Legislative Activity

The Italian Heroes and Heritage Act seeks to reaffirm the celebration of Christopher Columbus Day on October 13th, honoring both Columbus's voyage and Italian-American heritage, including victims of the 1891 New Orleans lynching. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the distribution of federal funds to any local government that chooses to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day *instead of* Columbus Day. This restriction applies for one year following October 13, 2025, and on every subsequent Columbus Day.

This bill, the National Coal Council Reestablishment Act, mandates the Secretary of Energy to reestablish the National Coal Council within the Department of Energy, adhering to its charter as of November 19, 2021. The Council will generally operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act guidelines. Crucially, this legislation exempts the Council from the automatic termination provisions that typically apply to federal advisory committees.

The Balance the Scales Act establishes new transparency requirements for the Secretary when providing specific legal assistance to attorneys planning ERISA lawsuits. This assistance, termed "adverse assistance," now requires a written agreement that must be shared with potentially affected employers or plan sponsors. Furthermore, the Secretary must submit detailed annual reports to Congress regarding all such agreements.

This resolution expresses support for designating a "Faith and Defiance Day" to honor the victims and heroes of the July 13th, 2024, shooting incident involving President Trump. It strongly condemns all acts of political violence while also acknowledging the positive impact of President Trump's leadership. The measure serves as a statement of the House's position rather than enacting new law.

The GAMBLER Act establishes the Border Enforcement Trust Fund to finance immigration enforcement operations. This fund will be financed by redirecting specific existing excise tax revenues, such as those on firearms and ammunition, to cover the costs of apprehending, detaining, and removing undocumented immigrants. The money can only be spent on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations if Congress passes an appropriations bill.

This resolution expresses the strong support of the House of Representatives for designating a "Veterans Appreciation Month." It recognizes the profound dedication, sacrifice, and service of veterans who defended American freedom worldwide. The bill encourages national recognition and gratitude for those who served in the Armed Forces.

The Medicaid Empowerment Act of 2025 aims to provide greater stability for state-run home and community-based services (HCBS) programs. This legislation extends the required renewal periods for certain Medicaid waivers offering community care services. By allowing longer cycles between mandatory reviews, the Act offers states more consistency in administering these vital services.

The "Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act" aims to streamline the deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure by exempting certain collocation projects from extensive environmental and historical reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. This exemption applies to projects that involve mounting, installing, or modifying wireless service facilities on existing infrastructure, provided they require FCC approval. The goal is to accelerate the expansion of wireless services, including commercial mobile data, by reducing regulatory hurdles for infrastructure upgrades.

The "Beat Bad Bureaucrats Act" shields Social Security benefits from garnishment when an individual's identity is stolen and used to obtain certain Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. This protection applies to loans obtained under specific sections of the Small Business Act, particularly those related to COVID-19 relief, ensuring that identity theft victims are not penalized by having their Social Security benefits reduced to repay fraudulently obtained loans. The SBA Administrator is required to update regulations within 30 days to include instructions on reporting identity theft. This protection is contingent upon the individual reporting the identity theft to the Administrator through the procedure on the Small Business Administration's website.