Legislative Activity

Kate's Law increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S. by individuals who are later convicted of serious crimes. The bill mandates a minimum five-year sentence for illegal entry if the person is subsequently convicted of a crime punishable by over one year in prison. Furthermore, it significantly increases prison sentences, including mandatory minimums, for aliens who illegally reenter the U.S. after being previously removed.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The Primacy Certainty Act of 2025 aims to streamline and accelerate the process for states to gain primary enforcement responsibility for regulating Class VI carbon sequestration wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill imposes strict, short deadlines on the EPA for reviewing state applications, including an automatic approval provision if the agency fails to act within 210 days under certain conditions. It also mandates EPA support for states preparing their applications and requires the agency to report on the resources needed to implement these changes.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to ensure food products labeled as "milk," "cheese," or other standardized dairy terms actually meet established definitions. This legislation prevents companies from selling non-dairy items across state lines using official dairy names unless they meet strict ingredient and sourcing standards. The FDA is required to quickly issue new guidance on enforcing these labeling requirements.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). This bill extends crucial tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and establishes new offices within the Treasury and Labor Departments to provide technical assistance and advocacy. Furthermore, it amends the Small Business Act to ensure ESOP-owned businesses do not automatically lose small business status when they transition to majority employee ownership.

This bill, the STUDENT Act, seeks to fundamentally restructure the National Education Association (NEA) due to Congress's findings that it has become a partisan political entity rather than an educational organization. It imposes strict new requirements on membership dues collection from government employees, bans the organization from engaging in political activities, and prohibits it from promoting certain ideological beliefs in schools. Furthermore, the Act repeals a specific federal property tax exemption currently enjoyed by the organization in the District of Columbia.

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act allows taxpayers whose original IRS refund check was lost or stolen to elect to receive their replacement refund via direct deposit. This change provides an alternative to receiving a second paper check for the lost funds. The Treasury Department must establish the necessary procedures for this election.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 directs the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) to create a joint agreement to coordinate environmental reviews for housing projects they jointly fund. This aims to eliminate redundant processes by establishing a lead agency and allowing for the mutual acceptance of environmental documentation. The bill also mandates the creation of an advisory group composed of various housing stakeholders to ensure efficient implementation without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 clarifies and limits the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over entities already regulated by state insurance authorities. This bill specifically restricts the CFPB's ability to enforce federal consumer protection rules against state-regulated insurers operating within the business of insurance. The legislation ensures that state insurance regulators maintain primary oversight for these entities.

The Quad Economic Security Act directs the U.S. to strengthen economic security cooperation with Australia, India, and Japan through the Quad partnership. It mandates the establishment of a new Economic Security Working Group to coordinate efforts on supply chains, critical infrastructure, and countering economic coercion. The bill requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on negotiations, identified supply chains, and regional partners involved in these security efforts. Finally, the Act specifies that it does not authorize any new funding for its implementation.

This resolution officially designates July 26, 2025, as the "National Day of the American Cowboy." It recognizes the historical and ongoing contributions of cowboys and cowgirls, celebrating the values of honesty, courage, and hard work they represent. The bill encourages all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies honoring this vital part of American culture.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 establishes penalties against foreign governments that nationalize or expropriate U.S.-owned port infrastructure in trade partner nations. It mandates the identification of such "prohibited property" seized by foreign governments after January 1, 2024. Once identified, vessels that use these prohibited ports will face strict bans on docking, unloading, or receiving services in the United States. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to include the arbitrary seizure or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets abroad.

The Ending Lending to China Act of 2025 establishes a new U.S. policy opposing further financial assistance to the People's Republic of China from multilateral development banks. Citing China's status as a high-income economy with massive foreign reserves, the bill directs the Treasury Secretary to use U.S. influence to block new loans to China. Furthermore, the Secretary must advocate for ending assistance to all countries that have surpassed the established income threshold for graduation. The Treasury Department is also required to submit annual reports detailing compliance and U.S. actions taken.

The GENIUS Act establishes a comprehensive federal framework for the issuance and management of "payment stablecoins" in the United States. It mandates strict reserve requirements, capital standards, and regulatory oversight for approved issuers to ensure consumer protection and financial stability. The bill also clarifies the legal status of these stablecoins, explicitly stating they are not securities or commodities, while setting penalties for non-compliance.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act aims to combat the opioid crisis by immediately classifying structurally similar fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances. The bill also streamlines the registration process for researchers working with Schedule I drugs and strengthens criminal penalties for trafficking these compounds. The Attorney General is required to issue implementing rules within six months of enactment.

The Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency Act (FRONT Act) amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to require certain tax-exempt organizations receiving funding from designated "countries of concern" to register as foreign agents. This closes a loophole by treating non-profits that accept money from specified hostile foreign entities as agents of those foreign principals. These organizations will face new, specific disclosure requirements when registering under FARA.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act aims to eliminate delays in certifying the deaths of veterans who pass away from natural causes. This bill mandates that VA physicians or nurse practitioners must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours, or a local official can step in. The legislation also requires the VA Secretary to annually report on compliance with this new timely certification standard.

The Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2025 aims to update how vehicle manufacturers receive credit toward fleet-wide $\text{CO}_2$ emission standards for producing Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). This bill mandates that the EPA grant manufacturers a 31 percent reduction credit when calculating the average emissions for an FFV compared to a standard gasoline vehicle. Furthermore, the EPA may increase this credit based on updated findings from the GREET model.

This resolution commemorates the 14th Dalai Lama's 90th birthday by designating July 6, 2025, as a "Day of Compassion." It strongly reaffirms U.S. support for the human rights and distinct cultural and religious identity of the Tibetan people. Furthermore, the resolution rejects any interference by the People's Republic of China in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. It underscores the U.S. commitment to a negotiated solution leading to meaningful autonomy for Tibet.

Lulu's Law mandates that wireless emergency alert systems be updated to include shark attacks as a triggerable event. The FCC is required to issue an order within 180 days to officially incorporate shark attack warnings into the alert system. This ensures the public can be rapidly notified of dangerous shark activity.