Legislative Activity

This resolution formally commemorates the invaluable service of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States during the Revolutionary War and recognizes the bicentennial of his farewell tour. It celebrates his military bravery, crucial diplomatic efforts that secured French support, and lifelong commitment to liberty. The bill serves as a formal expression of national gratitude for his foundational role in securing American independence.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" ensures that hunters and anglers can continue to use lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands and waters managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. It restricts these departments from prohibiting or regulating lead in ammunition and tackle, unless the Secretary of Interior or Agriculture determines that lead ammunition is the primary cause of a wildlife population decline in a specific area. Any ban implemented must align with state laws or be approved by the state's fish and wildlife department.

The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act requires the FCC to create and maintain a public list of entities holding FCC authorizations or licenses that have ownership or control by entities linked to designated foreign adversaries. This process begins with an initial list based on existing reporting requirements and expands through new rulemaking to capture a broader range of potentially influenced companies. The goal is to increase transparency regarding foreign influence over critical communications infrastructure licensed by the U.S. government.

The Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act, or Finding ORE Act, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the USGS, to enter into Memoranda of Understanding with foreign partners. These agreements focus on cooperatively mapping critical mineral and rare earth element reserves in partner countries. The goal is to secure supply chains by prioritizing development opportunities for U.S. and allied companies, while ensuring data security.

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2025 establishes a new initiative to fund farmers in the watershed for water and soil quality improvements, while also extending and streamlining the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The bill introduces a "turnkey" pilot program to simplify conservation practices for landowners and grants the NRCS direct-hire authority for technical experts. Finally, it transfers primary regulatory oversight for inspecting domestic, wild-caught invasive catfish from the USDA to the FDA.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The SHARKED Act of 2025 establishes a Shark Task Force to address conflicts between sharks and fishing operations, known as shark depredation. This group will coordinate research and develop strategies, including non-lethal deterrents, to minimize harmful interactions. The bill also authorizes dedicated funding for new research projects focused on understanding and mitigating shark depredation issues.

This bill mandates a comprehensive disability examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, conducted by VA-certified providers if a condition possibly qualifying for VA disability benefits is detected. Eligibility determinations made during this examination will be binding on the VA. The bill also directs the creation of a joint record-keeping system between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to ensure seamless data sharing of service members' medical and personnel records.

The BRAVE Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a patient outreach system. This system will inform veterans, particularly those who have experienced traumatic events, about available mental health resources and care services. The goal is to ensure veterans are aware of and can access the mental health support they may need.

The Veterans Collaboration Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a two-year pilot program fostering partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs, nonprofit groups, and universities to support veterans. This program encourages collaboration between veterans service organizations and law schools offering free legal aid to veterans. The Secretary will set standards for selecting participating organizations and universities, focusing on states with large veteran populations, and will use social media to promote these partnerships and inform veterans about available assistance. Quarterly reports on the program must be submitted to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans Affairs.

The Veteran's Choice Accountability Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to evaluate all VA programs that provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to identify and maintain centers of excellence. Additionally, the Act mandates an evaluation of the implementation of the VA Budget and Choice Improvement Act to be submitted to Congress within two years.

The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to study the use of electronic automated systems in hospitals for organ donation referrals. The study will assess the benefits, impacts, and best practices of these systems, and develop recommendations for promoting their nationwide use. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The Adoption Information Act requires family planning services receiving federal funds to provide individuals seeking medical or abortion services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in the region, including contact information and addresses, and ensure they have the opportunity to read it. The Secretary will prepare and distribute these pamphlets annually using existing Title V funds.

The "No Budget, No Pay Act" mandates that if Congress fails to agree on a budget resolution by April 15th, their salaries will be held in escrow. These salaries will be released only when a budget resolution is agreed upon or at the end of the Congressional term. This act applies to fiscal year 2026 and each year after, aiming to incentivize timely budget agreements.

The "Inaction Has Consequences Act" mandates that if Congress fails to pass all regular appropriation bills by the start of a fiscal year, their salaries will be held in escrow. These salaries will be held until all appropriation bills are passed or until the end of that Congress, at which point the funds will be released to the Members. The Secretary of the Treasury will assist in the implementation of this act. This act defines who is considered a member of congress, and who the payroll administrators are for the purposes of this act.

The Stay on Schedule (S.O.S.) Resolution aims to change House rules to prevent the House from taking recess in August if all regular appropriation bills have not been approved by July 31st. This would apply to annual funding bills managed by a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee.