Legislative Activity

The DHS Biodetection Improvement Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess and report on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) utilization of Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories and sites for research and development related to DHS missions. This includes identifying biodetection technologies, developing acquisition plans for BioWatch jurisdictions, evaluating technology gaps, and assisting in developing program requirements for future DHS biodetection programs. The Secretary must submit an initial assessment and strategy within 180 days of enactment, followed by an update within one year, to the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees.

The "Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act" mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a department-wide policy protecting sensitive research and development from unauthorized access. It also requires a report from the Comptroller General on DHS's compliance with National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM33) and related federal research security guidelines. Finally, the Secretary of Homeland Security must brief relevant committees on the development of these safeguarding policies.

The "SHIELD Against CCP Act" establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to counter threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) related to terrorism, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security. This group will examine and report on the Department's efforts, account for dedicated resources, identify policy gaps, and facilitate cooperation, while also sharing information with federal, state, and local partners. The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit annual reports to Congress for five years, assessing CCP threats and the activities of the working group. The working group will terminate seven years after its establishment.

The "Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025" aims to safeguard U.S. agricultural land by prohibiting its purchase or lease by individuals or entities associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia, while also preventing their participation in USDA programs. The bill expands reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, increases penalties for violations, and mandates public online databases of foreign ownership. Additionally, it requires regular reports from the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Government Accountability Office on foreign ownership and its potential risks.

The "Promoting American Patriotism In Our Schools Act" mandates that schools receiving federal funds must require daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation, prominently display the U.S. flag in classrooms and gyms, and provide education on the flag's history. Individuals can abstain from reciting the Pledge for religious or personal reasons. Non-compliant schools will face enforcement by the Secretary.

The "No More Funding for NPR Act of 2025" prohibits any direct or indirect federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR), including through public broadcast stations, with exceptions only for FEMA disaster response and urgent public safety information dissemination. It also rescinds any unspent federal funds allocated to NPR for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

The "Deport Illegal Voters Act of 2025" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include voting violations as "aggravated felonies," making non-citizen illegal voters inadmissible and subject to deportation.

The "National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act" directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to establish training programs and facilities for counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS). It requires the development of standards for C-UAS operator training and certification, emphasizing aviation safety and interagency coordination. This act also updates the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to include these C-UAS training provisions.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' support for the initial 2021 decision to locate the U.S. Space Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. It criticizes the Biden administration's plan to move the headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado. The bill urges the incoming Trump administration to reinstate Huntsville as the permanent location for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters.