Legislative Activity

The Honoring our K9 Heroes Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Homeland Security to help cover medical expenses for retired Federal working dogs. Eligible non-profit organizations with a history of supporting these retired K9s can apply for funding. This initiative is authorized with $1 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to support dogs living with their former handlers.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 216 Cumberland Street in Rochester, New York, as the "Minister Franklin Florence Memorial Post Office." All official government records and documents will reflect this new name moving forward.

The Canadian Snowbird Act creates a special visitor status for qualifying Canadian retirees, allowing them to stay in the U.S. for up to 240 days per year while maintaining their Canadian residency. This legislation also ensures that these Canadian visitors are treated as non-resident aliens for U.S. tax purposes, preventing them from being taxed like U.S. residents. The bill aims to simplify entry and tax obligations for long-term seasonal visitors from Canada.

The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act requires the FCC to create and maintain a public list of entities holding FCC authorizations or licenses that have ownership or control by entities linked to designated foreign adversaries. This process begins with an initial list based on existing reporting requirements and expands through new rulemaking to capture a broader range of potentially influenced companies. The goal is to increase transparency regarding foreign influence over critical communications infrastructure licensed by the U.S. government.

The Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act prohibits federal agencies from awarding contracts over \$100,000 to companies that boycott Israel. Companies seeking these contracts must certify they are not currently boycotting Israel and agree not to start one during the contract period. Agencies must terminate contracts if a violation is found, unless the company ceases the boycott.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) significantly amends federal law to require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This legislation mandates that states actively clean their voter rolls and cooperate with federal agencies to verify citizenship status. It establishes new criminal penalties for officials who fail to enforce these documentation requirements.

The Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify that employer-provided child and dependent care benefits are excluded from an employee's regular rate of pay when calculating overtime compensation. This change aims to encourage employers to offer these valuable care solutions without negatively impacting overtime pay calculations.

The High-Quality Charter Schools Act establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who donate to eligible, high-performing charter school organizations for expansion purposes. This credit is set at 75% of the qualified contribution, subject to annual income limitations and an overall national cap of $5 billion starting in 2026. The bill also mandates specific spending deadlines for recipient organizations and ensures that participation does not subject these charter schools to government control. These provisions will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution strongly supports the Abraham Accords as a foundation for broader peace and security cooperation in the Middle East. It specifically encourages the Department of State and civil society groups to promote peace and tolerance through educational reforms in partner nations. The bill advocates for expanding normalization efforts and ensuring these agreements deliver tangible security and economic benefits across the region.

The Military Moms Act aims to improve maternal healthcare access and support for military families. It expands TRICARE coverage rules to recognize pregnancy and pregnancy loss as qualifying life events for enrollment changes. The bill also mandates a comprehensive report detailing maternal health access within military facilities and the TRICARE network. Finally, it requires the creation of a centralized, dedicated maternal health resource guide on the Military OneSource website.

The University Accountability Act establishes new financial penalties and reporting requirements for tax-exempt educational institutions found guilty of civil rights violations in federal court. Penalties are set at the higher of $100,000 or 5% of the institution's administrative compensation for each violation. Furthermore, institutions facing a third or subsequent violation determination must undergo a review of their tax-exempt status.

Sammy's Law aims to empower parents by requiring large social media platforms to provide secure access for third-party safety software to monitor and manage their children's accounts. This legislation establishes a national standard for this specific data access, while granting enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The law mandates strict data handling and deletion requirements for the third-party safety providers who register with the FTC.

The Protecting Options for Seniors Act of 2025 addresses significant under-projection of Medicare Advantage (MA) local area growth caused by recent wage index reclassifications. This bill mandates a specific adjustment to MA payment rates starting in 2026 for areas experiencing rapid wage index increases exceeding 20 percent. While providing targeted financial boosts to these areas, the Act ensures the overall national benchmark average remains neutral. Furthermore, it requires increased transparency by mandating the separate reporting of Part A and Part B payments to area hospitals in annual public notices.

This bill mandates the immediate rescission of specific waivers and licenses that previously allowed certain international money transfers related to Iran. It explicitly prohibits the President from reissuing similar permissions or granting new licenses that would allow the Iranian government access to restricted financial accounts. In essence, this legislation closes specific financial pathways previously opened concerning Iran.

The Maximum Pressure Act dramatically tightens and expands U.S. sanctions against Iran across its military, missile, and economic sectors, codifying existing restrictions and severely limiting the President's authority to grant sanctions relief. It mandates immediate sanctions on top Iranian officials and increases penalties for international parties aiding Iran's weapons programs. Furthermore, the bill enhances oversight by requiring numerous detailed reports to Congress regarding Iran's terrorism financing, nuclear timeline, and economic influence, while also redirecting certain frozen Iranian funds to victims of state-sponsored terrorism.

The Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025 restricts the Department of Defense from entering into long-term retail concessions agreements with businesses controlled by designated foreign nations. This legislation mandates that existing agreements with such retailers undergo immediate review by CFIUS for national security risks, with termination required if control by a covered nation is confirmed. Exceptions are permitted only if the service provided is vital and security risks are mitigated, requiring notification to Congress.

The Iranian Terror Prevention Act mandates the swift designation of specific Iranian-linked groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the Secretary of State. It requires the President to impose existing sanctions on these designated groups and any affiliated entities within 60 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill establishes ongoing reporting requirements to Congress regarding designations and the application of sanctions.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 imposes sweeping economic penalties on the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. This legislation mandates severe, immediate sanctions against key Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities, including asset freezes and trade prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act dramatically increases import duties on Russian goods and requires the President to review and reimpose these measures until Russia negotiates a lasting peace with Ukraine.

The Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025 repeals the outdated 12-percent Federal excise tax on new heavy trucks and trailers. This repeal aims to lower costs, encouraging fleet owners to replace aging vehicles with modern, safer, and more fuel-efficient models. By removing this significant tax burden, the bill seeks to accelerate the adoption of cleaner engine technology and improve overall road safety. The Act also includes technical updates to the tax code related to the removal of this long-standing tax.