Legislative Activity

The Department of War Restoration Act of 2025 officially renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This change also renames the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War. The Act ensures all existing laws and documents are updated to reflect this new nomenclature.

The Fentanyl Kills Act establishes a new federal definition for "trafficked fentanyl," encompassing the manufacture, distribution, and financing of illicit fentanyl and its precursors. Crucially, this bill automatically equates engaging in the defined fentanyl trafficking activities with the crime of attempted murder. This change subjects individuals involved in fentanyl trafficking to the severe penalties associated with attempted murder charges.

The Stop Foreign Propaganda Act codifies existing sanctions against Iran and establishes new penalties for U.S. persons who knowingly provide paid media services to sanctioned foreign media entities. These sanctions include asset freezes and visa denials for violators. The bill also mandates an annual Treasury Department report detailing enforcement actions and foreign government payments to media outlets spreading propaganda.

This resolution formally declares the escalating national debt a significant threat to U.S. national security. It outlines the current alarming financial picture, including massive deficits and unsustainable spending levels. The bill commits Congress to returning to regular order for budgeting and addressing the fiscal crisis.

This bill seeks to formally codify Executive Order 14319 into federal law. By doing so, the provisions outlined in the Executive Order, which relate to preventing "woke AI" within the Federal Government, will gain the full force and effect of statute.

The College Transparency Act establishes a secure, new national system for tracking student data from postsecondary institutions to improve transparency regarding enrollment, completion, costs, and post-college outcomes. This system will collect detailed, student-level data, securely matched with other federal records, to create public, aggregate reports for comparison. The law mandates strict privacy and security standards while aiming to reduce overall reporting burdens for colleges.

The Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act prioritizes federal funding for research and extension programs specifically aimed at controlling the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. This legislation ensures that developing effective tools and treatments against this pest becomes a high-priority initiative. Additionally, the Act extends the authorization for several existing high-priority agricultural research programs until 2030.

This bill establishes the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act to foster scientific partnerships between the two nations. It creates a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Defense, to fund joint research projects between U.S. academic or non-profit entities and Israeli institutions specializing in PTSD treatment. The goal is to advance new and improved methods for diagnosing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

This bill ensures that offering portable benefits, like health insurance or retirement savings that workers can take with them between jobs, will not be used to classify them as employees under federal law. The bill defines portable benefits as work-related benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings, or paid leave, that an individual can retain even when they change jobs. This clarification aims to encourage the provision of such benefits without affecting worker classification status.

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act to establish a clear standard for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. It specifies that a worker is an independent contractor if the hiring entity does not have significant control over the work and the worker has entrepreneurial opportunities and risks. Certain factors, such as legal compliance or carrying insurance, are excluded from consideration of employee status.

The Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025 streamlines the process for veterans to use their education benefits for commercial truck driving training. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to directly approve multi-State apprenticeship programs offered by truck driving schools. This change allows for quicker approval of essential training programs for transitioning service members.

The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 allows eligible veterans to use their existing educational assistance benefits to pay for specific exams and assessments designed to earn college credit. This provision caps the benefit usage at \$500 per covered test, including DSST and CLEP exams. Using these benefits for testing will count against the veteran's total entitlement time, calculated based on the cost of the exam.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

The U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 mandates the President to formally assess South Africa's foreign policy alignment, particularly concerning its ties with Russia, China, and Hamas. This review requires the President to certify whether South Africa's actions harm U.S. national security interests within 30 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill requires a comprehensive review of the entire bilateral relationship and a classified report identifying South African officials eligible for sanctions due to corruption or human rights abuses.

The District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act prohibits the District from establishing new Sister City relationships with any city or region located in a country designated as a foreign adversary. Existing partnerships with such nations must be terminated within 180 days or upon the agreement's expiration. Furthermore, the District cannot use federal funds for international liaison services without certifying compliance with this Act to the President.

This resolution formally condemns the slogan "Globalize the Intifada" as a call for violence against Israeli and Jewish people worldwide. It cites the historical context of past Intifadas and recent antisemitic incidents to support this position. The bill urges all levels of U.S. leadership to publicly denounce the slogan.

The National Education Association Charter Repeal Act aims to revoke the federal charter granted to the National Education Association (NEA). This legislation specifically repeals the section of U.S. Code that provides the NEA with its official federal recognition status. In essence, the bill removes the legal standing previously conferred upon the NEA by Congress.

The BIRD Health Act of 2025 establishes a new cooperative program between the U.S. and Israel to accelerate joint research and development in healthcare innovation. Managed by the BIRD Foundation under the oversight of HHS, this program will fund projects spanning medical devices, digital health, and biomanufacturing. The goal is to leverage bilateral expertise to bring new health technologies to market while strengthening both nations' healthcare ecosystems.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act generally prohibits federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Exceptions are allowed only for specific federal units where scientific data proves lead use is causing wildlife decline, and the restriction aligns with state law or policy. This legislation aims to maintain traditional hunting and fishing practices across most federal domains.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.