Legislative Activity

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Proven Forest Management Act of 2025 updates how the National Forest System is managed, prioritizing environmental benefits like fire fuel reduction and biodiversity improvement. While managers must generally coordinate with affected groups, they can waive certain environmental goals if the cost is deemed too high. The Act also establishes an expedited approval process for smaller projects focused on reducing forest fuels.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, via the Forest Service, to aggressively suppress wildfires on National Forest System lands, prioritizing rapid response and resource utilization. It restricts the use of fire as a resource management tool to only prescribed fires and limits backfires during wildfires to emergency situations. The bill focuses on areas with high drought levels, elevated wildfire preparedness levels, or significant wildfire exposure.

The Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act establishes a federal payment program to provide financial relief to timber harvesting and hauling businesses that have experienced significant revenue loss due to federally declared major disasters, including specific insect infestations. Eligible entities must demonstrate at least a 10% drop in gross revenue during a comparable period to qualify for a payment equal to 10% of that lower revenue. Funds must be used exclusively for operating expenses, and the program is authorized with $50 million annually through fiscal year 2029.

The Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act (BOWOW Act) targets non-citizens who harm federal law enforcement animals. This legislation makes individuals inadmissible to the United States if they have been convicted of, or admit to committing, such acts. Furthermore, this behavior is established as grounds for the deportation of non-citizens already residing in the U.S.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

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 Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund career pathway training in forestry. These grants aim to support workforce development in eligible rural areas by focusing on forestry operations and product processing industries. Priority will be given to programs that address aging workforces, retain young residents, and partner with educational institutions. Funding is authorized from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

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 Freedom from Improper Regulation and Enforcement (FIRE) Act prohibits the federal government from creating or enforcing any rule that restricts firearm magazines based on their ammunition capacity. Furthermore, this Act voids any existing or future state or local laws that attempt to impose such capacity limits or penalties. In essence, the bill prevents regulation of firearm magazines based solely on how many rounds they can hold.

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2017 rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population within 180 days. This reissuance must occur without regard to other applicable laws governing final rules. Furthermore, the reissued 2017 rule is explicitly shielded from judicial review.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" ensures that hunters and anglers can continue to use lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands and waters managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. It restricts these departments from prohibiting or regulating lead in ammunition and tackle, unless the Secretary of Interior or Agriculture determines that lead ammunition is the primary cause of a wildlife population decline in a specific area. Any ban implemented must align with state laws or be approved by the state's fish and wildlife department.

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.

The Defend Girls Athletics Act mandates that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions must certify compliance with Executive Order 14201 regarding biological fairness in women's sports to receive federal funding. This certification must be renewed annually for K-12 districts and by July 1st for colleges and universities. Failure to comply or report results in the immediate requirement to return unobligated federal funds and ineligibility for future federal financial assistance until compliance is restored.

This resolution officially commends Petty Officer 3d Class Scott Ruskan for his heroic actions during the devastating central Texas floods of July 2025. It specifically recognizes him for personally rescuing 165 individuals and coordinating triage efforts under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, the bill extends deep gratitude to all federal, state, and volunteer responders who risked their lives during this major natural disaster.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump, condemning the multiple violent attempts against the President's life. It honors the victims of the shooting, including the late Corey D. Comperatore, and recognizes the bravery of first responders. Furthermore, the resolution condemns all incitement of violence against elected officials and calls for national unity against political violence.

The Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 officially delists the Mexican wolf from the list of threatened and endangered species. This legislation voids previous management rules and mandates that future recovery plans for the species in the U.S. must exclude consideration of the wolf population in Mexico. The bill also addresses concerns regarding compensation standards for ranchers suffering livestock losses due to wolf predation.

The Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act aims to enhance national security by establishing clear definitions for "known terrorist," "special interest alien," and "suspected terrorist." This legislation significantly restricts the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to use parole for individuals arriving at the border. Specifically, it prohibits parole for anyone identified as a terrorist, a national security risk, or inadmissible due to terrorism-related activities.

The Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act aims to encourage the development and use of safer policing tools. This bill exempts qualifying less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from federal excise taxes normally applied to firearms and ammunition. Furthermore, it removes these specific less-lethal devices from the stringent regulations imposed by the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria for what qualifies as a less-lethal device eligible for these tax and regulatory exemptions.