Legislative Activity

This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 through fiscal year 2030, authorizing $56 million annually for FY 2026-2030. It makes administrative updates by replacing "Council" with "Committee" throughout the Act and clarifies the system's scope to include operational oceanography measurements. Furthermore, it mandates that federal agencies develop rules to ensure data sharing between regional offices and federally funded projects with local coastal observing systems.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 505 East 9th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas. The building will now be known as the "Mayor Jerry H. Hodge Post Office Building." This designation requires all official records and documents to use the new name for this specific location.

The Port Crane Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes new federal tax incentives to bolster the domestic manufacturing of port cranes. It introduces a 25% investment tax credit for building or equipping U.S. facilities dedicated to crane production. Additionally, the bill creates a production credit for manufacturers selling qualifying U.S.-made port cranes, with higher rates for those using significant domestic components. Both credits offer flexible options for businesses, including transferability and elective payment.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

This Act authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Chad Robichaux, Sarah Verardo, and six other Special Operations veterans for their heroic, independent efforts in evacuating over 17,000 people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal. The medal will be struck by the Treasury and ultimately displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicate medals to cover production costs.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the extraordinary efforts of a specific team of veterans and one civilian for their bravery during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation. These individuals are credited with leading rescue operations that safely evacuated over 17,000 people from Taliban-controlled territory. The bill ensures their exceptional service and valor are officially recorded in the Congressional Record.

The Equal Shot Act of 2025 prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from denying financial assistance to otherwise qualified applicants solely based on their involvement in the firearms industry. This legislation ensures that businesses defined as "firearm entities," their affiliates, or trade associations are not unfairly rejected for SBA loans or guarantees. The Act clearly defines these terms to prevent discrimination against businesses involved in manufacturing, selling, or servicing firearms and related accessories.

This bill establishes a new program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) dedicated to significantly improving precipitation forecasts across all timeframes. The program will advance forecasting science, enhance Earth System Models, and incorporate new technologies like AI to better predict extreme rainfall events. It also mandates coordination across NOAA and engagement with external partners to ensure high-quality, accessible forecast data.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act generally prohibits federal agencies from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Exceptions are allowed only for specific federal units where scientific data proves lead use is causing wildlife decline, and the restriction aligns with state law or policy. This legislation aims to maintain traditional hunting and fishing practices across most federal domains.

The Defend Girls Athletics Act mandates that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions must certify compliance with Executive Order 14201 regarding biological fairness in women's sports to receive federal funding. This certification must be renewed annually for K-12 districts and by July 1st for colleges and universities. Failure to comply or report results in the immediate requirement to return unobligated federal funds and ineligibility for future federal financial assistance until compliance is restored.

The Bracero Program 2.0 Act aims to modernize the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program by streamlining employer processes through a new online portal and setting a guaranteed minimum wage plus $\$2.00$ per hour for workers. It also establishes a six-year pilot program allowing certain returning H-2A workers to move between approved farms within the same state for greater job flexibility. Finally, the bill expands H-2A eligibility to include greenhouse and indoor farm workers and mandates several oversight reports by the GAO.

The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability across the prescription drug supply chain. It mandates fairer pharmacy network access for Medicare beneficiaries and imposes strict new financial reporting and service fee requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) working with Medicare and private health plans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new federal mechanisms to accurately track drug acquisition costs in Medicaid and explicitly bans the practice of "spread pricing" in state Medicaid contracts.

This resolution officially commends Petty Officer 3d Class Scott Ruskan for his heroic actions during the devastating central Texas floods of July 2025. It specifically recognizes him for personally rescuing 165 individuals and coordinating triage efforts under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, the bill extends deep gratitude to all federal, state, and volunteer responders who risked their lives during this major natural disaster.

The Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General on the current capabilities and limitations of weather monitoring in rural areas. This report will assess resource availability, identify underserved locations, and detail the obstacles rural communities face in establishing or upgrading their weather systems. The goal is to determine the necessity of improved weather monitoring infrastructure across the countryside.

The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 amends immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI/DUI) offenses. This legislation establishes that a conviction for, or admission to the underlying acts of, a DWI/DUI offense makes a non-citizen inadmissible to the United States or deportable if already present. This applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under local law.

This bill grants limited legal immunity to manufacturers of essential critical infrastructure equipment against lawsuits stemming from wildfire-related losses. This protection applies unless a plaintiff can prove the manufacturer engaged in willful misconduct during the design or production of the equipment. The legislation aims to bolster the security and resilience of vital national systems by supporting their manufacturers.

This bill officially renames the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the **Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge**. The renaming honors the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically murdered near Houston. This legislation codifies the name change across all official government records and documents.

The Association Health Plans Act amends federal law to allow certain groups or associations of employers to sponsor a single group health plan, treating them as a single employer for coverage purposes. This aims to expand access to health coverage by enabling broader risk pooling across different industries. The bill establishes specific criteria these associations must meet to qualify, including minimum size and operational standards. Finally, it outlines rules for setting premium rates and prohibits discrimination based on health status for plans established under this Act.

This bill seeks to immediately nullify the Department of Labor's recently published final rule updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts regulation. If enacted, the measure would ensure that the new wage rule, published on August 24, 2023, has no force or legal effect. Essentially, this legislation cancels the Department of Labor's latest changes to the prevailing wage requirements for federally funded construction projects.