Monday, September 15th, 2025
Stop Illegal Entry: The House passed H.R.3486 (226-197), which would increase criminal penalties for non-US citizens who illegally cross the border multiple times. The measure would increase the maximum allowed prison sentences — and in some cases set mandatory minimum sentences — for noncitizens who are caught more than once entering or attempting to enter the US without inspection or through willfully fraudulent means. It also would increase the length of prison sentences for noncitizens who enter, attempt to enter, or are found in the country after having been ordered deported.
Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization: The House passed H.R.3838 (231-196), which authorizes the President's request of $882.6 billion in discretionary funding, including $33.8 billion for Energy Department nuclear weapons development and associated activities. For the Defense Department it authorizes $295.1 billion for operation and maintenance, $153.2 billion for weapons and other procurement (including President Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense), $142.4 billion for research and development, $193.9 billion for personnel, and $41.0 billion for the defense health program.
It restricts the President's ability to withdraw U.S. troops in Europe unless the Pentagon certifies it is in U.S. national interests; authorizes funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; and codifies President Trump's executive orders ending Pentagon DEI and other initiatives. House Democrats scored a major victory with the repeal of the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force against Iraq—which provide statutory authorization to the president to justify military action or counter specific threats abroad. Republicans backed amendments barring healthcare access to transgender troops and their families with a handful of Democrats joining them in support. They also supported a provision blocking men at military academies from participating in activities and athletics designated for women.
Transitioning Retiring and New Service Members: The House passed H.R.3055, which requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and make public the Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan. Among other elements, the plan must identify (1) barriers and challenges of veterans and members of the Armed Forces who are eligible for counseling under the Transition Assistance Program in searching or training for employment in the supply chain industry, and (2) challenges that supply chain employers face when recruiting, hiring, or retaining veterans and such members of the Armed Forces.
Personnel Oversight and Shift Tracking: The House passed H.R.3425, which improves safety at federal buildings by addressing security failures, improving training for contract guards, and making critical improvements to the Federal Protective Service’s (FPS) shift tracking system. The bill improves safety by linking contract guard training to demonstrated security failures and requiring updates to the personnel tracking system to ensure adequate staffing at security posts and better communication with tenant agencies.
Shared Property Agency Collaboration and Engagement: The House passed H.R.3424, which would expand on public buildings reforms that were included in the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 by directing the General Services Administration (GSA) to collaborate with federal tenants on shared-space arrangements, develop criteria for expanded space-sharing, and identify special-use spaces that can improve space sharing. This bill continues the Committee’s work to reduce the federal real estate footprint and ensure taxpayer dollars are only supporting necessary workspace – not unused or empty buildings.
