Proposed legislation related to national security: July 17, 2025 – August 22, 2025

S.2317 – Federal Advisory Committee Database Act. To amend title 5, United States Code, to address the responsibilities of the Administrator of General Services with respect to Federal advisory committees.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Gary Peters (D-MI). Cosponsored by Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Referred to Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

S.2364 - To direct the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities. For Mills, WY and Star Valley Ranch, WY.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by John Barrasso (R-WY). Cosponsored by Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

S.2394 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 505 East 9th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas, as the “Mayor Jerry H. Hodge Post Office Building.”
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Ted Cruz (R-TX). Cosponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

H.R.4651 – Immigration Enforcement Staff Body Camera Accountability Act. To require immigration enforcement staff to wear body cameras.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Adriano Espaillat (D-NY). No cosponsors. Referred to Ways and Means and Homeland Security and Judiciary the same day.
Comment: I don’t understand why there aren’t 170+ Democrats cosponsoring this bill!

H.R.4683 - Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act of 2025. To increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and support staff and to require reports that identify staffing, infrastructure, and equipment needed to enhance security at ports of entry.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Timothy Kennedy (D-NY). Cosponsored by Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Luis Correa (D-CA). No Republicans. Referred to Ways and Means and Homeland Security the same day.
Snarky comment: I thought Republicans were for border control? I don’t understand why there aren’t 170+ Republicans cosponsoring this bill!
Serious comment: This bill will likely never gain support from House Republicans. Before handing Homeland Security a blank check, the bill requires that Homeland Security and the Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection will actually pull real data regarding border crossings: How many, when, where.

H.Res.604 - A resolution unequivocally condemning nationwide violent attacks on Federal agents enforcing America’s immigration laws. Full text available here.
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes that the heroic men and women of ICE and CBP work long hours every day to enforce our laws, detain and deport criminal illegal aliens from the United States, and protect law-abiding American citizens;
(2) unequivocally condemns all acts of violence perpetrated by criminal illegals and others against Federal, State, and local law enforcement during the incidents cited in this resolution; and
(3) calls on local, State, and Federal elected officials to support the law enforcement representatives and partners of the Federal Government as it duly and officially enforces our laws against illegal immigration and violent crime.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Darrell Issa (R-CA). Cosponsored by Ken Calvert (R-CA). Referred to Ways and Means and Judiciary and Homeland Security the same day.
Comment: I want a Democratic counter-resolution that states that ICE and Homeland Security and other law enforcement officials must respect the constitutional rights of all persons, citizens and alien alike, within our borders.

July 23, 2025 alert: July 30, 2025 meeting. 2:00PM(EDT), 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine Congress's role in the regulatory landscape. Meeting Details.

S.2432 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the “Paul Ignatius Post Office.”
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Adam Schiff (D-CA). Cosponsored by Alex Padilla (D-CA). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

July 24, 2025 alert: July 30, 2025 meeting. 10:00AM(EDT), 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Business meeting to consider: … S.81, to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, … S.727, to correct the inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, S.874, to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, … S.850, to amend the Northern Border Security Review Act to require updates to the northern border threat analysis and the northern border strategy, S.848, to provide for joint reports by relevant Federal agencies to Congress regarding incidents of terrorism, and, S.572, to enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves Program. To be immediately followed by a business meeting to consider … S.2144, to improve the safety and security of Members of Congress, immediate family members of Members of Congress, and congressional staff, the nominations of … Pedro Allende, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security, … Christopher Fox, of Virginia, to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Edward Aloysius O'Connell, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

July 24, 2025 alert: Transcript of February 25, 2025 meeting. Nomination of Troy Edgar and Dan Bishop. Troy Edgar was nominated as Deputy Director of Homeland Security. Dan Bishop was nominated as Deputy Director of Office of Management and Budget.

S.Res.337 - A resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the postal service of the United States.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Gary Peters (D-MI). Eight Republican and six Democratic cosponsors.
Comment: And yet it was still referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs instead of holding a voice vote. The Trump administration doesn’t try to hide its disdain for the USPS.

