Russell Fry

The EASE Act authorizes the President to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax during national emergencies involving significant disruptions to fuel supply, availability, or price increases. The suspension would last 60 days from the President's declaration but can be extended to 120 days if the President notifies Congress within 15 days that the emergency continues, with a limit of one suspension period per emergency. To prevent impacts on highway and environmental cleanup funding, the federal government would transfer money from its general fund to replace the lost gas tax revenue in the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. The bill expires on December 31, 2028, meaning any suspensions must occur before that date. The legislation affects consumers who pay gas taxes and would be administered by the President during qualifying emergencies.

The American Enrichment Deployment Act amends federal nuclear law to streamline the licensing process for uranium enrichment facilities by allowing companies to begin construction before receiving a full license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, similar to procedures already used for other fuel cycle facilities. This change aims to speed up the deployment of domestic uranium enrichment capacity while maintaining safety standards and the NRC's regulatory oversight authority. The bill requires the NRC to issue updated regulations within 180 days to implement these changes. The legislation preserves the NRC's ability to deny licenses if facilities are not built according to safety requirements and protects the public's right to hearings on licensing decisions. The bill affects uranium enrichment companies and the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain while potentially accelerating U.S. energy independence in nuclear fuel production.

Promoting Police Leadership ActThis bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop training curricula or identify existing training curricula for command-level personnel related to leadership and strategic thinking, critical incident response and management, risk management, officer wellness, data analysis and data-driven policing tactics, evidence-based decision-making, and building community trust. The term command-level personnel means state, local, or tribal law enforcement officers whose responsibilities include managing, directing, or overseeing law enforcement operations in a geographic subunit of the jurisdiction.In developing and identifying curricula, the bill requires DOJ to consult with relevant state and local law enforcement agencies, universities with appropriate enforcement or leadership programs, and other entities. DOJ must also develop a process for certifying training programs that include the curricula.Finally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to review and report on the process for developing and identifying curricula and the certification of training programs.

Logan's Law would establish a publicly accessible online database of individuals convicted of violent crimes, to be managed by the U.S. Attorney General. The database must be created within 180 days and would include both federal and state convictions for crimes involving physical force or substantial risk of force, searchable by name, address, date of birth, conviction type, sentence imposed, and other details. All states receiving federal Byrne JAG crime-fighting grants must submit their violent crime conviction records to populate the database within 180 days and maintain ongoing updates, with states losing grant funding if they fail to comply. The Attorney General would update the database at least quarterly and remove individuals whose convictions have been expunged, vacated, or pardoned. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to submit a report within 180 days identifying barriers to sharing criminal records between states and the federal government and recommending improvements to ensure prosecutors and law enforcement have access to offender information nationwide.

The Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a new federal partnership within one year to identify and promote best practices for protecting minors online. The partnership will coordinate with federal agencies like the FTC, academic experts, parents, educators, online platforms, and state attorneys general to assess risks and benefits of websites and apps for children, then publish reports every two years on these findings and how well companies are adopting safety measures. Within two years of establishment, the partnership must publish a "playbook" for tech companies detailing evidence-based practices such as age verification methods, parental controls, privacy settings, reporting tools, and limits on addictive design features like infinite scrolling and personalized recommendation systems. The partnership will sunset after five years, with no specific funding amount mentioned in the legislation. This bipartisan bill aims to create a coordinating body that helps the tech industry implement age-appropriate safety standards without direct government regulation.

H.Res. 767 is a resolution expressing the House's condemnation of violent attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and officers, which the resolution characterizes as unacceptable and fully condemned. The resolution documents a series of violent incidents that occurred between July and September 2025, including shootings, riots, and threats at ICE locations across multiple states, and states that assaults on ICE officers have increased by 1,000 percent. The resolution affirms congressional support for ICE's law enforcement mission and calls on federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, and public officials to investigate these attacks, strengthen coordination to prevent violence, and reject rhetoric that incites hostility toward ICE personnel. This is a non-binding resolution that does not authorize funding or impose timelines, but rather expresses the sense of the House regarding support for ICE operations and condemnation of violence directed at the agency.

The TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act would exempt certain broadband infrastructure replacement projects from two major federal review requirements: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Specifically, the bill applies to projects that remove and replace communications equipment identified as insecure or untrustworthy under the 2019 Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, substituting them with secure alternatives. This exemption would streamline the approval process by eliminating the need for environmental impact assessments and historical preservation reviews on these replacement projects, allowing them to proceed faster without requiring federal permits and certifications that would normally apply. The bill affects broadband companies, federal agencies involved in permitting, and communities where these infrastructure upgrades occur. No specific funding is mentioned in the legislation; rather, it removes regulatory hurdles to accelerate the replacement of vulnerable network equipment with secure alternatives.

The App Store Freedom Act prohibits major technology companies that control both an operating system and app store (like Apple and Google) from engaging in unfair practices that limit competition and consumer choice. The bill requires these "covered companies"—those with more than 100 million U.S. users—to allow customers to set third-party apps as defaults, install apps outside their official stores, and delete pre-installed apps, while also preventing them from forcing developers to use their payment systems, punishing apps that offer better pricing elsewhere, or using confidential developer data to compete unfairly. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law through civil penalties up to $1 million per violation, and state attorneys general can also bring lawsuits on behalf of their residents. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, once the FTC issues compliance guidance, and includes exceptions for protecting intellectual property, national security concerns, and existing state consumer protection laws.

H.Res. 624 is a congressional resolution honoring Anderson "Chase" Childers, a 38-year-old former Georgia police officer who died on July 13, 2025, after rescuing a family of five from a deadly rip current near Pawleys Island, South Carolina. After successfully saving all five swimmers, Childers exhausted himself in the effort and was swept away by the current, losing his life in the process. The resolution recognizes Childers' decades of service with the Cobb County Police Department, where he received a lifetime achievement award, and acknowledges his legacy as a dedicated public servant and father of three. Congress offers condolences to his family and commends the first responders involved in recovery efforts while calling for increased public education about the dangers of rip currents. This resolution does not involve any funding or require action beyond the House's formal recognition of Childers' heroism and sacrifice.

Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act or the SHOWER ActThis bill provides statutory authority for a revised definition of showerhead for the purpose of federal water efficiency regulations. Specifically, the bill adopts the definition of showerhead established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The bill also requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to revise existing regulations to reflect the new definition. Executive Order 14264 (titled Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure in Showerheads and issued on April 9, 2025) directed DOE to rescind its regulatory definition of showerhead. This bill provides statutory authority for a new definition that replaces the rescinded regulations.

Kayla Hamilton ActThis bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider additional information when it makes placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children in its custody. Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody.Current law requires HHS to (1) place a child in the least restrictive setting that is in the child's best interest, and (2) assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor prior to placing a child with that sponsor. In determining the least restrictive setting, this bill requires (currently, permits) HHS to consider the child's danger to self, danger to the community, and flight risk. Additionally, the bill requires placement in a secure facility in the case of a child who is 13 years of age or older and has gang-related markings or tattoos or a history of gang-related arrests or criminal conduct.In assessing the safety and suitability of a sponsor, this bill requires HHS to collect and provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about all adult residents of the household, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration status, contact information, and the results of all background and criminal records checks. The bill also prohibits HHS from placing a child with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Trafficking Survivors Relief ActThis act establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed by victims of human trafficking that directly result from or relate to having been a trafficking victim.It defines the offenses eligible to be vacated or expunged and sets forth procedures for filing a motion.The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records.Under the act, U.S. Attorneys' Offices must report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the number of motions to vacate convictions or expunge arrest records that are filed. Additionally, the DOJ must report to Congress on professional training received by U.S. Attorneys on indicators of human trafficking during the preceding 12-month period.The act permits certain grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief.Finally, the act allows a defendant to establish, as a defense, that the offenses were committed under duress by demonstrating that he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense.

The CIRCUIT Act expands a federal tax credit for advanced manufacturing to include distribution transformers—electrical devices that reduce high-voltage power to safer levels for homes and businesses. Under this bill, manufacturers of distribution transformers would receive a tax credit equal to 10 percent of their production costs, bringing transformers into the same incentive program that already covers other advanced manufacturing components. The bill is designed to encourage domestic production of these critical utility infrastructure components and boost supply chain resilience. The credit would take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law and applies to transformers produced and sold after that date. This legislation could help strengthen the nation's electrical grid infrastructure while supporting American manufacturers in this sector.

