Legislative Activity

This bill aims to improve rural housing programs by streamlining processes, preserving affordable housing, and increasing homeownership opportunities in Native communities. It includes provisions for rental assistance, loan restructuring, and grants for technical assistance and community development. The bill also focuses on updating technology, improving loan accessibility, and ensuring timely application reviews for rural housing assistance. Additionally, it supports the creation of accessory dwelling units and facilitates the transfer of properties to nonprofit organizations to maintain affordable housing options.

The "Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act" or the "ABC Act" requires a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to simplify processes and improve communication for family caregivers. This includes reducing red tape, improving website accessibility, and providing timely and accessible information. The act mandates regular reports to Congress on the progress and impact of these improvements. Additionally, the act encourages states to conduct similar reviews to reduce administrative burdens on caregivers at the state level.

This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to recognize the vital role of women in agriculture. It acknowledges women's significant contributions as producers, educators, leaders, and mentors within the agricultural sector. The resolution supports celebrating women's impact on food resources and the agricultural workforce, encouraging their continued involvement and leadership in the field.

The "Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025" aims to retain foreign students with advanced STEM degrees in the U.S. by streamlining the visa application process and creating a pathway to lawful permanent residency for those with job offers in related fields. It mandates stricter verification and reporting for STEM student visas while also allowing STEM graduates with advanced degrees and qualifying job offers to apply for permanent residency, including their spouses and children. The act also permits foreign STEM students to obtain or extend their student visas even if they intend to seek permanent residency.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, recognizing his public service, military service, and contributions to Wyoming and the nation. It celebrates his work on border security, veterans affairs, entitlement reform, and fiscal responsibility, as well as his dedication to various Wyoming institutions. The resolution expresses sorrow at his passing, directs communication to the House of Representatives and his family, and adjourns the Senate in his memory.

The "SHORT Act" seeks to amend federal laws regarding short-barreled rifles and shotguns by removing them from the purview of the National Firearms Act, thereby eliminating specific taxes, registration requirements, and restrictions on interstate commerce related to these weapons, and requiring the destruction of existing related records. The bill also clarifies that federal compliance with possessing these weapons satisfies any corresponding state or local requirements. It also preempts state and local governments from enforcing certain laws that tax, mark, record, or register these weapons.

This resolution supports the designation of May 29, 2025, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to bring attention to mental health challenges within the agricultural community. It aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness among farmers and farmworkers, who face unique stressors and have higher suicide rates. The resolution promotes the use of available resources like the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and encourages the prioritization of mental well-being in agriculture.

This resolution celebrates the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. It recognizes their significant achievements across various sectors, including military service, business, medicine, and the arts. The resolution also emphasizes the need to invest in the future of these women by addressing barriers they face in justice, healthcare, education, and economic advancement.

The "Mining Schools Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to strengthen domestic mining education by awarding up to 10 grants annually to mining schools. These funds can be used for student recruitment, enhancing mining programs, and reducing reliance on foreign energy and mineral resources. A newly established Mining Professional Development Advisory Board will recommend grant recipients and amounts to the Secretary of Energy. The act also repeals the Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act and authorizes $10,000,000 to be appropriated each year from 2026 to 2033 to fund the grant program.

The "China Financial Threat Mitigation Act of 2025" requires the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report on the financial risks the People's Republic of China poses to the United States. The report will assess potential impacts on U.S. and global financial systems, evaluate current protective policies, and analyze the reliability of China's economic data. It also recommends actions for the U.S. government to mitigate these risks and safeguard U.S. interests, including collaboration with international organizations. The report will be submitted to key congressional committees, relevant international bodies, and made available to the public.

The "Military Spouse Hiring Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to include employers who hire qualified military spouses as eligible for the work opportunity tax credit. A qualified military spouse is certified by a local agency as married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. This expansion of the work opportunity credit applies to amounts paid after the law's enactment for individuals starting work after that date.

The Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act (FIRM Act) removes "reputational risk" as a supervisory factor for federal banking agencies when overseeing financial institutions. This bill prohibits these agencies from using reputational risk to regulate, supervise, or examine banks, ensuring that all legal businesses and citizens have equal access to financial services. The Act requires federal banking agencies to report to Congress on their implementation of these changes.

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act aims to protect rural water and wastewater systems from cyber threats by establishing a cybersecurity circuit rider program. This program will provide technical assistance to rural water and wastewater systems, helping them assess vulnerabilities, improve cybersecurity protocols, and address weaknesses in their cyber protection plans. The Act allocates $10 million annually from 2025 to 2029 to fund the program.

This resolution urges the UN Security Council to strengthen and expand the arms embargo on Sudan to address the ongoing conflict and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It calls for stricter enforcement of sanctions against those violating the embargo, the inclusion of dual-use equipment in the embargo, and the establishment of mechanisms for humanitarian aid delivery and civilian protection. The resolution also appeals to the UN General Assembly for a nationwide ceasefire, recognition of atrocities, and unrestricted humanitarian aid, while pressing the U.S. government to increase support for civil society, improve monitoring of atrocities, and restart funding for affected areas. Ultimately, the resolution seeks to pressure all parties to end the conflict, adhere to the arms embargo, and ensure the protection and aid for civilians in Sudan.

The "Deliver for Democracy Act" aims to improve the on-time delivery of periodicals by requiring the Postal Regulatory Commission to change its regulations regarding rate increases for periodicals based on specific performance metrics. It mandates annual progress reports on newspaper mail delivery and directs the Comptroller General to study alternative pricing options for the Postal Service to improve the financial position of periodicals.

The Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2025 aims to increase landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program, particularly in high-opportunity neighborhoods, by offering financial incentives such as one-time payments, security deposit assistance, and landlord liaison bonuses. It also establishes a fund to support these initiatives and authorizes funding for the Tribal HUD-VASH program. The bill streamlines housing quality standards by accepting inspections from other housing programs and allowing pre-approval of units and modernizes the Section 8 Management Assessment Program. Finally, it mandates the use of small area fair market rents in certain metropolitan areas to expand housing options and requires annual reports on the Act's effectiveness.

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act extends medical care coverage for veteran caregivers and provides them with employment assistance, including reimbursement for certification fees, access to training modules, and support through various programs. It expands services to include retirement planning and assistance for returning to the workforce, while also mandating bereavement counseling. The Act further requires studies on returnship programs and hiring incentives for former caregivers, as well as a report on the feasibility of establishing retirement plans for them.

The "BADGES for Native Communities Act" aims to improve the safety of Native communities by addressing data gaps and resource needs in law enforcement. It mandates the appointment of Tribal facilitators to improve data collection on missing and unidentified persons cases, requires reports on law enforcement staffing needs in Indian Country, and establishes a grant program for coordinating responses to missing persons and violence cases. Additionally, the Act directs studies on evidence handling and interdepartmental coordination to provide counseling resources for Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement officers.

The "Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025" aims to streamline the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) process for reviewing and approving mortgages and right-of-way documents on Indian land by setting strict deadlines for document processing, mandating notifications regarding delays, and ensuring direct delivery of title status reports. This act also establishes a Realty Ombudsman position to ensure compliance and address inquiries or complaints from tribes, members, and lenders. Additionally, it requires annual reports on mortgage processing performance and a GAO study on digitizing land documents to further improve the mortgage process.

The "Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act" expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to include tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations. It increases the maximum grant amount to $50,000, with potential increases for counties with numerous off-road communities. The bill also reauthorizes funding for the program through 2029.