Legislative Activity

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act amends the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, requiring the Secretary of State to review and reissue guidance on relations with Taiwan, including the "Guidelines on Relations with Taiwan," at least every five years. Following each review, the Secretary must submit a report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee detailing updates and how the guidance aligns with specified goals and objectives.

The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2025 amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to protect senior investors from financial exploitation. It allows investment companies to request contact information for a trusted contact person, and to postpone the redemption of securities if financial exploitation of a "specified adult" (age 65+ or an adult believed to be impaired) is suspected. The postponement is limited to 15 business days, with a possible 10-business-day extension, and requires internal review, notification to the designated contact, and reporting to state regulators or courts. The SEC must submit a report to Congress with recommendations for regulatory and legislative changes needed to address the financial exploitation of security holders who are specified adults.

The DETERRENCE Act increases criminal penalties for specific offenses, such as kidnapping, murder-for-hire, stalking, and assaults against federal officials, when those crimes are committed at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign government or its agents. It enhances sentences for these crimes by adding additional years of imprisonment, with the exact increase depending on the underlying offense and the extent of foreign government involvement. This bill aims to deter foreign governments from directing or coordinating criminal activities within the United States by imposing stricter punishments.

The "Fee Increases for Reckless Mismanagement Act of 2025" or "FIRM Act of 2025" increases visa application fees for foreign nationals from countries that deny or delay accepting their deported citizens, are state sponsors of terrorism, or are listed as Tier 3 countries in the State Department's Trafficking in Persons report. The fee increase will be between 50% and 150% depending on how many criteria the country meets. The Secretary of State will review these determinations monthly to decide if any increases should be reduced or applied to additional countries.

The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 ensures that monetary penalties from False Claims Act cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This excludes payments to whistleblowers and reimbursements to the government. This will increase the amount of money available to help victims of crimes.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospitalization and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child cannot be prosecuted. The bill also allows the woman who had the abortion to file a civil action against anyone who violated the act. It defines abortion and attempts at abortion, and renames "Partial-Birth Abortions" to "Abortions" in relevant sections of the U.S. Code.