Legislative Activity

This resolution urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to withdraw a notice that reduces public notice and comment opportunities. It emphasizes the importance of public participation in the regulatory process, particularly for regulations impacting millions of Americans. The resolution supports maintaining existing practices that ensure input from various stakeholders when regulatory changes are proposed.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency declared by Executive Order 14257, which was used to impose global tariffs. The resolution invokes the National Emergencies Act to end the emergency and nullify the tariffs. If enacted, the resolution would immediately end the president's authority to impose these tariffs.

The "Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025" establishes an Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture. This office will investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act related to competition and trade practices in the food and agriculture sector, serve as a liaison to other agencies, and coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security on national security issues in the food and agriculture sector. The Special Investigator has the authority to bring civil or administrative actions against entities regulated under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.

The Watershed Results Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to solicit proposals from eligible entities to develop strategies using advanced watershed analytics for cost-effective watershed outcomes projects in Reclamation States. The Act allows the Secretary to enter into partnership agreements with selected watershed partners for designing and implementing watershed outcomes projects, providing technical or financial assistance, and sets forth specific duties for both the watershed partners and the Secretary. Qualifying activities must produce measurable outcomes, and the Act authorizes specific appropriations for implementation while ensuring data confidentiality and respecting existing water rights. The Secretary must also provide regular briefings and reports to Congress on the progress and outcomes of these projects.

The "Privacy Act Modernization Act of 2025" amends Title 5 of the United States Code to modernize the Privacy Act by updating definitions, strengthening protections for individuals' personally identifiable information, and increasing penalties for violations. It broadens the definition of "records" and "system of records" to include any personally identifiable information processed by an agency and includes data from matching programs. The bill also introduces stricter rules for data collection, use, and disclosure, and enhances civil remedies and criminal penalties for non-compliance, including felony charges for selling or misusing records for malicious purposes. Certain provisions of the Act take effect immediately for specific government entities and programs, while the remaining amendments will be implemented two years after enactment.

The FIGHTING for America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen trade regulations, prevent the entry of illicit goods, and protect U.S. revenue by amending the Tariff Act of 1930. It enhances transparency for shipments, designates the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit drugs as a priority trade issue, and imposes limitations on duty exemptions. The act also introduces penalties for aiding unlawful importation and requires increased reporting and information sharing related to intellectual property rights violations and the use of administrative exemptions. Finally, it establishes a customs user fee for processing certain shipments and allows for summary forfeiture of prohibited or dangerous merchandise.

The Insurance Fraud Accountability Act aims to combat fraudulent enrollment in qualified health plans by increasing penalties for agents and brokers who provide false information, enhancing consumer protections through verification processes and access to account information, and regulating field marketing organizations. It also increases transparency through mandatory audits and the creation of a list of suspended or terminated agents and brokers.

The Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act designates the Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas to protect their natural resources, mandates wildfire risk assessments and mitigation plans for these areas, and expands the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area. The Act also withdraws certain federal lands in Curry and Josephine Counties from uses like mining and mineral leasing, while preserving existing recreational and forest management activities.

The Bipartisan Health Care Act aims to improve various aspects of the healthcare system, including Medicaid, Medicare, human services, and public health programs. It focuses on streamlining processes, increasing transparency, extending funding for critical services, and modernizing healthcare delivery. The act addresses issues such as prescription drug costs, telehealth access, maternal health, and pandemic preparedness. By reauthorizing and modifying key programs, this legislation seeks to enhance access to care, improve health outcomes, and ensure efficient use of healthcare resources.

The "Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act of 2025" repeals four executive orders related to energy policy issued on January 20, 2025. It prevents federal funds from being used to implement these orders, while ensuring the law does not diminish any existing presidential powers. The four executive orders that are repealed involve American energy, international environmental agreements, declaring a national energy emergency, and offshore wind leasing.

The Presidential Audit and Tax Transparency Act mandates the IRS to audit and publicly disclose the income tax returns of the President, their spouse, and any entities they control, including corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts. It also requires Presidents and major-party Presidential nominees to disclose their tax returns for the three most recent taxable years, making them publicly available through the Office of Government Ethics or the Federal Election Commission. This ensures transparency and accountability regarding the financial affairs of the nation's highest officeholders and candidates.

The BEACH Act of 2025 amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve coastal recreation water quality monitoring by including nearby upstream waters and requiring states to provide data on contamination sources. It authorizes grants for identifying contamination sources and reauthorizes $30,000,000 annually through 2029 for coastal water quality monitoring and notification programs. The bill also directs the EPA to update guidance to state and local governments on the latest water contamination testing technologies.

The "Build Housing with Care Act of 2025" aims to increase access to affordable housing and child care by establishing a grant program that encourages the co-location of housing and child care services. The program will provide competitive grants to eligible entities for the design, construction, or renovation of facilities that combine housing and child care. It prioritizes entities operating in child care deserts or serving low-income families. The Act also requires a study on child care access for public housing residents and authorizes $100,000,000 annually from 2026-2031 for the grant program.

The United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025 seeks to normalize trade relations with Cuba by removing restrictions on trade, travel, and telecommunications, while also directing the President to negotiate with Cuba on property claims and human rights. The act repeals several existing laws and provisions that limit engagement with Cuba, allowing for increased economic and social interaction between the two countries. It also prohibits limitations on remittances to Cuba and requires a report to Congress on trade relations. The Act aims to foster democratic change and economic reform in Cuba through normalized trade relations.