Legislative Activity

The Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 modernizes GI Bill benefits and support for service members and veterans. This bill revises the repayment timing for service members who contribute to their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and expands eligibility for independent study programs. It also provides service members with new options when called to active duty during their education and updates compliance survey procedures for educational institutions.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees and certain contract employees receive their full pay and benefits during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. It also mandates retroactive contract price adjustments to compensate contractors for costs incurred during previous shutdowns. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal agencies from implementing workforce reductions or placing employees on extended administrative leave during funding lapses.

This resolution seeks to disapprove the Department of Veterans Affairs' final rule concerning "Reproductive Health Services" issued in September 2024. If enacted, this disapproval, made under the Congressional Review Act, would prevent the VA rule from taking legal effect.

The Financial Reporting Threshold Modernization Act increases the dollar thresholds for mandatory currency transaction and suspicious activity reports to reduce administrative burdens on financial institutions. The bill also mandates periodic inflation adjustments for these thresholds and requires the Treasury Department to review and modernize reporting forms to improve efficiency. Additionally, it extends the requirement for the FinCEN Director to provide annual testimony before Congress.

This resolution asserts that advancing the rights of women and girls in Haiti is crucial for the nation's stability and successful transition from crisis. It condemns the widespread gender-based violence and the exclusion of women from leadership roles in the transitional government. The bill calls for urgent measures to center women's needs, ensure their representation in government, and prioritize funding for survivor services and accountability for violence.

The Quick Recognition Act (QR Act) mandates that all ICE and CBP enforcement officers wear a visible, scannable QR code on their uniforms. Scanning the code links to a public DHS website displaying the officer's name, badge number, and employment status. This system is designed to enhance accountability by providing a clear mechanism for the public to submit complaints about officer conduct.

This bill establishes the Historic Infrastructure Management and Jobs Training Act to create a competitive grant program supporting workforce training and apprenticeships in skilled trades for historic preservation. The program, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, will fund projects that teach specialized skills needed to preserve historic properties and cultural resources. Priority will be given to projects serving areas with high unemployment or limited existing preservation expertise.

This bill establishes the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025, prioritizing candidates with significant legal experience for appointments to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Specifically, it requires the Board Chairman to give priority to individuals with three or more years of professional legal experience related to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 amends the Lacey Act to create new exemptions and a registration pathway for certain entities possessing previously prohibited wildlife species. This legislation specifically exempts Class B licensed exhibitors and allows current owners to register existing animals under strict conditions, such as ceasing all public contact and breeding. Furthermore, the bill removes the snow leopard and clouded leopard from the list of prohibited wildlife species.

This bill establishes a statutory definition for an "essential health system" based on the volume of care provided to low-income and Medicaid patients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate qualifying hospitals for a five-year period. Furthermore, the bill mandates MACPAC to create an annual index ranking all relevant hospitals based on these financial criteria and to review payment policies supporting these essential systems.

The Shutdown Fairness Act automatically appropriates necessary funds to ensure federal employees and essential contractors receive their regular pay during a government shutdown. This legislation mandates timely payment for covered personnel, regardless of whether they were deemed "excepted" or furloughed. The funds are charged against the agency's subsequent regular appropriations once they are enacted.

The Ensuring Consistency in Nutrition Labels Act establishes stricter standards for food labeling accuracy. It deems a food product "misbranded" if its actual nutrient content exceeds the labeled value by more than 5 percent for certain required nutrients. This legislation mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update relevant regulations within 60 days of enactment.

This resolution initiates impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors. The articles of impeachment charge her with willfully refusing to comply with Congressional oversight laws and violating the Impoundment Control Act by improperly withholding funds. Further articles allege she directed widespread misconduct by ICE agents that violated federal law and constitutional rights, and misused taxpayer funds for personal gain through improper contracting.

The Healthcare Reinvestment Act rescinds specific prior appropriations and redirects those funds to extend the availability of certain tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code. This legislation ensures continued financial support for healthcare affordability measures. Furthermore, it mandates annual public reporting and independent audits to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of these reinvested funds.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

This resolution expresses strong support for the Iranian people protesting for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights against the repressive Islamic Republic. It condemns the regime's brutal crackdown on demonstrators and demands an end to violence and the release of political prisoners. Furthermore, it urges the U.S. government to work with allies to deter further lethal violence against protesters.

The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 establishes a special pay system to increase the base pay for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officers by 35 percent. This legislation also provides a similar 35 percent wage increase for certain hourly BOP employees involved in inmate custody. The new pay authority is set to expire after five years, unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable progress in reducing the use of non-custodial staff for officer duties and excessive overtime.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The **No Funds for NATO Invasion Act** prohibits the use of any federal funds for an invasion of any territory belonging to a member nation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Furthermore, the bill bars U.S. officials from taking any action to execute such an invasion.

This resolution expresses strong opposition to elective declawing (onychectomy) of cats, deeming the procedure inhumane due to the lifelong pain and adverse behavioral effects it causes. It defines declawing broadly to include any procedure that disables a cat's claws and affirms that it should only be performed when medically necessary for the cat's health. The bill urges states to prohibit the practice on animal welfare and public health grounds, noting that humane alternatives exist.