Targeting Child Predators Act of 2025This bill lengthens the duration of a nondisclosure order issued in connection with an administrative subpoena in a child exploitation or abuse investigation. The bill also subjects the nondisclosure order to judicial review.Current law permits the government to issue an administrative subpoena that compels providers of remote computing services or electronic communication services (providers) to disclose information pertaining to a subscriber in connection with a child exploitation or abuse investigation. Providers may notify customers and subscribers of the administrative subpoena unless the government obtains a court order—a nondisclosure order—that prohibits the notification. A nondisclosure order is currently valid for up to 90 days.This bill allows the government to obtain a nondisclosure order for 180 days in connection with a child exploitation or abuse investigation if the administrative subpoena includes a certification of necessity and notice of the right to judicial review.

Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans ActThis bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to publish geospatial data related to public recreational use of federal waterways (e.g., boating and fishing).Under the bill, NOAA must consult with relevant stakeholders (including state and local governments, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations) to develop and adopt standards for the coordination and dissemination of geospatial data relating to fishing restrictions and recreational vessels' use of federal waterways, including the exclusive economic zone of the United States (EEZ). (The EEZ generally includes waters between 3 and 200 miles seaward from the U.S. coastline.)Within four years after the bill is enacted, NOAA must provide geographic information system data on a public website that identifies and describes the locations where and conditions under which certain recreational activities are restricted in federal waterways. Specifically, the website must identify (1) locations where fishing restrictions are imposed, (2) areas in the EEZ with restrictions on specified recreational vessel types, and (3) federally protected areas (e.g., National Marine Sanctuaries). NOAA must also continue to provide digitized navigation information related to the EEZ and make the information available on the website to the extent practicable.The bill allows NOAA to coordinate and partner with nonfederal entities to carry out this bill. It also directs NOAA to work with other federal agencies to ensure compatibility and interoperability among federal databases with respect to collecting and disseminating geospatial data related to the public outdoor recreational use of the EEZ.

This bill restores the authority for businesses and organizations that provide care or care placement services for children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities (care-providing businesses and organizations) to request national criminal history background checks for contractors and for individuals they certify or license.Federal law authorizes care-providing businesses and organizations to request national criminal history background checks for certain covered individuals.From 1994 to 2018, covered individuals included three categories of individuals: (1) current or prospective employees or volunteers; (2) current or prospective owners or operators; and (3) anyone who had, may have had, or sought to have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities (e.g., contractors and licensees).In 2018, the Child Protection Improvements Act removed the third category, narrowing the scope of covered individuals to just two categories: (1) current or prospective employees or volunteers, and (2) current or prospective owners or operators. Under the law, an individual in one of the categories who has, may have, or seeks to have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities is a covered individual.This bill expands covered individuals to include additional categories: (1) current or prospective contractors, (2) current or prospective employees or volunteers for a contracted entity, and (3) individuals licensed or certified by a business or organization. Like the 2018 law, an individual in one of the categories who has, may have, or seeks to have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities is a covered individual.

Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act This bill directs the General Services Administration to establish a program under which a federal law enforcement officer may purchase a retired firearm from the agency that issued the firearm to the officer.

Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act of 2025This bill expands the types of federal officials who may remove (i.e., transfer) state cases brought against them to federal court. It also establishes a presumption of immunity for federal officials in these cases.The federal officer removal statute authorizes certain defendants (e.g., federal officers) to remove to federal court a civil action or criminal prosecution brought against them in state court if the claims or charges relate to official duties. Often, defendants who invoke the federal officer removal statute raise claims of official immunity.In recent years, the statute received public attention when then-former President Donald Trump and former officials sought to invoke the statute. For example, in Georgia v. Meadows, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows could not remove Georgia’s criminal prosecution of him to federal court based on the federal officer removal statute because it does not apply to former federal officers, and even if it did, the charges were not related to Meadows’s official duties.This bill allows a defendant who is a former federal officer or current or former President or Vice President to remove state cases brought against them to federal court based on the federal officer removal statute. It also establishes a presumption that federal officials have immunity in cases that are removable, which may only be rebutted by a showing that their actions were not related to official duties.

Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 This bill establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed by victims of human trafficking that directly result from or relate to having been a trafficking victim.It defines the offenses eligible to be vacated or expunged and sets forth procedures for filing a motion.The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records.The bill permits certain grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief.Finally, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a defendant committed certain offenses under duress if the defendant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense.

Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act This bill requires the Department of Defense to consult with the President and report on the effects on national security of surveillance conducted by China via the high-altitude surveillance balloon shot down in the United States in February 2023. The report must be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.