Legislative Activity

This bill transfers the functions, assets, and responsibilities for implementing the Food for Peace Act from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Secretary of Agriculture will now administer the program, though the Famine Early Warning Systems Network will remain under USDA control. This change allows the USDA to quickly update necessary rules to ensure a smooth transition of the program.

The "No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to exclude wages and self-employment income earned by unauthorized aliens in the U.S. from being used to calculate Social Security benefits. This change applies to income earned both before, on, and after the law's enactment, with benefit adjustments taking effect after enactment. The Social Security Administration will recalculate insurance amounts to reflect these changes.

The Litigation Transparency Act of 2025 requires parties in civil actions to disclose the identity of any third party entitled to payment contingent on the outcome of the case, along with the relevant agreements. This disclosure aims to increase transparency in civil litigation by revealing who financially benefits from the lawsuit's outcome. Certain payments, such as loan repayments and attorney's fees, are exempt from this disclosure requirement. The Act applies to both ongoing and future court cases.

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 "Unemployment Integrity Act of 2025" aims to reform unemployment compensation by requiring claimants to participate in reemployment services and interviews, and by enabling employers to report noncompliance. It also mandates a study and potential increase in random audits to improve the administration of state unemployment compensation laws. Additionally, the Act limits funds transfers for extended unemployment compensation to states that meet specific work search requirements.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances to strengthen enforcement and penalties against their trafficking. Additionally, the bill streamlines registration processes for researchers to facilitate legitimate scientific study of these substances. It also includes technical corrections and mandates updated federal rulemaking to ensure effective implementation.

The CARTEL Act of 2025 mandates U.S. Customs and Border Protection to publish detailed monthly reports on various border security operational statistics, including alien encounters, drug seizures, and terrorist watchlist matches. It also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual report to Congress assessing attempts by foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations to infiltrate the United States.

The Marc Fischer Memorial Act mandates that the Bureau of Prisons implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve 100% digital scanning of all inmate mail to interdict fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. By transitioning to digital mail processing, the Act aims to protect staff and inmates from lethal exposure, improve institutional security, and alleviate the administrative burden on correctional personnel.

The "Preventing SBA Assistance from Going to China Act" amends the Small Business Act to prevent businesses with significant ties to the People's Republic of China from being classified as a small business. A business is ineligible if it is based or incorporated in China, or if more than 25% of its voting stock is owned by Chinese citizens or entities. This ensures that SBA assistance is not directed towards businesses affiliated with the Chinese government.

The "Restoring Military Focus Act" eliminates the Chief Diversity Officer position within the Department of Defense. It repeals section 147 of title 10, United States Code, and repeals section 913 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to create similar positions within the Department of Defense.

The Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act proposes to repeal federal income taxes on Social Security benefits, ensuring these payments are no longer counted as gross income. To protect the financial stability of the Social Security and Railroad Retirement programs, the bill mandates automatic federal appropriations to offset any resulting revenue loss.

The "Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act" aims to protect amateur radio operators' ability to install and use antennas on their property, despite private land use restrictions that may otherwise prohibit or impair such installations. It allows for reasonable restrictions based on safety and aesthetics, while limiting prior approval requirements and offering legal recourse for violations. The Act seeks to balance community interests with the need for effective emergency communication capabilities provided by amateur radio operators. The FCC is required to issue regulations to implement the act within 180 days of enactment.

The Fair Access to Banking Act prohibits large financial institutions and payment networks from denying services to law-abiding businesses based on subjective, politically motivated, or reputational criteria. The bill mandates that financial institutions use impartial, quantitative, risk-based standards to evaluate customers rather than category-based exclusions. To ensure compliance, the legislation establishes enforcement mechanisms through federal regulators and provides a legal pathway for businesses to sue for damages if they are unfairly denied access to financial services.

The PATROL Act (Preventing Aliens Through Rivers or Land Act) prohibits the federal government from using the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 to legally challenge states that construct physical barriers along their international borders. This legislation aims to protect state-led border security initiatives, such as walls, fences, or floating buoys, from federal civil lawsuits.

The Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 aims to immediately rescind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates across the federal government, including shutting down related offices and banning specific ideological training for federal personnel and contractors. The bill prohibits the use of federal funds for DEI activities by grant recipients and mandates that federal advisory committees cease all such practices or face termination. Furthermore, it establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals to sue violators and seek financial penalties for non-compliance.

The Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act of 2025 establishes a federal quality standard requiring pasteurized orange juice to contain at least 10.0 percent orange juice soluble solids by weight. This measure ensures product consistency by excluding added sweeteners from the calculation of these solids.

The Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit a comprehensive report to Congress regarding the national security implications of the Chinese surveillance balloon downed in February 2023. This report must detail the impact on U.S. military installations and provide an analysis of the recovered technology and its origins.

The Fighting Budget Waste Act requires the President and the Office of Management and Budget to incorporate findings from the Government Accountability Office’s reports on reducing federal fragmentation and duplication into their annual budget submissions. Additionally, the bill mandates that the OMB Director report to Congress on how these recommendations are being addressed to improve fiscal efficiency.

The Beat Bad Bureaucrats Act protects victims of identity theft by prohibiting the Small Business Administration (SBA) from garnishing Social Security benefits to collect on fraudulent COVID-19-related loans. The bill mandates that the SBA establish a clear public process for reporting identity theft and requires the agency to update its regulations to ensure victims are properly informed of their rights.