Legislative Activity

The Kayla Hamilton Act significantly tightens the requirements for placing unaccompanied alien children in federal custody. It mandates extensive background checks and consultations with Homeland Security and the Attorney General before placement decisions are made. The bill also establishes stricter criteria for secure facility placement and prohibits placement with sponsors who have serious criminal histories. Furthermore, it exempts certain implementation procedures from standard administrative rulemaking requirements to ensure swift action.

This resolution establishes the rules for the House of Representatives to consider several distinct bills concerning environmental review efficiency, hardrock mining, gray wolf delisting, electric grid reliability, power plant retirements, and combating child trafficking. It waives most procedural objections and sets strict time limits for debate on each measure. The resolution streamlines the process, ensuring each bill moves quickly toward a final vote after limited discussion.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a specific 0.81-acre parcel of Forest Service property in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County upon request. The transfer is free of charge, provided the county covers all associated costs and agrees to use the land exclusively for public purposes. If the land is no longer used for public benefit, the Secretary retains the discretion to reclaim ownership.

This bill establishes the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for natural gas pipelines. It designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the sole lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The Act mandates coordination timelines and procedures for all participating federal and state agencies to ensure concurrent review and timely final authorizations. Furthermore, it requires public tracking of the permitting schedule and progress for all required agency actions.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

This bill establishes expedited procedures for the House of Representatives to immediately consider and vote on H.R. 2550, which aims to nullify the Executive Order concerning Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. It waives standard procedural objections and limits debate to one hour before sending the measure to the Senate.

The PERMIT Act aims to streamline and modernize federal water quality permitting processes under the Clean Water Act. It introduces requirements for considering cost and technology availability when setting water quality standards and revises timelines and scope for state water quality certifications. Furthermore, the bill clarifies general permit terms, establishes new judicial review rules, and reduces regulatory burdens for certain agricultural and pesticide discharges.

The Incentivizing New Ventures and Economic Strength Through Capital Formation Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to make it easier for small businesses and startups to raise capital and access public markets. It achieves this by expanding investment opportunities, increasing crowdfunding limits, and streamlining SEC regulations for emerging companies. Additionally, the Act modernizes the definition of an accredited investor and establishes new protections and task forces focused on senior investors. Overall, the legislation seeks to stimulate economic growth by lowering barriers for entrepreneurs and increasing access to private and public investment pools.

The Electric Supply Chain Act mandates the Secretary of Energy to conduct and report on periodic assessments of the electricity generation and transmission supply chain. These assessments must detail trends, risks, national security considerations, and barriers to expanding domestic capacity. The resulting reports will provide Congress with crucial information and recommendations to secure and strengthen the nation's electric supply chain.

The State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act mandates that states adopt a new federal standard for electric reliability in their utility planning processes. This standard requires utilities to ensure the availability of generation facilities capable of continuous, reliable operation, especially during emergencies. The bill also directs the GAO to report on the past effectiveness of state integrated resource planning in maintaining sufficient reliable generation.

This resolution establishes special rules for the House of Representatives to consider several bills addressing water pollution, investment company regulations, electricity supply chains, utility standards, natural gas authorizations, and the disinterment of a veteran's remains. It sets strict limits on debate, specifies which amendments are in order, and waives various procedural objections for each measure. The overall effect is to streamline the process for debating and voting on these distinct legislative items.

This act, the Make State Wildlife Action Plans Efficient Act of 2025, aims to streamline the federal review and approval process for state wildlife conservation plans. It establishes a strict 180-day deadline for the Secretary of the Interior to approve or disapprove these state plans. Furthermore, it conditionally authorizes states to begin implementing their programs upon submission, ensuring timely conservation efforts while requiring accountability for missed deadlines.

The Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act requires local school districts to grant parents specific rights regarding foreign influence in their schools. Upon written request, parents can review curriculum materials and receive disclosures about funding, agreements, and staff compensation linked to foreign governments or entities of concern. These requirements are a condition for receiving federal education funds, ensuring greater transparency for parents.

The **Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act (PROTECT Our Kids Act)** prohibits federal education funds from going to elementary or secondary schools that partner with, are supported by, or receive resources from entities directly or indirectly connected to the Government of the People's Republic of China, such as Confucius Institutes. This prohibition takes effect one year after enactment. Schools with existing contracts related to these prohibited activities may apply for a temporary waiver under specific conditions.