Category: Congress at Work

Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025 (S 257) – Introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) on Jan. 2, this bill is designed to promote resilient critical supply chains by identifying, preparing for, and responding to supply chain shocks to critical industries. The ultimate goal of the legislation is to encourage the growth and competitiveness of production and manufacturing in the United States using emerging technologies. The bipartisan legislation is currently under consideration in the Senate.

To prohibit individuals convicted of defrauding the Government from receiving any assistance from the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes (HR 825) – This bipartisan legislation would prohibit a small business with a high-level associate convicted of any crime related to financial misconduct involving a covered loan or grant from receiving any financial assistance from the SBA. It was introduced by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) on Jan. 28 and is currently under consideration in the House.

STEWARD Act of 2025 (S 351) – This bill was introduced by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on Jan. 30. It would establish a pilot grant program to improve recycling accessibility and require the Environmental Protection Agency to collect and report on recycling and composting programs in the United States. The bipartisan bill is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act (S 283) – This bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Jan. 28 and is under consideration of the Senate. It would require the development of a standard methodology to identify the country of origin of seafood transported for sale in the United States to support enforcement against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

TAKE IT DOWN Act (S 146) – Also introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the purpose of this bill (also known as the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act) is to remove visual depictions of intimate acts from the Internet. Currently, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other computer-generated technologies are being used to create digital forgeries of identifiable people, including minors, without their consent. This bipartisan legislation was introduced on Jan. 16, passed in the Senate on Feb. 13, and currently lies with the House.

TICKET Act (S 281) – This bipartisan bill would require sellers of event tickets to disclose all relevant information about ticket prices and related fees to consumers at the point of sale in order to prohibit speculative and predatory ticketing. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) on Jan. 28 and is under consideration in the Senate.

Interstate Transport Act of 2025 (S 246) – This bill was introduced on Jan. 24 by Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC). It is designed to protect the right of citizens from any state to transport knives to other states without bumping up against state and local prohibitions. Such an act would not be subject to arrest for the possession or transport of a knife without probable cause that the person intends to commit an offense punishable by imprisonment of a year or more. The bipartisan legislation is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Laken Riley Act (S 5) – A holdover from the last congressional session, this bill was re-introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) on Jan. 6. It is similar to a 1996 law, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, that deports illegal immigrants who are found guilty of serious crimes. This new bill enables the government to detain and deport illegals who are arrested for serious crimes or misdemeanors (such as shoplifting), but they do not have to be charged or found guilty. The legislation passed in the Senate on Jan. 20 and the House on Jan. 22, and it is expected to be the first bill signed by the Trump administration.

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act (HR 152) – This legislation would amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to authorize a new study designed to streamline and consolidate data regarding the collection of preliminary damage assessments. It was introduced by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS) on Jan. 3, passed in the House on Jan. 13, and is currently in the Senate.

Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act (HR 153) – This is a disaster companion bill, also introduced by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS) on Jan. 3. It would create an online repository for recipients of Federal disaster assistance to meet specific reporting requirements. The bipartisan bill passed in the House on Jan. 14, and its fate also lies with the Senate.

POWER Act of 2025 (HR 164) – Also known as the Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act, this non-controversial bill was passed on Jan. 15 under a House procedure called “suspension of the rules.” It would allow Federal agencies to provide essential assistance for the emergency restoration of power and not restrict utility company recipients from also qualifying for hazard mitigation assistance if necessary. The bill amends the previous Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (1988), which details the process for federal government assistance to state and local governments following a major disaster. The bill was introduced by Rep. Valerie Hoyle (D-OR) on Jan. 3 and currently lies with the Senate.

Fix Our Forests Act (HR 471) – The purpose of this bill is to expedite improvements in forest management activities on National Forest public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) on Jan. 16 and passed in the House on Jan. 23. It currently lies with the Senate.

MAPWaters Act of 2025 (HR 187) – This bipartisan bill authorizes the standardization, consolidation, and publication of federal waterways data regarding outdoor recreational uses by the public, as tracked by federal land and water management agencies. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) on Jan. 3, passed in the House on Jan. 21, and is under consideration in the Senate.

Regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government (HCon Res. 1) – This concurrent resolution was introduced on Jan. 3 by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN). It is a bipartisan resolution, agreed to by all four majority and minority leaders in both houses, that would allow members of the House and the Senate to assemble at a location outside the District of Columbia if it is in the public interest. The resolution passed in the House on Jan. 3 and currently rests in the Senate.

Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 (S 3613) – The Federal Protective Service (FPS) contracts security guards to control access to government facilities and screen visitors to detect prohibited items, such as pepper spray and batons. Earlier this year, FPS investigators conducted a covert test at certain federal buildings in which the guards failed to detect prohibited items about 50 percent of the time. In response, Congress passed this bill requiring Facility Security Committees to respond to security recommendations issued by the FPS. It also mandates that the Homeland Security Department submit an unredacted report to Congress regarding FPS surveillance technology recommendations as well as summarize the FPS recommendations that buildings accepted or rejected. However, no additional funding for security is appropriated by the bill, which will sunset five years following enactment. The act was introduced on Jan. 18, 2024, by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). It passed in the Senate on March 23, the House on Dec. 10, and was signed into law on Dec. 17.

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (HR 5009) – This year’s version of the annual funding bill features a 14.5 percent increase in pay for junior enlisted servicemembers, as well as a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other personnel. The legislation also provides cost-of-living allowances per location, improved housing/barracks repair programs, more access to medical and mental health services, and increased employment support for military spouses. The legislation was introduced by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) on July 27, 2023. This is a bipartisan bill that has passed in both the Senate and the House with various changes. It is currently awaiting signature by the White House for enactment.

Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023 (HR 2950) – Introduced by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) on April 7, 2023, this bill passed the House on Sept. 24, 2024, the Senate on Nov. 21, and was signed into law on Dec. 11. The legislation empowers the Coastal Program of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to increase efforts to assess, protect, restore and enhance key coastal environments that provide fish and wildlife habitats for certain federal trust species.

Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (S 4367) – This legislation was introduced by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) on May 20, 2024. It passed in the Senate on Aug. 1 and in the House (with changes) on Dec. 10; the final bill is expected to be approved and signed into law by the end of the congressional session. This bipartisan bill is designed to improve the nation’s water resources infrastructure, including ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, and flood and storm protection; it also strengthens our resilience during natural disasters. The legislation also institutes reforms at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in order to streamline processes and deploy projects faster.

SHIELD Against CCP Act (HR 9668) – Introduced on Sept. 18, 2024, by Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), this bill would establish a task force working with the Department of Homeland Security. The group’s sole focus would be on countering terrorism, cybersecurity, and border/port security related to threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The legislation is in response to recent CCP activities such as stealing intellectual property and technology, threats to economic supply chain security and critical infrastructure, and surveillance activities targeting U.S. defense sites and even American citizens. The bipartisan bill passed in the House on Dec. 10 and is currently in the Senate.

Increasing Baseline Updates Act (HR 9716) – In the first quarter of each year, the Congressional Budget Office provides Congress with an annual baseline 10-year projection of the budget and economy based on the fiscal impact of legislative proposals. Updates are released in Q2 and Q3 to reflect newly enacted laws and economic conditions. This bill would mandate that the executive branch provide critical data to the CBO by February 1 of each year to produce a more accurate annual budget baseline. The bill passed in the House on Dec. 11 and currently lies with the Senate. It was introduced by Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) on Sept. 20, 2024.

All bills not enacted by the end of the 118th congressional session on Jan. 3, 2025, will expire.

Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (HR 82) – This bill, with 330 bipartisan sponsors and a similar bill in the Senate, was introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) on Jan. 9, 2023. It passed in the House on Nov. 12 of this year and is likely to pass in the Senate before the year’s end. The purpose of the bill is to eliminate the government pension offset that reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government. In the private sector, this would have a similar effect to withholding Social Security from people who have a 401(k). The bill would also repeal provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for spouses and widows/ers who receive their own government pensions. The provisions of the bill would be retroactive to the beginning of 2024.

