Legislative Activity

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas H. Griffin for his extraordinary heroism as an Army Captain during the Vietnam War. Griffin repeatedly risked his life between March 1-3, 1969, to lead his battalion against the North Vietnamese Army, saving over 300 allied soldiers despite being shot three times. The original Silver Star awarded to Griffin did not fully recognize his valor, and new evidence supports upgrading his recognition to the Medal of Honor. This authorization overrides the usual time limits for awarding the Medal of Honor.

This bill requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to report to Congress on the cost of living adjustments (COLA) calculations for Armed Forces members and Department of Defense civilian employees stationed in California's 19th Congressional District. The report will assess the accuracy of current COLA calculations, evaluate the inclusion of military commissaries and exchanges, and advise on the advisability of increasing COLA in certain high-cost areas within the district. The goal is to ensure that military personnel and DoD civilians are adequately supported financially, especially in high-cost areas like California.

The Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil or gas exploration, development, or production in the Central California Planning Area. This is achieved through amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act repeals Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, thus eliminating the president's authority to address balance of payments issues through trade restrictions.

The "Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act" amends the Food Security Act of 1985, introducing an exception to payment limitations for individuals or entities earning 75% or more of their income from farming, ranching, or silviculture. This change impacts eligibility for specific agricultural disaster relief programs, ensuring fairer access to aid for those primarily engaged in agricultural activities.

This bill extends combat zone tax benefits to members of the U.S. Armed Forces performing services in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. It ensures that these service members receive the same tax advantages as if they were serving directly in a designated combat zone. The benefits apply when the service members are eligible for special pay due to hazardous duty in these areas. This adjustment recognizes the risks and sacrifices of military personnel serving in these specific locations.

The NATO Edge Act modifies the requirements for the President to withdraw the United States from NATO, stipulating that all NATO members not meeting the 2% GDP defense spending target must commit to doing so within 5 years before withdrawal can occur. It also requires either a two-thirds Senate approval or an act of Congress for any decision to withdraw from NATO. The Act empowers the Senate Legal Counsel or the House General Counsel to challenge any non-compliant withdrawal attempts in federal court. These modifications will sunset on September 30, 2033.

This bill recognizes the resilience of the Ukrainian people in defending their country against Russia's full-scale invasion. It expresses unwavering support for Ukraine, condemns Russia's actions and collaboration with other nations, and supports continued assistance to strengthen Ukraine's military, governance, and economy. The bill also supports using Russian frozen assets to aid Ukraine and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the Ukrainian people.

The "Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act" modifies excise tax regulations by treating marketplace providers as the importer and seller for excise tax purposes on taxable sporting goods sold through their platform if the goods are shipped from outside the U.S. This applies when the marketplace provider lists the product, collects payments, and the manufacturer is not the marketplace provider. The regulations will be applied to sales in calendar quarters starting 60 days after the enactment of this Act.

The "Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act" removes the marriage penalty for adult children with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits based on their parent's work record, ensuring equal treatment in marital relationship determinations across different titles of the Social Security Act. It also protects Medicaid eligibility for these individuals and ensures that one spouse's income or resources are not attributed to the other when determining benefit eligibility. The Act expresses Congress's intent to maintain Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits for married disabled adult children, regardless of state laws or marital status.

The "More Homes on the Market Act" increases the tax exclusion for profit from the sale of a primary residence, raising it to $500,000 for single filers and $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2025. This change encourages homeowners to sell their properties, thereby increasing the availability of homes on the market.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

This bill expresses support for designating February 5, 2025, as "National Prosecutors Day" to recognize the vital role of prosecutors in ensuring justice, deterring crime, and protecting community safety. It acknowledges their advocacy for victims and collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations. The bill encourages state, tribal, and local governments to promote National Prosecutors Day and educate the public about the role of prosecutors in the judicial system. It also recognizes the 75th anniversary of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) for its support of prosecutors.

The US-Kazakhstan Trade Modernization Act allows the President to extend nondiscriminatory trade treatment to products from Kazakhstan, which would formally remove Kazakhstan from Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974. This action acknowledges Kazakhstan's compliance with emigration requirements since 1997 and its membership in the World Trade Organization since 2015, further solidifying trade relations between the United States and Kazakhstan.