Legislative Activity

This resolution formally honors the memory of Jereima "Jeri" Bustamante on the seventh anniversary of her passing. It recognizes her inspiring life, from her move to Miami to her career in public service. Furthermore, the resolution establishes the Jereima Bustamante Memorial Scholarship to support graduates of Miami Beach Senior High School in pursuing higher education.

The Transaction and Sourcing Knowledge (TASK) Act directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to consider new reporting requirements for publicly traded companies regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Specifically, it mandates the SEC to look into requiring disclosures related to supply chains connected to forced labor in Xinjiang, China, and transactions with U.S. government-restricted entities. Furthermore, the bill requires companies operating in China to report on the presence and involvement of any Chinese Communist Party (CCP) committees within their facilities.

The TICKER Act aims to protect U.S. investors by increasing transparency regarding the risks associated with investing in certain foreign entities, particularly those structured as Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). The bill mandates that stock exchanges clearly flag securities from these "covered entities" with a visible designation next to their ticker symbol. Furthermore, brokers and dealers must provide explicit warnings to investors about the lack of traditional legal recourse when investing in these specific foreign structures.

The Protecting American Capital Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to Congress detailing United States portfolio investments in the People's Republic of China. This report must identify major U.S. investors and assess the Chinese entities receiving these funds, including those under U.S. sanctions. The goal is to provide transparency regarding American capital flowing into the Chinese economy.

The Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act (BOLIVAR Act) prohibits federal agencies from contracting with any entity known to have significant business operations with the unrecognized Venezuelan regime. This restriction includes broad definitions of "business operations" but contains specific exceptions for humanitarian aid, U.S. national security interests, and supporting U.S. government activities. The Secretary of State must approve any use of these exceptions and notify Congress.

The School Guardian Act of 2025 establishes federal "School Guardian Grants" to fund states for placing armed law enforcement officers in K-12 schools. States receive funding based on their student population to cover the costs of paying, training, and equipping these officers. A key requirement is that local agencies receiving subgrants must ensure every K-12 school in their jurisdiction receives at least one full-time assigned officer. This program is funded by a transfer of existing funds and is authorized to award up to $8 billion annually through fiscal year 2034.

The Coast Guard Improvement Act of 2025 establishes the new, high-level position of Secretary of the Coast Guard, who will serve as the civilian head of the service. This Secretary will report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security and oversee all administrative and operational affairs of the Coast Guard. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit a reorganization plan to Congress detailing the transition of responsibilities to this new office.

The LEDGER Act mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a comprehensive system for tracking every expenditure made by any part of the U.S. government within 180 days. This new system must detail the flow of funds from appropriations and track the availability period for those specific disbursed monies. Essentially, the bill aims to create full traceability for all federal spending records.

The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act prohibits the expenditure of U.S. federal funds in Gaza unless the President certifies to Congress that the money will not benefit Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other designated terrorist organizations. This restriction also applies to funds channeled through the United Nations, requiring certification that the UN entity is not promoting anti-Israel or anti-Semitic propaganda. Essentially, the bill halts federal spending in Gaza until strict anti-terrorism and ideological purity conditions are met.

This resolution officially designates March 15, 2025, as "National Osceola Turkey Day" to celebrate the Osceola wild turkey, a subspecies unique to Florida. It recognizes the significant economic and conservation contributions of turkey hunting to the state. The day encourages nationwide observance to honor this important part of Florida's heritage and ecology.

The United States Citrus Protection Act establishes an immediate and permanent ban on the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit originating from the People's Republic of China. This prohibition supersedes all other existing laws regarding citrus imports. The ban will officially take effect 90 days after the Act is signed into law.

This resolution designates March 6, 2025, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to combat government imposter scams and other pervasive scams. It aims to raise awareness and promote education to protect individuals, especially older adults, from financial losses and identity theft. The resolution encourages reporting scams and supports the efforts of law enforcement, consumer groups, and financial institutions in preventing these scams. It also honors those who are actively fighting against government imposter scams.

The Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act expands the definition of the Miccosukee Reserved Area (MRA) to officially include the Osceola Camp. This legislation also mandates that the Secretary take action within two years to protect structures within the newly added Osceola Camp from flooding, in consultation with the Tribe.

The Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act of 2025 amends anti-discrimination laws to explicitly prohibit religious discrimination, including antisemitism, in federally funded educational programs. It clarifies that severe, pervasive harassment that denies equal access constitutes discrimination and establishes escalating financial penalties for institutions found in repeated violation. Furthermore, the Act ensures that these new provisions do not infringe upon existing legal rights or the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment.

The "Frank Connor and Trooper Werner Foerster Justice Act" seeks the extradition or return of U.S. fugitives, including Joanne Chesimard and William Guillermo Morales, who are believed to be living in Cuba to avoid prosecution. It mandates an annual report from the Secretary of State on efforts to extradite these fugitives and determine Cuba's compliance with U.S.-Cuba extradition treaties. Additionally, the Act prohibits the use of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funds for programs in Cuba until Cuba meets specific conditions related to extradition and resuming economic activity with the U.S..

This bill ensures that veterans have the option to receive and submit a physical, paper copy of the VA travel reimbursement form (Form 10-3452) by mail or at any VA medical facility. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide these physical copies upon request to accommodate veterans who cannot or prefer not to use digital submission methods. This guarantees accessible avenues for veterans seeking reimbursement for travel expenses related to their VA care.

The "Broadband Buildout Accountability Act" shields the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with a specific exception for 5 U.S. Code § 552, to balance transparency and program efficiency.

The "Regulation Decimation Act" mandates that for every new regulation issued, federal agencies must repeal at least 10 existing regulations, prioritizing those related to the new rule. For major regulations, the cost of the new rule must be equal to or less than the cost of the repealed rules, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The Act also requires agencies to review and identify costly, ineffective, or outdated rules and submit reports to Congress on rule reduction progress.

This resolution supports the designation of February 23, 2025, to March 1, 2025, as "National Fentanyl Awareness Week" to highlight the dangers and negative impacts of fentanyl in the United States. It acknowledges the alarming number of overdose deaths caused by fentanyl and seeks to raise awareness about the drug's presence in other substances. The resolution commends law enforcement and treatment organizations for their efforts and encourages safe medication practices and seeking help for substance use disorder.

The Overdose Response Action Data for Actionable Reforms (RADAR) Act aims to improve data collection and surveillance of opioid-related overdoses through grants and collaboration among federal agencies. It reforms the Office of National Drug Control Policy, enhances state opioid response grants, and establishes a wastewater pilot program to detect illicit substances in communities. The act also expands access to opioid overdose reversal medication and provides grants for schools to administer emergency overdose treatment, while also including fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia to avoid prosecution.