BOLIVAR Act (HR 825) – This legislation prohibits the head of an executive agency to enter into a contract for the procurement of goods or services with any person that has business operations with the Maduro regime in Venezuela. The act was introduced on Feb. 2, 2023, by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-OH). It passed in the House on Nov. 18, and its fate currently lies with the Senate.

Vote by Mail Tracking Act (HR 5658) – This bill would require mail-in ballots to use the Postal Service barcode and an Official Election Mail logo. It passed in the House on Nov. 18 and is under consideration in the Senate. The bill was introduced by Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) on Sept. 21, 2023.

Find and Protect Foster Youth Act (S 1146) – This act was introduced on March 30, 2023, by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). It would amend a provision of the Social Security Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to eliminate obstacles to identifying and responding to reports of missing foster care children. Furthermore, it would assist in the assessment and screening of children who are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking, as well as identify best practices for effective interventions. The bipartisan bill passed in the House on Nov. 18 and is currently in the Senate.

Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2023 (S 1228) – This bill was introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on April 25, 2023. The bill would require the director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress detailing projects that are over budget and behind schedule. This is a bipartisan bill that has passed in both the Senate and the House, but on July 22, the House made changes and sent it back to the Senate, where it currently resides.

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024 (S 275) – Introduced by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on Feb. 7, 2023, this bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet applicants for funding of affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas (including rural communities). The FCC would mandate a process, including a detailed proposal with technical capabilities to provide competitive awards for implementing the broadband network services. The FCC would then assess proposals in line with well-established technical standards. The bill passed the Senate on Sept. 25 and is currently with the House.

Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 (HR 9106) – During an election year, the Department of Homeland Security identifies major presidential and vice-presidential candidates in consultation with a committee of congressional leaders. This bipartisan bill instructs the U.S. Secret Service to use the same criteria for establishing the level of protection for major candidates as provided for presidents and vice presidents. The bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) on July 23. It passed in the House on Sept. 20, in the Senate on Sept. 24, and was signed into law by the president on Oct. 1.

COCOA Act of 2024 (HR 6513) – This bipartisan Act, titled the Confirmation of Congressional Observer Access Act, was introduced on Nov. 30, 2023, by Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH). It was passed in the House on Sept. 9, in the Senate with changes on Sept. 24, and cleared the House with changes on Sept. 25. The president signed it into law on Oct. 4. The bill requires states to designate congressional election witnesses to observe the administration procedures of federal elections, including casting, processing, scanning, tabulating, canvassing, recounting, auditing and certifying ballots during the pre-and post-election period. However, the bill prohibits the observers from handling any ballots or equipment, advocating for a particular candidate, issue, or party, or interfering with the election process in any way. Election officials are further authorized to remove any designated observer who does not follow the guidelines detailed in this bill.

Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act (S 1549) – The Privacy Act of 1974 generally requires written consent before a federal agency is allowed to disclose certain personal records. However, some agencies are exempt from this requirement, including the Government Accountability Office and the National Archives and Records Administration. This bill designates the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be exempt as well in an effort to expedite sharing between the CBO and federal agencies. The bill passed in the Senate on June 22, 2023, in the House on Sept. 23, 2024. It was signed into law on Oct. 2, after having been introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on May 10, 2023.

Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 (S 656) – This Act was introduced on March 6, 2023, by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE). It provides guidelines to approve assistance by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for commercial driver education programs. The requirements include appropriate licensing and usage of the same commercial driver education curriculum as other approved institutions. The bill passed in the Senate on Nov. 2, 2023, the House on Sept. 25, 2024, and was enacted into law on Oct. 1.

Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2023 (S 70) – This bill was introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) on Jan. 25, 2023. It requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to process and complete all residential and business mortgage packages within 20 or 30 days, depending on the type of application. It also establishes the position of Realty Ombudsman within the BIA’s Division of Real Estate Services. This is a bipartisan bill that passed in the Senate on July 18, 2023, and currently sits in the House, where it has a high probability of passing before the end of the current Congressional session.