Legislative Activity

The JOBS Act of 2025 expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to include students enrolled in high-quality, short-term career and technical education programs. By supporting training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, the bill aims to better align postsecondary education with the needs of high-demand job sectors. Additionally, the legislation lowers the minimum Pell Grant threshold to increase financial aid accessibility for students pursuing these career-focused pathways.

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 Hearing Protection Act seeks to remove silencers from special regulation under federal tax law, treating them similarly to standard firearms components. This bill preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration requirements on silencers involved in interstate commerce. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners and establishes new serial number marking requirements for manufacturers.

The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act amends the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening tests starting in 2028. This legislation establishes a formal coverage and payment framework for these innovative blood-based tests while ensuring they complement, rather than replace, existing cancer screening protocols.

The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act aims to protect the distinct culture, language, and human rights of the Southern Mongolian people against systematic erasure by the Chinese government. The bill mandates increased diplomatic monitoring, authorizes targeted sanctions against officials responsible for human rights abuses, and establishes initiatives to support Mongolian-language media and cultural preservation. Through these measures, the Act seeks to hold the People’s Republic of China accountable and support the autonomy and traditional livelihoods of the Southern Mongolian population.

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 Veterans Health Care Freedom Act establishes a three-year pilot program designed to increase veteran access to care by removing geographic and administrative barriers to choosing both VA and community-based providers. Following the pilot, the bill mandates permanent reforms to expand veteran choice across the entire VA health care system. These changes aim to streamline care coordination and ensure veterans have greater flexibility in selecting their primary, specialty, and mental health care providers.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to disapprove and nullify the Department of Energy’s recent rule regarding energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By passing this measure, Congress prevents the rule from taking effect, effectively blocking the proposed regulatory changes.

The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act aims to reduce double taxation for residents of Taiwan and the U.S. by lowering withholding rates on cross-border income and establishing clear tax residency rules. Additionally, the bill authorizes the President to negotiate a formal tax agreement with Taiwan, ensuring congressional oversight and public transparency throughout the process. This legislation seeks to boost bilateral trade and investment while ensuring reciprocal tax benefits for both nations.

The Main Street Tax Certainty Act makes the 20% pass-through business deduction permanent by removing its scheduled expiration date. This legislation ensures that owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations can continue to benefit from this tax relief indefinitely.

The Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act amends the corporate alternative minimum tax to allow companies to fully deduct intangible drilling and development costs when calculating their adjusted financial statement income. By modernizing how these expenses are treated, the bill aims to incentivize increased domestic oil and gas production. These changes are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospital transport and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child is protected from prosecution. The bill also allows the woman on whom the abortion was performed to file a civil action against anyone who violated the requirements if a child was born alive.

The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act of 2025 mandates CFIUS review for real estate transactions near military sites by entities linked to adversarial nations, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill also prevents the approval of energy projects on such properties while they are under national security investigation. This legislation ensures that foreign investments near sensitive military infrastructure are subject to rigorous oversight and risk assessment.

The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025 prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services and federally subsidized health insurance plans that include abortion coverage. The bill also mandates increased transparency by requiring health plans to clearly disclose abortion coverage and associated premium surcharges in all marketing and enrollment materials. Exceptions are provided for cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to expand access to quality, affordable child care in underserved "child care deserts." By providing federal matching funds, the legislation supports states and tribal entities in developing the early childhood workforce and constructing or renovating child care facilities. These grants aim to increase provider retention, improve compensation, and enhance the availability of care during nontraditional hours.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. The bill mandates that states establish procedures to verify citizenship status, remove noncitizens from voter rolls, and share information with federal agencies to ensure election integrity. Additionally, it introduces criminal penalties for registering ineligible individuals and establishes a private right of action against election officials who fail to enforce these citizenship requirements.

The GATE CRASHERS Act establishes a new federal criminal offense for unauthorized entry into restricted Department of Defense facilities. The legislation imposes escalating penalties for repeat offenders, ranging from fines and short-term imprisonment for a first offense to up to 10 years in prison for subsequent violations.

The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 streamlines the disciplinary process for Department of Veterans Affairs supervisors, management officials, and senior executives. The bill establishes a "substantial evidence" standard for removals, demotions, and suspensions while removing the requirement for performance improvement plans. Additionally, it limits the ability of external bodies to mitigate penalties and clarifies judicial review procedures to ensure swifter accountability within the agency.

The Wildland Firefighters Congressional Gold Medal Act honors the courage, sacrifice, and essential service of the nation’s wildland firefighters. This legislation authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded collectively to these frontline responders in recognition of their dedication to protecting our communities and natural resources. The medal will be housed at the National Interagency Fire Center, with bronze duplicates made available for public purchase.

The Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act seeks to eliminate Section 136 of the Clean Air Act, effectively repealing the associated greenhouse gas emissions charge. Additionally, the bill mandates the rescission of all unobligated funds previously allocated to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.