Legislative Activity

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 expands existing federal whistleblower safeguards to cover nearly all contracts, grants, and agreements funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This ensures that individuals reporting wrongdoing on HUD-funded projects receive standard federal whistleblower protections. These protections apply retroactively to existing agreements.

The USDA Loan Modernization Act updates eligibility requirements for various USDA farm loans, including real estate, operating, and emergency loans. The bill standardizes ownership requirements across these programs, generally replacing "a majority" interest with a clear "at least a 50 percent" ownership threshold. It also introduces new provisions to accommodate complex business structures and recognizes "qualified operators" as automatically meeting certain criteria.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and financial processors from creating or requiring special merchant category codes specifically for firearm retailers. This legislation aims to prevent the singling out of businesses that sell firearms, ammunition, or related components through transaction coding. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcement and reporting annually to Congress on the law's implementation.

This Act mandates a joint study by federal banking agencies to find ways to improve the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of depository institutions serving rural areas. The study must also identify federal laws or regulations that may be limiting these institutions or the creation of new rural banks. The agencies are required to submit a report of their findings to Congress within one year of enactment.

The American Financial Institution Regulatory Sovereignty and Transparency Act of 2025 (American FIRST Act) mandates that key federal banking agencies significantly increase transparency regarding their international regulatory activities. This bill requires the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the FDIC to submit detailed annual reports to Congress about their engagement with global financial forums. These reports must cover the purpose, funding, positions taken, and implementation plans related to standards set by these international bodies.

The Least Cost Exception Act amends FDIC rules to allow the agency to choose a bank resolution method that is *not* the least costly option. This exception permits the FDIC, in consultation with the Federal Reserve and Treasury, to prioritize limiting concentration among global systemically important banks. Any alternative method chosen must still be less costly than outright liquidation and subject to specific cost limitations and special assessments on acquiring entities.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

This bill, the American Border Story Memorial Act, authorizes The American Border Story (TABS) to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial will honor U.S. citizens and legal residents killed in crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the United States. The establishment must adhere to federal regulations for commemorative works, but crucially, no federal funds can be used for its creation or maintenance.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 300 Macedonia Lane in Knoxville, Tennessee. The facility will now be known as the Reverend Harold Middlebrook Post Office Building. This designation will be used in all future federal references to the building.

The SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2025 mandates that states provide recipient-level SNAP data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request as a condition of program participation. This ensures greater federal oversight and strengthens the ability to enforce program integrity and investigate potential fraud. Failure to comply may result in the withholding of federal administrative funds.

The Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act establishes a new federal crime prohibiting the knowing and intentional administration of abortion-inducing drugs to a pregnant woman without her informed consent. This legislation creates severe criminal penalties, including up to 25 years in prison, for those who violate this prohibition or attempt to do so. Furthermore, it grants victims the right to file a civil lawsuit to recover damages for physical and psychological injuries resulting from forced abortions.

This Act establishes the Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Task Force will improve healthcare, align research, and establish baselines for service members and veterans affected by blast overpressure exposure. It is charged with prioritizing research on related conditions and submitting annual reports with recommendations for evaluating service-connected neurological injuries.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

This bill, the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act, seeks to repeal the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022. By doing so, it will restore the laws and regulations that were in effect prior to the 2022 Act.

This act establishes a permanent, fixed Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding allocation for Tennessee beginning in fiscal year 2026, based on its 2015 allotment. The funding amount will increase annually based on the consumer price index. Furthermore, the bill designates Tennessee as a "low DSH state" for all fiscal years after 2026.

The Equal Representation Act of 2025 mandates the inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census starting in 2030. This legislation requires that the population counts used for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives and determining electoral votes exclude non-citizens. The bill ensures that representation is based solely on the count of U.S. citizens within each state.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the OIG's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and assess HUD's efficiency and resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD programs.

This Concurrent Resolution formally denounces the ideology of socialism based on its historical outcomes. It asserts that socialist principles have consistently led to totalitarian regimes, mass atrocities, and economic collapse worldwide. The resolution contrasts these failures with the founding principles of the United States, concluding with a statement opposing the implementation of socialist policies domestically.

This bill repeals specific requirements for notifying Senate offices when legal processes seek the disclosure of Senate data. Essentially, it removes existing notification mandates related to legal requests for Senate information.

This bill, the "No Taxpayer Funded Abortion Travel for Illegal Aliens Act," prohibits the use of federal funds to cover any expenses related to abortion services for individuals unlawfully present in the United States. These prohibited expenses include travel, lodging, meals, and related support services. The legislation specifically targets federal funding for aiding unlawful immigrants in accessing abortion care.