Legislative Activity

The "Respect State Housing Laws Act" repeals a provision in the CARES Act that restricted states' abilities to enforce their own eviction moratoriums. This change clarifies that state laws regarding evictions should be respected.

The "No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit businesses involved in marijuana or controlled substance trafficking from claiming tax deductions or credits for business expenses. This applies regardless of whether such activities are illegal under federal or state law, impacting taxable years following the Act's enactment.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" exempts family farms and small businesses from being considered as assets when calculating eligibility for federal financial aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965. This exemption applies to family farms where the family resides and small businesses with 100 or fewer employees that the family owns and controls. These changes will apply to financial aid award years starting after the enactment of this Act.

The "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' personal information with the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) based solely on the appointment of a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Information can only be shared if a judicial authority determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025" requires that all new vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States include AM radio receivers as standard equipment, ensuring continued access to AM radio for drivers. The Act directs the Comptroller General to study the role of vehicles and AM radio in emergency alert dissemination and requires the Secretary of Transportation to regularly review the rule's impact. Penalties will be enforced for violations, and states are prohibited from enacting their own laws regarding AM radio access in vehicles.

The "Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025" modifies regulations for 403(b) plans under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These modifications broaden exemptions from registration provisions for certain interests, participations, or securities related to 403(b) plans, especially those subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or where the employer acts as a fiduciary, or are governmental plans as defined in section 414. The goal is to expand the types of trusts, plans, and accounts that are excluded from being defined as investment companies. It also updates a section regarding exemptions from registration requirements for securities, adding a reference to plans described in section 3(a)(12)(C)(iv) of the Act.

The "JOBS Act of 2025" expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term job training programs (150-600 hours) that lead to credentials in high-demand fields. These programs must meet specific requirements, including alignment with industry needs and assurance from state boards. The act also requires accrediting agencies to assess the quality of these programs and mandates data sharing between the Departments of Education and Labor. Finally, the bill lowers the threshold for the minimum Federal Pell Grant from 10 percent to 5 percent.

The Fair Access to Banking Act aims to ensure equal access to financial services by preventing banks and credit unions from denying services to individuals or entities engaged in lawful activities based on subjective or politically motivated reasons. It sets requirements for banks with over $10 billion in assets, prohibiting them from denying services based on reputational risk and requiring them to justify denials with documented, risk-based standards. The act also allows individuals to sue financial institutions that violate these requirements, with the potential for treble damages and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs. Furthermore, it restricts access to Federal Reserve lending programs and the Automated Clearing House Network for institutions that fail to comply with the Act.

The "Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act" establishes a commission to study and recommend the relocation of certain federal agencies from the Washington, D.C., area to other parts of the United States. The commission will evaluate potential relocation sites based on factors such as financial efficiency, existing infrastructure, and community input, with the goal of transferring at least 100,000 employees of covered agencies. A report of the commission's findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The "Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025" establishes a 5-year pilot program to test a performance-based pay structure for certain federal employees. This program aims to enhance productivity, accountability, and employee satisfaction by linking pay adjustments to the achievement of pre-defined performance metrics. Employees who exceed expectations could receive a 15% pay increase and additional benefits, while those who do not meet expectations may face a pay reduction and be provided with additional training. The program's impact will be evaluated through annual reports and assessments submitted to Congress.

The Hearing Protection Act seeks to deregulate firearm silencers by treating them like firearms, preempting state laws, and changing the tax structure. It mandates the destruction of existing silencer registration records and modifies the definition and marking requirements for silencers under federal law. The bill also imposes a 10% tax on firearm silencers or mufflers.

The SHOW UP Act of 2025 requires Executive agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies within 30 days. Agencies must conduct a study on the impacts of expanded telework during the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a plan for future telework use to Congress. Any expansion of telework beyond pre-pandemic levels requires certification from the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, ensuring positive impacts on agency performance, cost reduction, and adequate resources for teleworkers. The Act aims to address potential negative effects of telework on agency mission, costs, and resource allocation.

The American Values Act seeks to permanently enact provisions that prevent foreign aid from being used to fund abortions, involuntary sterilizations, or related biomedical research as methods of family planning. It also prohibits lobbying for or against abortion with foreign aid funds and ensures that the Peace Corps Act aligns with these restrictions.

The "SHUSH Act" seeks to deregulate firearm silencers by removing them from the definition of firearms under federal law, thus treating them as firearm accessories. It preempts state laws that impose taxes, marking, registration, or record-keeping on silencers, and removes silencers from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Act also eliminates additional penalties for using a firearm with a silencer during a crime and removes silencer restrictions for law enforcement officers.

The "Homeowner Energy Freedom Act" repeals sections 50122, 50123, and 50131 of Public Law 117-169. It also rescinds any remaining funds allocated to these sections. Additionally, the bill removes a reference to a specific rebate program from another section of the same law.

The "Charitable Act" modifies and extends the deduction for charitable contributions for individuals who do not itemize deductions. For the 2026 and 2027 tax years, the deduction is capped at one-third of the standard deduction for the individual. The bill also eliminates a penalty related to this deduction. These changes are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" introduces a federal tax credit for individuals and corporations who donate to scholarship granting organizations that provide educational scholarships to eligible elementary and secondary students. These scholarships can be used for tuition, books, tutoring, and other qualified education expenses. The bill sets a volume cap on the total amount of donations eligible for the tax credit and includes provisions to prevent government control over scholarship organizations and non-public schools. It also exempts these scholarship amounts from gross income.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" seeks to restrict federal funding to foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities involved in such activities. It expands existing policies to include a broader range of organizations and activities, including counseling, lobbying, and training. The bill also requires domestic organizations receiving federal funds to maintain complete separation from abortion-related activities. The goal is to codify these restrictions to ensure consistent application across different presidential administrations.

This resolution expresses concern over China's growing influence in Panama, particularly regarding the management of key ports, and its potential threat to the Panama Canal's neutrality and U.S. interests. It urges Panama to expel Chinese officials and terminate agreements that allow Chinese entities to manage critical infrastructure. The resolution also calls on the U.S. to utilize the Neutrality Treaty to address these threats, provide support to Panama, and explore a partnership to restore operational control of the Panama Canal, ensuring its security and freedom of navigation.