Legislative Activity

The Great Lakes Icebreaker Act of 2025 directs the Coast Guard to develop a strategy for designing and building a new, highly capable Great Lakes icebreaker. It also mandates a five-year pilot program to test the current fleet's ability to keep critical shipping lanes open during winter. Furthermore, the bill updates requirements for public reporting and Congressional briefings on the operational costs of icebreaking missions.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors the essential and dangerous work performed by these skilled professionals, especially their heroic efforts in restoring power after major disasters. The day serves to recognize their service and remember those who have lost their lives performing this vital work.

This bill mandates increased transparency and verification for all federal government spending by requiring agencies to report detailed payment information to the Treasury. It enhances program integrity by granting the Treasury access to new hire and tax data to prevent and recover improper payments. Agencies must also verify recipient bank accounts before disbursement, with exceptions allowed only for sensitive national security or law enforcement operations.

The Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions Act of 2025 prohibits states and their contractors from charging SNAP-authorized retailers any fees for processing basic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT transactions. This ban does not apply to fees specifically charged for the rental of necessary transaction equipment, such as card readers. These new provisions will take effect on October 1, 2025, overriding previous related regulations.

The Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth Act, or STRONG Act, significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available through key Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. Specifically, it doubles the maximum size for standard 7(a) loans from $\$3.75$ million to $\$7.5$ million. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum loan amount for development company loans from $\$5$ million to $\$10$ million. These changes aim to provide greater capital access for small business growth and development.

This bill, the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act, declares that any final pandemic agreement resulting from the World Health Organization's negotiations must be treated as a formal treaty. This ensures that the United States cannot implement such an agreement without receiving the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate. Furthermore, the policy of the United States is established to fully support Taiwan's participation in the WHO.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

The Stopping Proxy Advisor Racketeering Act establishes new rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to ensure proxy advisory firms provide unbiased voting recommendations to shareholders. This bill prohibits firms from issuing advice if they have conflicts of interest, such as simultaneously consulting for the company being advised upon or actively working with one side of a shareholder proposal. The legislation grants the SEC authority to impose civil penalties on firms that violate these new standards.

The Organic Dairy Data Collection Act mandates the USDA to significantly enhance data collection for the organic dairy sector. This law requires the establishment of new surveys to track the costs of organic milk production and the prices farmers receive for their milk and feedstuffs. Ultimately, this ensures organic dairy producers have access to detailed, equivalent economic information currently available to conventional dairy farmers.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2025 as "National Dairy Month" to recognize the vital role of the dairy industry. It highlights the industry's significant contributions to American health, noting that dairy is a key source of essential nutrients like calcium and Vitamin D. Furthermore, the resolution commends the nation's family-owned dairy farms for their economic impact and agricultural heritage. It also strongly opposes unfair regulations that hinder dairy farmers.

The STATES Act changes how the President can federalize the National Guard during specific national emergencies. If a state's negligence necessitates this federal deployment, the Act requires that state to reimburse the federal government for 100% of the incurred costs by reducing its federal funding. This provision applies retroactively to actions taken on or after June 1, 2025.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating June 11, 2025, as "World Franchise Day." It recognizes the significant role franchising plays in the U.S. economy by fostering entrepreneurship, creating millions of jobs, and providing pathways to ownership. The bill formally endorses the global recognition of this vital business model.

The Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2025 authorizes the Attorney General to designate jurisdictions as "lawless" if they fail to maintain public order or actively impede law enforcement. Jurisdictions labeled as lawless will immediately cease receiving federal funding. Funds can only be restored after a minimum 180-day waiting period and official recertification by the Attorney General.

The Rural Upgrades for Road Access and Local Growth Act of 2025 aims to boost infrastructure in mid-sized rural communities. It mandates setting aside 30% of Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program funds specifically for towns with populations between 10,000 and 75,000. Additionally, the bill drastically shortens procedural review timelines within the grant program from 60 days to just 3 days to expedite project approval.

The Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act of 2025 significantly tightens federal regulation of foreign manufacturers producing gas cylinders for transporting hazardous materials in the U.S. This bill grants the Secretary of Transportation new authority to approve, inspect, and suspend foreign manufacturers based on compliance and accuracy of submitted information. It also mandates public notice periods for new applications and requires enhanced disclosure regarding the applicant's compliance history and potential national security flags.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs women's health clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The clinic will now be known as the Anna Mae Robertson VA Well Woman Clinic. This change ensures all official records reflect the new designation.

This bill, the Preventing the Abuse of Immigration Parole Act, aims to drastically restrict the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to grant immigration parole. It mandates that parole decisions must be made strictly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Furthermore, the legislation imposes an annual cap on parole grants starting in FY 2029 and grants states the authority to sue the Secretary over perceived misuse of this authority.

The Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the pipeline between skilled CTE graduates and small businesses. This legislation mandates that Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers actively educate businesses on hiring CTE graduates and connect these programs with entrepreneurial resources. The bill officially defines CTE by referencing existing federal law to ensure consistent standards.

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.