Legislative Activity

The MAPWaters Act of 2025 aims to modernize public access to federal waterways by requiring federal agencies to standardize, digitize, and publish comprehensive geospatial data on water restrictions and access points. This legislation mandates the creation of a unified, publicly accessible online database detailing fishing restrictions, waterway closures, and access facility locations. The Act explicitly clarifies that it does not alter existing legal definitions of navigable waters or the authority of agencies to regulate fisheries and water use.

This Act directs the transfer of approximately 40 acres of federal land at the Wounded Knee Massacre site to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The land will be held in a restricted fee status, ensuring it remains a protected memorial and sacred site under tribal jurisdiction. This transfer is conditioned upon the Tribes entering a covenant prohibiting commercial or residential development, except for a memorial or museum.

This bill, the Medal of Honor Act, recognizes the exceptional service of Medal of Honor recipients by significantly increasing their special monthly pension. It adjusts the pension rate to align with compensation for veterans without dependents, ensuring a more fitting recognition of their gallantry. Additionally, the Act extends the date related to certain limitations on pension payments.

The Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025 clarifies and updates the process for land held in trust by the State of Alaska for the establishment of Native village municipal corporations under ANCSA. This Act allows Village Corporations to reclaim land previously conveyed into trust if a municipal corporation was never formed, subject to existing public rights-of-way. Furthermore, it eliminates any future requirement for Village Corporations to convey additional land for the purpose of establishing these municipal entities.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

This resolution seeks to exercise congressional disapproval of the EPA’s "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems" rule. If passed, the measure would nullify the rule, ensuring it has no legal force or effect.

This resolution establishes the procedural rules for the House to consider three separate joint resolutions aimed at disapproving specific federal regulations. It facilitates expedited floor debate and final votes on rules issued by the Department of Energy regarding appliance standards, the EPA regarding rubber tire manufacturing emissions, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding marine archaeological resources.

The "Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act of 2025" mandates the Postmaster General to establish regulations for collecting, tracking, and publicly reporting deaths and injuries from traffic crashes involving vehicles transporting mail. Postal Service employees and contractors must report any traffic crash resulting in injury or death within three days, with detailed information about the incident. The Postal Service will maintain an internal database and issue an annual public report summarizing statistics and trends, while protecting personal privacy. Contractors failing to report crashes within the deadline will face penalties.

The "Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act" mandates a review by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget of federal procurement practices, specifically assessing the impact of the "lowest price technically acceptable" selection process on national security. A report on the review's findings must be submitted to the House and Senate committees within 180 days.

The Rural Small Business Resilience Act directs the Small Business Administration to improve disaster assistance outreach and accessibility for individuals in rural areas. Additionally, the bill includes a technical amendment to correct a numbering error within the Small Business Act.

The DOE and SBA Research Act directs the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to establish a formal partnership to conduct joint research and development activities. This legislation encourages the inclusion of small businesses in these initiatives and requires a report to Congress on collaborative achievements and future opportunities. The Act is designed to be budget-neutral, requiring no additional federal funding for implementation.

This resolution establishes the procedural framework for the House to consider three key measures: a disapproval of Department of Energy standards for gas-fired water heaters, a disapproval of EPA regulations regarding petroleum and natural gas waste emissions, and the establishment of the federal budget for fiscal year 2025. It sets specific time limits for debate, waives standard procedural objections, and outlines the amendment process for these legislative items.

The Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform Act of 2025 (SPUR Act) enhances federal agency accountability by updating the small business contracting scorecard. It requires agencies to track and report the number of new small business entrants receiving prime contracts, specifically highlighting businesses owned by veterans, women, and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. This legislation aims to increase transparency and encourage broader participation in federal procurement.

The Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025 updates the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy to better support small businesses in a global market. The bill expands the Office’s economic analysis to include international trade and mandates that it represent small business interests before foreign governments and international entities. Additionally, the legislation includes minor technical corrections to existing law.

The Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act permanently bars individuals and their associated businesses from receiving Small Business Administration (SBA) financial assistance if they have been convicted of fraud related to COVID-19 pandemic relief programs. This legislation ensures that federal support is reserved for honest entrepreneurs by excluding those who have committed financial misconduct. Existing government contracts remain unaffected by these new eligibility requirements.

The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act establishes a new federal criminal offense for using a motor vehicle to evade law enforcement near the U.S. border, with penalties increasing significantly if the act results in injury or death. Additionally, the bill mandates that non-citizens convicted of this offense are inadmissible to the U.S., subject to deportation, and ineligible for immigration relief such as asylum. The legislation also requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress detailing enforcement data and prosecution outcomes.

The Midnight Rules Relief Act streamlines the congressional review process by allowing lawmakers to bundle multiple federal agency rules issued during a President’s final year into a single joint resolution of disapproval. This legislation simplifies the process for overturning "midnight rules," enabling Congress to vote on several regulations simultaneously rather than individually.

This resolution establishes the procedural framework for the House of Representatives to consider H.R. 77, which aims to streamline the process for disapproving "midnight rules" issued at the end of a presidential administration. It sets specific parameters for debate and limits further amendments to ensure an efficient legislative review.

The Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 provides regulatory relief by extending the filing deadline for beneficial ownership information reports. Under this legislation, companies formed before January 1, 2024, now have until January 1, 2026, to comply with Corporate Transparency Act requirements.

The China Exchange Rate Transparency Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Treasury to leverage its influence within the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to demand greater transparency regarding China’s exchange rate policies and market interventions. The bill aims to hold China accountable for its lack of disclosure, which currently complicates international assessments of potential currency manipulation. These requirements remain in effect until China achieves substantial compliance or a period of seven years has elapsed.