Legislative Activity

The Safer Truckers Act of 2025 updates Commercial Driver's License (CDL) eligibility by requiring applicants to be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or authorized to work in commercial driving by USCIS. This bill also mandates that states annually report on their enforcement of English language proficiency standards for CDL holders. These measures aim to enhance safety and compliance within the commercial trucking industry.

The Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that schools receiving federal funding cannot affirm a student's gender identity that differs from their biological sex without explicit parental consent. This bill mandates that school employees must not conceal information from parents regarding a student's gender transition discussions or social changes. Any school violating these requirements faces civil lawsuits from affected parents or the Attorney General, with the potential for financial penalties and court-ordered relief.

The Department of War Restoration Act of 2025 officially renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This legislation also changes the title of the head of the department from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War. All existing laws and documents referencing the former names will be updated to reflect these new titles.

The CLEAN DC Act, officially the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC Act, seeks to completely repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. This action effectively nullifies all changes made by the 2022 Act, restoring the previous legal standards regarding policing and justice in DC.

The Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 mandates quarterly budget briefings for Congress by the VA Secretary and places new restrictions on critical skills bonuses for senior executives. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Veterans Experience Office, reporting directly to the Secretary, tasked with improving beneficiary satisfaction and reporting on customer feedback data to Congress. This new office will sunset on September 30, 2028, following a review by the Comptroller General.

The Merchant Banking Modernization Act updates regulations for bank holding companies regarding their merchant banking investments. This legislation extends the minimum holding period for these investments to 15 years. This new minimum duration applies retroactively to investments already held by banks.

The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 aims to modernize the bankruptcy system by increasing the compensation for Chapter 7 trustees to a level reflecting current economic realities. The bill also adjusts various bankruptcy fees to ensure the U.S. Trustee System remains fully funded without taxpayer assistance. Finally, it extends the terms of certain temporary bankruptcy judge offices to ensure continued judicial capacity.

The International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 strengthens global anti-trafficking efforts by integrating these measures into U.S. foreign policy and development aid. It extends and increases authorization for federal programs combating trafficking and child exploitation through 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates increased transparency by requiring the State Department to immediately brief Congress on the annual Trafficking in Persons Report rankings and any granted anti-trafficking waivers.

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 officially renames the foundational Endangered Species Act of 1973 to the Endangered Species Recovery Act. This change is purely titular, meaning all existing laws and regulations will now reference the new title. The bill ensures consistency by updating all official government documents to reflect the new name immediately.

This resolution designates August 16, 2025, as "National Airborne Day" to honor the history and bravery of U.S. airborne forces. It specifically recognizes the service of combat parachutists, air assault forces, and special operations warriors across all conflicts. The day serves as an expression of national gratitude for the thousands who have served in these elite units.

The District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act prohibits the District from establishing new "Sister City" partnerships with countries designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. government. Any existing agreements with such nations must be terminated within 180 days or upon their existing expiration date. Furthermore, D.C. cannot use federal funds for certain international outreach unless it certifies compliance with these termination requirements.

This bill aims to strengthen efforts to prevent maternal deaths by reauthorizing support for State-based Maternal Mortality Review Committees. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly disseminate proven best practices for maternal mortality prevention to hospitals and professional societies. Furthermore, the legislation increases federal funding dedicated to these crucial prevention initiatives.

The GUARD Act aims to combat financial fraud, particularly scams targeting the elderly and sophisticated "pig butchering" schemes, by allowing law enforcement to use federal grant funds for specialized training, technology, and staffing to investigate these crimes. The bill also mandates comprehensive reports from the Treasury Department and FinCEN to Congress detailing the scope of fraud, enforcement actions, and consumer losses. Furthermore, it authorizes federal agencies to assist local law enforcement with tracing tools related to blockchain technology in fraud investigations.

The Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 establishes national standards for food date labeling, requiring manufacturers to use specific phrases like "BEST If Used By" for quality dates and "USE By" for discard dates. This legislation clarifies the meaning of these dates for consumers and prevents states from creating conflicting terminology. The new labeling requirements will take effect two years after the bill is enacted.

The Royalty Transparency Act expands financial disclosure requirements for certain federal advisory board members and mandates that executive branch employees and covered advisors report the source and value of royalties received, including those from government-developed inventions. The bill also updates federal acquisition rules to prevent organizational conflicts of interest by requiring agencies to review contractor royalty payments during conflict checks. Finally, it establishes new procedures for public access to these financial reports and mandates annual reporting on royalty-related conflicts to Congress.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends crucial federal programs aimed at combating vector-borne diseases like those carried by ticks. This legislation reauthorizes funding and support for national strategies, regional centers, and local health departments through 2030. It also updates the composition of the advisory group overseeing the national strategy.

The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 amends the Veterans Community Care Program to include nurse registries as recognized entities. This inclusion allows veterans to receive home healthcare services from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, companions, or homemakers working through these registries. Nurse registries are defined as entities that secure contracts for healthcare professionals, provided they meet state licensing requirements.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025 denies U.S. entry and immigration benefits to foreign officials responsible for forcing Uyghurs or other targeted individuals back to the People's Republic of China. The Secretary of State must refer these officials to the Treasury Department for potential sanctions. The Act requires regular, public reporting to Congress regarding denials and any granted waivers.

The Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from issuing any new direct loans under its primary Section 7(a) loan program. While the SBA can no longer originate these loans directly, it must continue to manage and service any existing direct 7(a) loans. This change shifts the focus of the program away from direct government lending.