans, increasing the federal share for state inspection expenses, expanding interstate shipment opportunities, and establishing a grant program to enhance processing resilience. The bill also supports workforce development through training programs at educational institutions and processing facilities.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy" by designating regional Ocean Innovation Clusters and Centers that encourage collaboration between businesses, academic institutions, and government entities. These clusters will focus on areas like sustainable seafood, workforce development, and ocean energy, and will work to increase pathways for new entrants into the Blue Economy. The Act directs federal agencies to support these clusters through partnership managers, technical knowledge exchange, and measurement of their economic impact. It also authorizes grants to support the operation and administration of the Ocean Innovation Clusters, with the goal of the clusters becoming self-sustaining.

The "NO TIME TO Waste Act" aims to significantly reduce food loss and waste through a variety of initiatives. It establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste, promotes public-private partnerships, and launches a national education campaign to change consumer behavior. The act also focuses on improving coordination between government agencies, supporting food recovery infrastructure, and prioritizing research and grant programs related to food waste reduction. Ultimately, this bill seeks to achieve a 50% reduction in food loss and waste by 2030, addressing climate change, food security, and public health concerns.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 aims to improve support and resources for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It mandates a comprehensive report on MST in the digital age, updates the disability compensation claims process, and expands access to healthcare and support services for veterans and former service members, including those who did not complete their service academy training. The bill also focuses on improving communication, training, and oversight within the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans receive respectful and effective care.

The Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 broadens credit access for businesses servicing the fishing industry. It allows farm credit banks and production credit associations to offer financial support to businesses that provide services to producers or harvesters of aquatic products. This expansion aims to strengthen the fishing industry's supply chain by ensuring these vital service providers have access to credit.

The "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2025" establishes a task force and grant program to support the preservation and improvement of working waterfronts. It enables covered entities to submit working waterfront plans for approval and receive financial assistance for implementation. The act also authorizes capitalization grants to coastal states for establishing working waterfront preservation loan funds. It allocates $50 million annually from 2025-2029 for both the grant and loan programs.

The "Protect Our Clothes from PFAS Act" modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, specifically altering the requirements for a garment to be classified as water resistant by removing a sentence from the additional notes. This change may impact import duties and trade regulations related to water-resistant clothing.