Legislative Activity

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase the pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality pay rate. This bill mandates that their pay locality be adjusted to the nearest established locality offering a higher rate, provided it is within 200 miles of their worksite. This change is designed to ensure fairer compensation for these federal correctional staff.

The Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act addresses critical staffing shortages within Customs and Border Protection (CBP), particularly along the northern border. It mandates an immediate hiring push to counteract anticipated mass retirements and current personnel deficits. Furthermore, the bill updates threat analysis requirements to specifically focus on staffing projections, retirement risks, and local recruitment strategies for northern ports of entry.

The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act aims to penalize jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those that refuse to honor detainer requests or share immigration information, with an exception for protecting crime victims and witnesses. Furthermore, the bill makes these designated sanctuary jurisdictions ineligible for specific federal development and community improvement funds, such as EDA grants and CDBG funds. Cooperating local officers are granted liability protection when honoring valid federal detainer requests.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through increased reporting and new procedural tools. This legislation mandates annual transparency on decision times and empowers the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) to group similar cases for faster resolution. Furthermore, it expands the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and requires studies to explore issuing precedential BVA decisions to streamline common legal issues.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the 250th birthday of the United States Army, celebrating its 250 years of service, valor, and dedication to defending American freedom. Congress expresses deep appreciation for the Army's history, its commitment to core values, and its current readiness to meet any future global challenge. The resolution encourages the American public to observe this significant anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.

This bill amends federal law to improve how the Department of Defense verifies the professional licenses of its military healthcare providers. It mandates the creation of a centralized system to allow military facility commanders to quickly confirm a provider's current licensure status. The goal is to ensure that at least 90% of standard license verification requests are completed within seven days.

This bill grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to waive the required matching funds for recipients of grants under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. This change allows the Secretary discretion in awarding funds without requiring the recipient to contribute their own matching capital. The waiver applies to grants awarded on or after the date the law is enacted.

This resolution strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. It specifically honors the memory of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were tragically murdered while promoting peace. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of hate and ensuring the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom.

The Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2025 significantly alters liability standards for injuries on federally funded infrastructure projects involving height or gravity risks. This bill replaces strict or absolute liability with a comparative negligence standard for covered persons injured on these sites. Consequently, an injured worker's compensation will be reduced based on their own percentage of fault, overriding conflicting state laws. This new federal standard applies to projects receiving federal financial assistance beginning January 1, 2026.

The Guidance Clarity Act of 2025 requires federal agencies to include a prominent disclaimer on all guidance documents stating that they do not have the force of law and are not legally binding. This measure ensures the public clearly understands the non-binding nature of agency guidance.

This bill prohibits graduate medical schools from receiving federal funding or participating in federal student loan programs unless they certify they do not mandate adherence to specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) tenets. This certification bans forcing faculty, staff, or students to pledge beliefs regarding inherent group status or collective guilt, and prevents the establishment of offices that compel such adherence. Furthermore, accrediting agencies cannot require medical programs to adopt policies conflicting with these restrictions to maintain accreditation.

The Confronting CCP Human Rights Abusers Act mandates the addition of the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science of China to the U.S. trade entity list within 60 days of enactment. This action restricts the institute's access to U.S. goods and technology. The President may waive this designation only if they certify to Congress that the institute is not acting against U.S. interests or aiding in human rights abuses against minorities in Xinjiang.

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

This resolution strongly condemns Hamas for its premeditated and brutal terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. It details the resulting casualties and the ongoing hostage crisis, emphasizing the severe mistreatment of those held captive. The bill demands that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and allow them safe return.

The BOP Direct-Hire Authority Act grants the Director of the Bureau of Prisons the authority to directly hire qualified individuals into competitive service jobs, bypassing standard federal hiring procedures. This expedited hiring power is intended to speed up staffing efforts across all BOP facilities. This special authority will automatically expire once 96% of all competitive service positions within the Bureau of Prisons are filled.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for required training programs for school food service personnel. This bill mandates that all required training must be paid for by the employer, conducted during regular work hours whenever possible, and offered at no cost to the employee. Furthermore, the Act strictly prohibits employers from penalizing staff who are unable to attend training sessions.

The Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025 significantly increases prison sentences for non-citizens who commit crimes after entering the U.S. illegally or after being previously removed. This legislation mandates substantial minimum prison terms—including an additional five years for illegal entry followed by a felony conviction and a new ten-year minimum for re-entry after deportation coupled with a crime. The bill aims to impose much harsher penalties on undocumented immigrants who commit serious offenses.

This resolution establishes a "Bill of Rights" to support U.S. law enforcement personnel nationwide, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law. It strongly opposes any efforts to defund or abolish police departments while outlining specific due process rights for officers under investigation. The bill encourages states to adopt similar protections to ensure fair investigations and recognizes the dangerous work officers perform daily.

The Building Advanced Semiconductors Investment Credit Act (BASIC ACT) significantly boosts incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. This bill increases the investment tax credit rate for advanced manufacturing from 25 percent to 35 percent. Furthermore, it extends the period during which this enhanced credit can be claimed, pushing the deadline from 2026 to December 31, 2030.