H.R.4765 – Securing our Border Act. To reprogram all remaining unobligated funds from the IRS enforcement account.
Introduced July 25, 2025 by Tim Moore (R-NC). Cosponsored by Randy Weber (R-TX), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), and Earl Carter (R-GA). Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Homeland Security and Judiciary the same day.
Comment and ALERT: No! Just NO!
One-third of the unobligated balances … from amounts made available under section 10301(1)(A)(ii) of Public Law 117–169 shall be transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on February 6, 2034, for nonintrusive inspection systems to achieve a 100 percent nonintrusive inspection scanning rate at all northern border and southwest border land ports of entry by February 6, 2034.
Two-thirds of the unobligated balances … from amounts made available under section 10301(1)(A)(ii) of Public Law 117–169 shall be transferred to the Department of Homeland Security during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on February 6, 2034, for activities related to the construction of a border wall system along the southwest international border of the United States. (Emphases mine.)
NONONONONONONO! If we have extra money, why were the cuts so drastic in the BBB?

July 29, 2025 alert: Transcript of January 16, 2025 meeting. Remain in Mexico. Rand Paul introduced the session by stating that they were discussing giving President Trump “broad powers to suspend or restrict entry for any group deemed detrimental to our national interest.” If you want to know how we got in this mess, thank Rand Paul! And read this transcript.
Credit to Gary Peters, Elissa Slotkin, Margaret Hassan, Richard Blumenthal, Andy Kim, and Ruben Gallego for standing up for Congress’s responsibility and right to manage immigration reform, not the President. (John Fetterman was absent.) And for reminding the Republicans on the committee about the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump quashed.

July 29, 2025 alert: Transcript of January 17, 2025 hearing: Nomination of Kristi Noem. Director of Homeland Security.

S.2542 - Federal Building Threat Notification Act. To direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings.
Introduced July 30, 2035 by Gary Peters (D-MI). Cosponsored by James Lankford (R-OK) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

S.2551 - Extending Anti-Terrorism Protections Act of 2025. To provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to temporarily extend the duration of protections provided under the SAFETY Act.
Introduced July 30, 2025 by Gary Peters (D-MI). Cosponsored by Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.
Comment: Attempts to pass this bill date back to 2002.

EC1435 – July 30, 2025. From the Associate General Counsel for General Law, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to nominations, vacancies, designation of service in acting roles, discontinuation of service in an acting role and an action on nomination for positions covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.

S.2627 - To require the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Swanzey, New Hampshire.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Cosponsored by Margaret Hassan (D-NH). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Comment: Surprised that this wasn’t handed back when it was submitted, since changing the ZIP code is part of H.R.3095 that was passed by the House and referred to the Senate on July 22, 2025.

July 31, 2025, nomination (PN127-3) of Trent D. Moon as Lieutenant Commander of the Coast Guard was confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

July 31, 2025 alert: PN127-4 - Nomination of Bradford D. Long and Tevin A. White as Lieutenant Commanders of the Coast Guard (from April 2025). This showed up as a July 31, 2025 action. But there is no indication that the committee placed it on the Senate calendar, much less that a voice vote was held.

July 31, 2025 alert. Transcript of January 15, 2025 hearing. Nomination of Russell Vought. Director of Office of Management and Budget.

S.2645 - DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act. To establish the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Gary Peters (D-MI). Cosponsored by Josh Hawley (R-MO). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.
Comment: This bill is worth reading in its entirety. Not especially long. It provides for tracking of suicidal ideation and mental health issues with DHS personnel, which includes not only ICE/CBP, but also Coast Guard, Secret Service, TSA, and any other law enforcement officers affiliated with Homeland Security. It also would task Homeland Security with putting together preventive measures.
This bill doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell, although it is desperately needed.

S.2652 - Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act. To amend title 14, United States Code, to require an annual plan and budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Brian Schatz (D-HI). Cosponsored by two Democrats and one Republican. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation the same day.

EC1635 – August 1, 2025. From the Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, U.S. Customs and Boarder (sic) Protection, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department’s final rule - Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological and Ethnological Material of India.

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