Legislative Activity

The "Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act" amends Title 36 of the United States Code to define "female" and "male" based on reproductive systems. It stipulates that individuals whose sex is male are prohibited from participating in amateur athletic competitions designated for females.

The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act aims to ensure states can use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers. This legislation specifically defines pregnancy centers as organizations that promote the life of the mother and unborn child while offering various resources and services to expecting and new parents.

The BARCODE Efficiency Act mandates the use of scannable barcodes on printed federal tax returns and requires the IRS to implement scanning and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology for all paper returns and correspondence. This legislation aims to convert paper documents into electronic records to enhance efficiency in revenue collection and disbursement. Exceptions are allowed only if the technology proves slower or less reliable than current manual processes.

The New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act modifies state self-employment assistance programs by removing the requirement that participants must be near exhausting unemployment benefits. This legislation expands program access by increasing the participant cap to 10% and focusing participation on approved entrepreneurial training or business plan execution. Participants will be required to certify their self-employment activities weekly.

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.

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.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

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.

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.

This bill establishes the Calumet National Heritage Area across parts of Indiana and Illinois, recognizing its unique blend of industrial history, cultural diversity, and significant natural resources. It designates the Calumet Heritage Partnership as the local entity responsible for developing and implementing a management plan for the area. The designation aims to conserve, restore, and promote the region's nationally distinctive landscape for residents and visitors.

This act extends the deadline for surviving spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans to claim certain Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The new deadline is set ten years and one day after the official termination of the Persian Gulf War.

This bill reauthorizes the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994 through fiscal year 2031. It ensures continued funding for the program using existing authorized appropriations, without authorizing new funds. The legislation also updates the definition of "State" within the original Act.

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 Clergy Act allows certain religious workers currently exempt from Social Security self-employment taxes to voluntarily revoke that exemption and begin paying into the system. This option for revocation must be exercised by a specific deadline in 2030 or 2031, with the change being permanent once elected. The legislation also mandates that the IRS develop a plan to inform eligible clergy about this new option.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

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 strongly condemns the Iranian government for its ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority, which violates international human rights laws. It documents systematic abuses, including economic restrictions, denial of education, and arbitrary arrests, noting that these actions may constitute a crime against humanity. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned Bahais and urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to condemn these violations and impose sanctions on responsible officials.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act mandates that the Social Security Administration update its official terminology to provide clearer language regarding benefit claiming ages. This legislation replaces terms like "early eligibility age" and "full retirement age" with "minimum monthly benefit age" and "standard monthly benefit age," respectively. These changes must be implemented within 12 months of enactment or by January 1, 2027, whichever is later.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This act, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, amends federal law to exempt specific less-than-lethal projectile devices from existing firearm restrictions. It clarifies that these devices, designed to avoid serious injury and firing projectiles below a certain velocity, are not classified as firearms under federal statute. This change aims to facilitate the adoption of non-lethal tools by law enforcement.