Week 19 Legislative Recap
More committee fireworks in an otherwise slow legislative week.
Congress mostly passed non-controversial bills and resolutions last week, but there were fireworks on various committees.
Some members of Trump’s cabinet had heated hearings in Congressional meetings last week. RFK was grilled over his handling of a variety of issues. During his hearing, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen disrupted the meeting to protest Congress’ handling of Gaza.
Kash Patel appeared before the House Appropriations Committee, where he failed to produce an adequate budget proposal for his department, what lawmaker’s nicknamed an “Ozempic budget” because of its lack of detail. He also confirmed that he is out of step with Trump, who wants to cut more funding while Patel wants to increase funding.
In other Congress-related news, the head of ICE was forced to acknowledge that members of Conress do, indeed, have a right to enter ICE detention facilities when they want to. This is in light of the recent showdown at a facility in New Jersey where lawmakers were denied entry into an ICE facility.
As far as bills, there were only two controversial bills. The first is the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), which would allow active and retired police officers to conceal carry in areas designated as gun free zones. Gun rights groups seem to be upset because the other bill—the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which applies to everyone, not just police—is being ignored.
The other bill, proposed by Democrat Tim Caine, would have called for an investigation into possible human rights abuses happening at the El Salvadoran prison CECOT. Predictably, that bill failed 45-50.
Here is a recap of the last week.
SENATE
Measures passed
American Music Tourism Act: Senate passed S. 195, to amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism. Passed by Unanimous Consent.
Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act: S. 260 Amends the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening. Passed by Unanimous Consent.
Failed measure
The Senate failed to pass this bill, sponsored by Democrat Tim Caine:
El Salvador's Human Rights Practices: Senate did not agree to the motion to discharge S. Res. 195, requesting information on El Salvador's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The motion failed by roll call vote, 45-50.
Nominations Confirmed
Monica Crowley to be Chief of Protocol (52-45).
Reed Rubinstein to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State (52-46).
Troy Meink to be Secretary of the Air Force (74-25).
Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior (54-40).
Michael Rigas to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources (51-46).
Sean Donahue to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (51-46).
HOUSE
LEOSA Reform Act: H.R. 2243 Improves the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act and provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers. Passed by roll call vote, 229-193.
Redesignating certain facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr: H.R. 249 Redesignates certain facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. Passed 362-50, two voting “present”.
Amending the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act: H.R. 1682 Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes for family members of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving their country. Passed by voice vote.
Amending the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act: H.R. 331 Amends the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes. Passed by voice vote.
Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025: H.R. 167 Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977. Passed by voice vote.
Providing for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund: H.R. 1001 Provides for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund. Passed by voice vote.
Expedited Appeals Review Act: H.R. 677 Establishes a process to expedite the review of appeals of certain decisions by the Department of the Interior. Passed by voice vote.
Strengthening America's Turning Point Act: H.R. 1550, to redesignate Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield Park. Passed by voice vote.
Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025: H.R. 1829 Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Passed by voice vote.
South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025: H.R. 531 Amends the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988. Passed by voice vote.
Apex Area Technical Corrections Act: H.R. 618 Amends the Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act of 1989 to include the City of North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association. Passed by voice vote.
Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act: H.R. 952 Conveys the reversionary interest of the United States in certain land in Sacramento, California. Passed by voice vote.
Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025: H.R. 2492 Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands, respectively, without conducting a timber sale. Passed by voice vote.
Resolution to counter antisemitism: H. Res. 352 Calls on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish American community. Passed by roll call vote 421-1.