Legislative Activity

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act establishes a process for victims of human trafficking to seek the expungement of federal arrests and the vacatur of certain federal criminal convictions resulting from their victimization. It also creates a new duress defense in federal criminal trials for individuals who committed offenses while being trafficked. Furthermore, the bill allows courts to reduce the sentences of current prisoners who committed offenses as a direct result of trafficking.

This bill expresses support for designating May 2025 as Renewable Fuels Month to highlight the benefits of renewable fuels, such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting rural economies. It also establishes the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to develop legislative solutions addressing challenges in the renewable fuels sector. The Council is tasked with investigating key areas like E15 sales and the Renewable Fuel Standard, with recommendations due to Congress by early 2026.

The Gateway Partnership Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation for hosting private events in designated Park buildings. These agreements must ensure the protection of Park resources, require the Foundation to carry sufficient liability insurance, and mandate that the Foundation fully reimburse the National Park Service for all associated costs. The law ensures that public access to Gateway Arch National Park and its facilities remains uninterrupted by these private functions.

The Stop Insider Trading Act restricts Members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing new securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires advance public disclosure for any sale of existing covered investments, with a mandatory 7-to-14-day notice period before the transaction. Violations result in significant financial penalties, including disgorgement of any net gains, payable by the Member personally.

Sara’s Law and the Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2026 creates special sentencing considerations for young offenders who committed crimes while being victims of prior trafficking, abuse, or assault. This legislation grants courts the authority to sentence these "youthful victim offenders" below mandatory minimums and suspend portions of their sentences to account for past trauma. The law specifically targets individuals under 18 whose offense was committed against a recent abuser.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 targets the increasing threat posed by organized theft groups impacting retail and the national supply chain. This bill strengthens federal law by expanding money laundering statutes and lowering thresholds for property crimes related to theft. Crucially, it establishes a new federal coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations to align efforts across all levels of law enforcement and the private sector to combat these cross-jurisdictional crimes.

The Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally compelling a minor to engage in harmful acts, including self-harm, animal crushing, or abusive nonsexual or sexually explicit conduct. This law applies when using mail, interstate commerce, or within U.S. jurisdiction, defining "compel" to include threats, fraud, or manipulation. Penalties range up to 10 years imprisonment, increasing significantly if serious bodily injury or death results.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize community banking by making it easier to start new banks, tailoring regulations to the size of financial institutions, and increasing transparency in bank supervision. It introduces regulatory relief for smaller banks, streamlines the application process, and reforms how bank failures are resolved to promote competition. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to reduce regulatory burdens and foster a more diverse and accessible financial system.

The "Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act" prevents payment card networks from assigning a unique merchant category code to firearm retailers. The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the Act, investigating complaints, and reporting to Congress. This law overrides state and local laws regarding merchant category codes for firearm retailers and does not establish a private right of action.

The Protecting Private Job Creators Act addresses the application of an SEC rule (Rule 15c2-11) originally designed for stock markets to the fixed-income (bond) markets. This bill formally creates an exception, ensuring that this specific SEC regulation does not apply to quotations for fixed-income securities. This action aims to protect the vital financing mechanisms used by businesses in the debt markets.

The "Respect State Housing Laws Act" repeals a provision in the CARES Act that restricted states' abilities to enforce their own eviction moratoriums. This change clarifies that state laws regarding evictions should be respected and not overridden by federal measures. By removing the subsection, the bill aims to restore states' authority over housing regulations and eviction processes within their jurisdictions.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Data Rights for Information and Vehicle Electronics in Real-time (DRIVER) Act mandates that vehicle manufacturers provide owners with secure, real-time access to their vehicle's data at no extra cost. This bill also prohibits manufacturers and fleet owners from selling covered vehicle data without giving the owner or driver a clear opportunity to opt out. The Federal Trade Commission is granted authority to enforce these provisions against unfair or deceptive practices.

The Energy Choice Act prevents state and local governments from enacting bans or restrictions on the type or source of energy services consumers can access. This legislation protects consumer choice across various energy sources, including natural gas, hydrogen, propane, and electricity, provided the energy is sold across state lines. Essentially, it limits local interference with energy delivery options.

This resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War and established the foundation for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It honors the diplomatic efforts that led to the agreement and reaffirms U.S. support for the country's sovereignty, democracy, and path toward European Union membership. The resolution also urges continued constitutional reform and unity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the OIG's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and assess HUD's efficiency and resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD programs.

This bill, the "No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act of 2025," makes any alien who participated in or supported the Hamas attacks against Israel on or after October 7, 2023, inadmissible to the United States. This legislation bars such individuals from receiving any form of U.S. immigration relief, including asylum or withholding of removal. Furthermore, it establishes grounds for their deportation and requires an annual report to Congress on enforcement actions taken under this new law.

The Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025 mandates strict transparency regarding foreign funding in U.S. civil litigation. It requires parties to disclose any foreign entity that has a contingent financial stake in a lawsuit's outcome. Furthermore, the Act explicitly bans agreements where payment contingent on a case's success comes from a foreign state or its sovereign wealth fund. The Attorney General must also submit an annual report to Congress detailing foreign litigation funding activities in federal courts.

This bill, the "SEC Data Protection Act," mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) establish comprehensive data protection policies for sensitive, nonpublic information received from investment advisers. The SEC must adopt these rules within one year, ensuring the safeguarding and restricted access of proprietary data. This legislation aims to protect sensitive information collected by the Commission during its oversight of investment advisers.

This resolution expresses strong Congressional support for the Republic of Kazakhstan's accession to the Abraham Accords, marking it as the first Central Asian nation to join. The bill highlights the strategic and economic benefits for participating nations, including investment, technology, and tourism. It encourages both Israel and Kazakhstan to deepen their bilateral ties and urges other nations to normalize relations with Israel. Ultimately, this measure supports the expansion of the Accords to promote regional peace and prosperity.