Legislative Activity

The Paycheck Protection Act prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from automatically deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from employee paychecks. This legislation effectively ends the practice of direct payroll deductions for union-related payments for federal and postal workers.

The Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act establishes a new, free federal program administered by the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with exemplary workplace safety and health management systems. Approved employers must meet rigorous standards, undergo periodic evaluations, and in return, they are exempt from routine OSHA inspections. The bill also mandates specific oversight, modernization of program technology, and dedicates a minimum percentage of OSHA's budget to support its operation.

The Police Officers Protecting Children Act amends federal law to permit qualified active and retired law enforcement officers, who are already authorized to carry concealed firearms, to carry and discharge their weapons in school zones. This legislation creates specific exceptions to the general prohibition on firearms in school zones for these authorized personnel.

The Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act broadens criminal penalties for actions that threaten energy transportation infrastructure. This legislation expands prohibited activities beyond simple destruction to include vandalism, tampering, and disrupting the operation or construction of pipelines and related facilities. These enhanced penalties are enforced under existing federal law.

The PARTS Act of 2025, or Protecting Americans Right To Silence Act, updates the federal definition of a "firearm silencer" or "firearm muffler." This legislation clarifies that both complete sound-reducing devices and the main housing component of such a device are legally considered silencers if designed to attach to a portable firearm. This change ensures that the core components intended for noise reduction are regulated under existing federal law.

The Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act of 2025 establishes new, aggressive federal standards for wildfire response times on public lands, aiming for initial evaluation within 30 minutes and full suppression deployment within three hours. The bill mandates that relevant federal agencies develop and report on plans to meet these goals, including necessary increases in firefighting fleets and streamlined contracting processes. This legislation seeks to significantly improve the speed and coordination of federal wildfire suppression efforts nationwide.

The MERIT Act of 2025 aims to reform federal employment practices by modifying performance-based actions, adverse action procedures, and employee appeal processes. It extends probationary periods for new employees, changes furlough procedures, and allows for the recoupment of bonuses for misconduct. Additionally, the act reduces annuity benefits for employees convicted of felonies related to their official duties and prohibits grieving certain adverse actions and reductions in force. These changes intend to streamline the disciplinary process and enhance accountability within the federal workforce.

The "Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act of 2025" aims to improve the federal government's response to wildfires. It mandates the creation of a plan to consolidate wildland fire preparedness, suppression, and recovery efforts under a new National Wildland Firefighting Service within the Department of the Interior. This plan will outline the new service's budget, leadership qualifications, and necessary resources for consolidating federal wildfire response. A report detailing this plan must be submitted to Congress within 180 days.

The Homeowner Energy Freedom Act proposes the repeal of several federal high-efficiency electric home rebate programs established under Public Law 117-169. Additionally, the bill mandates the rescission of all unobligated funds previously allocated to these specific energy initiatives.

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" mandates that the U.S. government develop and implement a strategy to prevent foreign entities from providing financial support to the Taliban. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress detailing efforts to curb such support, as well as oversight measures for direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan and the status of the Afghan Fund. These requirements aim to ensure that U.S. foreign assistance is not diverted to or misused by the Taliban.

The VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 mandates that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac include a disclaimer on residential loan applications to inform veterans that they may be eligible for a VA home loan. Additionally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study to ensure lenders are effectively implementing this disclosure.