Legislative Activity

This resolution formally condemns the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, carried out by an individual who was in the U.S. illegally. It uses this incident to call for stricter vetting of visa applicants and the swift removal of aliens who violate their visa terms. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the critical importance of communication between federal and local law enforcement agencies to prevent future acts of terrorism.

The Baseload Reliability Protection Act prohibits owners of certain dispatchable power plants in areas facing high or elevated risk of electricity shortages from retiring those units or switching their fuel source. Owners can seek an exemption from this ban from FERC, which must grant it if continued operation causes financial hardship or if retirement does not harm grid reliability. The Department of Energy may offer financial assistance to keep essential, money-losing plants operational.

The SKIM Act, or Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act, mandates stricter sentencing guidelines for crimes involving counterfeit or stolen credit and debit cards, ensuring a minimum offense level for such offenses. It also requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on federal and local cooperation in combating access device fraud. This legislation aims to increase penalties and improve coordination against identity and payment card misuse.

The AADAPT Act reauthorizes the Project ECHO Grant Program and establishes new, dedicated grants to support technology-enabled collaborative training for healthcare professionals in underserved areas. These new grants specifically focus on improving the early diagnosis and quality of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The bill outlines funding levels and reporting requirements to track the impact of these specialized training models on provider retention and patient outcomes.

The Emergency Spending Accountability Act establishes automatic spending sequestration to offset future emergency appropriations approved by Congress. This system mandates multi-year spending cuts, applied only to the same category of spending (discretionary or direct) as the original emergency funds. The bill also requires detailed justifications from Congressional committees whenever emergency spending is included in legislation. Certain critical programs, including Social Security and VA benefits, are explicitly protected from these automatic cuts.

The Restoring American Freedom Act prohibits the State Department, its employees, and its funded entities from censoring the free speech of United States citizens. This legislation strictly forbids the use of federal funds to support or facilitate such censorship activities, including the creation or use of advertising blacklists. Furthermore, the Secretary of State must promptly notify Congress and the affected citizen if any censorship is discovered.

The BARK Act of 2025 aims to encourage the donation of pet food and supplies during emergencies and for charitable purposes. It provides liability protection to donors and distributing organizations against lawsuits related to the condition of donated items, provided there is no gross negligence or intentional harm. This protection applies to items that appear fit for use, even if they don't meet all commercial sales standards, provided proper disclosure and reconditioning procedures are followed.

This resolution officially designates the Friday before Memorial Day as **National Poppy Day** to honor U.S. veterans. It recognizes the poppy as a long-standing symbol of remembrance for those who died in service, inspired by World War I. The bill encourages all citizens to wear a red poppy on this day to show appreciation for our fallen service members.

This joint resolution formally establishes "Life Month" to affirm the fundamental value and inherent dignity of every human life as an unalienable right. It recognizes the Supreme Court's *Dobbs* decision and urges Congress to enact laws protecting unborn life. Furthermore, the resolution commends organizations and individuals who support pregnant women and new families.

The Strengthening American Nuclear Energy Act officially codifies several recent Executive Orders into federal law. This action solidifies policies aimed at modernizing nuclear reactor testing, accelerating advanced nuclear technology deployment for national security, reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and revitalizing the domestic nuclear industry. Essentially, the bill makes key presidential directives regarding nuclear energy permanent law.

This resolution strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. It specifically honors the memory of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were tragically murdered while promoting peace. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of hate and ensuring the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom.

The Strategic Ports Reporting Act mandates that the Secretaries of State and Defense map critical global ports and report on any efforts by the People's Republic of China to gain influence over them. This legislation requires a detailed study assessing the national security and economic risks posed by Chinese control of these strategic locations. The resulting report must include a proposed strategy for securing trusted investment and protecting these vital maritime assets from foreign influence.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The SECURE American Telecommunications Act centralizes the licensing authority for submarine and cross-border terrestrial telecommunications cables under the FCC, shifting power away from the President. This legislation establishes strict security and reporting requirements for cable licensees, including mandatory consultation with national security agencies. Furthermore, it streamlines federal permitting while significantly increasing penalties for intentional damage to undersea cables.

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act reinstates and removes limitations on the federal income tax deduction for personal casualty losses resulting from unexpected events like fires or floods. This legislation also extends the deadline for taxpayers to file claims for refunds related to these casualty loss deductions for past tax years. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

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 SERVICE Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program to create specialized Veterans Response Teams within local law enforcement agencies through federal grants. These teams will focus on improving interactions between law enforcement and veterans in crisis by fostering collaboration with the VA and providing specialized training. The teams will also establish 24/7 volunteer response networks and track outcomes to better serve the veteran community.

The PFAS Alternatives Act aims to protect firefighters by funding research and development for next-generation turnout gear that eliminates harmful PFAS chemicals. The bill establishes grants through NIOSH to create safer, PFAS-free protective equipment and separate funding for training programs on the proper care of this new gear. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to reduce occupational illness and injury among fire and EMS personnel.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

This resolution formally expresses the U.S. Congress's unwavering stance demanding that North Korea immediately resolve the long-standing issue of abducted Japanese citizens. It calls upon North Korea to return all foreign nationals, provide information on the deceased, offer restitution to the families, and issue a full apology. The bill emphasizes that these abductions are a grave violation of fundamental human rights and international law.