Legislative Activity

The DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive, federally coordinated research program focused on Down syndrome, managed by the NIH. This initiative, the INCLUDE Project, mandates research across the lifespan, focusing on co-occurring conditions like Alzheimer's, improving clinical trial inclusion, and investigating underlying biology. The Act requires regular reporting to Congress on all funded research to ensure coordination and maximize impact on the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to eliminate the requirement that recipients of certain construction contracts must award subcontracts to businesses located within the county or state of performance. By repealing this outdated rule, the legislation removes a geographic restriction on subcontracting for small businesses awarded these contracts. This change aims to provide greater flexibility in awarding construction subcontracts.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to adjust federal regulatory authority over insurance data by limiting the subpoena power of the Office of Financial Research against insurance companies. It also strengthens confidentiality protections for data shared with and held by the Federal Insurance Office and other financial regulators. Furthermore, the bill mandates that financial regulators must seek existing data from other sources before directly collecting information from insurance companies, ensuring data privacy is maintained.

The Law Enforcement Education Grant Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to provide up to $4,000 annually for individuals pursuing associate's or bachelor's degrees in law enforcement or criminal justice. Recipients must agree to serve as a full-time law enforcement officer for four years after graduation or repay the funds with interest. Additionally, this Act repeals existing federal programs related to university sustainability found under Part U of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

This resolution formally honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, specifically recognizing the 345 officers whose service ended in 2024. It reaffirms support for all active officers and emphasizes the need to ensure they have the proper resources and training to perform their duties safely. The bill serves as a formal expression of gratitude and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

The LEOSA Reform Act updates federal laws to better align concealed carry rights for qualified active and retired law enforcement officers with existing school zone restrictions. This legislation modernizes the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) by expanding qualification standards for retired officers and clarifying where they may carry firearms, including in certain lower-security federal facilities. The bill ensures that LEOSA-authorized carriers are not inadvertently violating federal school zone prohibitions.

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It celebrates the significance of him being the first American-born Pope in the Church's history. The measure also commends his lifelong service, missionary spirit, and dedication to truth and mercy. Finally, it offers prayers for his leadership as he begins his papacy.

This Concurrent Resolution formally expresses the appreciation of Congress for the dedication and service of local law enforcement officers across the nation. It recognizes the sacrifices made by officers and their families in keeping communities safe. The resolution also encourages strong partnerships between police departments and the communities they serve.

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 Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the air traffic control pipeline by improving the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program and establishing new grants for participating colleges. The bill also funds new training equipment and creates financial incentives to both encourage trainees to complete their certification and retain experienced controllers. Finally, it mandates improvements to mental health support for controllers and requires a report on the future of airport radar safety systems.

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.

The American Energy Act streamlines the process for handling drilling permit applications, requiring the Secretary to continue processing them even when litigation is pending, unless the underlying lease is vacated. It also establishes a four-year validity period for new drilling permits. Furthermore, the Act places significant limitations on the ability of courts to halt oil and gas lease sales or stop the awarding of leases once bidding has commenced.

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 Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" for federal retirement purposes under both the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). This change adds specific IRS, Postal Inspection Service, and VA police roles to those eligible for enhanced retirement benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for current officers to elect to have their prior service counted under these new definitions, which may require a payment from the employee and their employing agency.

The MOMS Act aims to support expecting and new mothers through three main initiatives. It establishes a centralized federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect mothers with local support services and adoption agencies. The bill also creates grant programs to fund organizations offering positive alternatives to abortion and expanding access to at-home prenatal and postnatal telehealth care in underserved areas. Finally, it allows states to establish and enforce child support obligations against biological fathers for unborn children upon the mother's request.

Violet's Law mandates that federal research facilities establish procedures to place retired research animals, including dogs, cats, and primates, into new homes. These facilities must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act standards and ensure animals are certified healthy by a veterinarian before adoption. Eligible placements include registered animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or private individuals.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The ACES Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies to investigate the prevalence and mortality rates of various cancers among active duty fixed-wing aircraft crew members due to potential service-related exposures. This legislation also extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veteran pension payments by one month. The study will analyze specific cancer types and utilize data from the VA, DoD, and other federal sources.

The Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act clarifies and strengthens federal authority over emission standards for existing locomotives and engines. This legislation limits the ability of states to set their own pollution control standards for certain railroad equipment. Specifically, it expands federal preemption to cover more nonroad engines and locomotives engaged in commerce.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating May 2025 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It acknowledges the significant role motorcyclists play in transportation while highlighting the critical need for increased safety awareness. The bill encourages proper rider training, the use of protective gear, and mutual road safety between motorcyclists and other drivers.