James Baird

SAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Protecting American Energy Production Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy (authority) for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the formation.

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines. Specifically, an individual who is eligible to carry a concealed firearm in one state may carry or possess a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. It sets forth requirements for lawful concealed carry across state lines. The bill preempts most state and local laws related to concealed carry and establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by interference with a concealed-carry right established by this bill.

HOV Lanes for Heroes Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2025

HOV Lanes for Heroes Act This bill provides authority for a public authority to allow a disabled veteran to use a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facility if such veteran has a license plate that clearly identifies the vehicle, a registered transponder, or other method of qualifying identification. The public authority may not charge a toll to the veteran for use of the HOV facility.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. [ sic ] This bill temporarily directs the Department of the Interior to award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act This bill requires manufacturers to report production cost and product yield information for all dairy products processed in the same facility or facilities to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program. Further, USDA must publish a report containing the information obtained under these new requirements and publish a report every two years thereafter. As background, under the Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program, USDA must collect certain dairy product sales information from manufacturers and release the data on a weekly basis.

Sunset Chevron Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Sunset Chevron Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to compile a list of federal agency rules that were upheld under the administrative law doctrine of Chevron deference. It also establishes sunset dates for the rules and requires the GAO list to include the dates. (In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the Supreme Court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council  and held that courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority. Under Loper, the courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous, as the  Chevron doctrine required.) The GAO list must include each federal court decision that (1) upheld a rule based on Chevron deference, (2) was not subsequently overturned, and (3) pertains to a rule that is in effect on the date of enactment of this bill. The list must also include a sunset date for each identified rule. The sunset date for each agency's most recent rule on the list must be 30 days after the list is published. The sunset date for each prior rule of the agency must be 30 days after the sunset date of the rule preceding it on the list. Further, rules identified on the list are subject to a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act without regard to the 60-legislative-day limit on the period for filing such a resolution after a rule has been received by Congress.

Valor Earned Not Stolen Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Valor Earned Not Stolen Act of 2025 This bill increases the maximum prison term—from one year to three years—for an individual who falsely claims to be the recipient of certain military awards (e.g., a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart) with the intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit.

SAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Save America’s Valuable Energy Act or the SAVE Act This bill directs the Department of Energy to prohibit the sale of petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to entities headquartered in Russia, Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

Panama Canal Repurchase Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Panama Canal Repurchase Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the President to negotiate with the appropriate Panamanian government officials to reacquire the Panama Canal. The President must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment detailing the progress of such negotiations, potential challenges, and anticipated outcomes. 

No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act This bill requires the Department of State to develop and implement a strategy to discourage foreign countries and nongovernmental organizations from providing financial or material support to the Taliban, including by using U.S.-provided foreign assistance to discourage countries and organizations from providing such support to the Taliban. The State Department must report to Congress on (1) foreign countries and nongovernmental organizations that have provided financial or material support to the Taliban and U.S. efforts to oppose such support; (2) the strategy to discourage such support and a plan for the strategy's implementation; (3) U.S.-funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan; and (4) the Afghan Fund, including Taliban influence over Da Afghanistan Bank (the Afghan central bank).

Make Greenland Great Again Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Make Greenland Great Again Act This bill authorizes the President to seek to enter into negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland. If such an agreement is reached, the President must transmit the agreement and related materials to Congress within five calendar days. The agreement shall go into effect 60 calendar days after such transmission unless Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval.

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period. The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions. HHS must submit a report to Congress annually on this prohibition.

Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act This bill expands the exclusion of interest on floor plan financing from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses to include interest on floor plan financing of certain non-motorized, towable campers and trailers.  Under current law, the tax deduction for business interest expenses is generally limited to 30% of adjusted taxable income. (Some exceptions apply.) However, under current law, interest on floor plan financing (financing used to acquire inventory for sale or lease) of motorized vehicles (e.g., self-propelled vehicles designed to transport people) is excluded from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses. Under the bill, the exclusion of interest on floor plan financing from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses is expanded to include interest on floor plan financing of any camper or trailer designed to (1) provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or seasonal use; and (2) be towed by, or affixed to, a motor vehicle. 

Honor Inauguration Day Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Honor Inauguration Day Act This bill requires the U.S. flag to be flown at its highest peak on each presidential Inauguration Day.

Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution This resolution establishes the House Committee on the Elimination of Nonessential Federal Programs to analyze underperforming or nonessential federal programs and recommend actions to modify or eliminate those programs. The resolution also establishes expedited procedures for legislation reported by the committee to eliminate programs or rescind funding. The committee shall cease to exist at the end of the 120th Congress.

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters".

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters and submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) on December 26, 2024. Under the rule, DOE adopted amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determined was technologically feasible and economically justified.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

FORCE Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends or the FORCE Act This bill prohibits removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until the President makes the determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Hearing Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Veterans Member Business Loan Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Veterans Member Business Loan Act This bill excludes from credit union aggregate loan limitations member business loans made to veterans. 

Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 This bill limits the withdrawal of unleased lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from areas that may be leased for mineral development and nullifies certain past withdrawals. The OCS includes the federally managed ocean area extending from the outer boundaries of state-controlled waters (generally 3 nautical miles [nmi] from shore) to 200 nmi from shore, with some exceptions. Specifically, the bill limits the President's authority to restrict offshore development of minerals, such as oil and gas, on the OCS. For example, the bill (1) caps the number of acres of OCS lands that a President may withdraw from areas that may be leased; (2) prohibits withdrawals from being made for a period longer than 20 years; (3) prohibits the President from making withdrawals of unleased land that conflict with areas included in lease sales scheduled under approved oil and gas leasing programs; and (4) prohibits the President from withdrawing unleased lands unless the Department of the Interior has completed assessments addressing issues such as mineral resources and the national security, economic, and energy value of the identified mineral deposits. The President must also obtain congressional approval before withdrawing more than 500,000 acres cumulatively. Further, the bill gives Congress the authority to review and disapprove withdrawals by enacting a joint resolution. In addition, the bill nullifies certain presidential memoranda and executive orders related to withdrawing unleased land from areas that may be leased for the development of oil, gas, or other minerals on the OCS.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the railroad track maintenance credit.

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.

To remove the lesser prairie-chicken from the lists of threatened species and endangered species published pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and to amend that Act to exclude the lesser prairie-chicken from the authority of that Act.

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

This bill removes the lesser prairie-chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ), including each of its distinct population segments, from the threatened and endangered species lists that are published under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Further, the bill prohibits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from designating such species as threatened or endangered, and thus, protecting such species under such act.

Increased TSP Access Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modify the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs) at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) by establishing an approval process for nonfederal certifying entities and a streamlined certification process for TSPs that hold certain specialty certifications. As background, TSPs are third-party service providers, such as private businesses, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, that work on behalf of customers to offer planning, design, and implementation services that meet NRCS criteria. The bill specifies that USDA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, third-party providers with expertise in the technical aspects of conservation practice design, implementation, and evaluation are eligible to become approved TSPs. USDA must provide a streamlined certification process for TSPs who hold appropriate specialty certifications (e.g., certified crop advisors). In determining the eligibility of a nonfederal certifying entity, USDA must consider the ability, experience, expertise, and history of the entity. USDA must decide whether to approve an application submitted by a nonfederal certifying entity to certify TSPs within a specified time period.   USDA must also review a TSP's certification by a nonfederal certifying entity within a specified time period. If the certification is satisfactory, USDA must include the TSP on a USDA-maintained registry of certified TSPs. The bill also specifies that TSPs must be paid at rates equivalent to technical assistance provided by USDA. Further, USDA must provide accessible public information on TSPs, including information on funding, certification results, and utilization rates.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the sermon given by the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde at the National Prayer Service on January 21st, 2025, at the National Cathedral was a display of political activism and condemning its distorted message.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

This resolution expresses (1) the sense of the House of Representatives that the sermon given at the National Prayer Service on January 21st, 2025, at the National Cathedral was a display of political activism, and (2) that the House condemns the message of Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde.

Heartbeat Protection Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Heartbeat Protection Act of 2025 This bill makes it a crime for a physician to knowingly perform an abortion (1) without determining whether the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat, (2) without informing the mother of the results, or (3) after determining that an unborn child has a detectable heartbeat. A physician who performs a prohibited abortion is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill provides an exception for an abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical (but not psychological or emotional) disorder, illness, or condition. It also provides exceptions for certain pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.

Main Street Tax Certainty Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Main Street Tax Certainty Act This bill makes permanent the qualified business income (QBI) tax deduction. Under current law, individuals, estates, and trusts may deduct the lower of (1) 20% of QBI from a qualified business, qualified real estate investment trust dividends, and qualified publicly traded partnership income; or (2) 20% of taxable income less net capital gain. (Some limitations apply.) However, under current law, the QBI tax deduction expires after December 31, 2025.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, schools participating in the program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; USDA regulations require milk to be fat-free or low-fat and allow milk to be flavored or unflavored. The bill modifies these restrictions and instead permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or nonorganic. Further, USDA may not prohibit a participating school from offering students any of these milk choices. Further, schools currently must provide a substitute for fluid milk, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician, for students whose disability restricts their diet. Under the bill, a parent or legal guardian may also provide the written statement. In addition, schools currently participating in the program must provide meals that meet certain nutrition requirements; USDA regulations require that the average saturated fat content of the meals offered must be less than 10% of the total calories. Under the bill, fluid milk is excluded from the saturated fat content calculation; milk fat included in any fluid milk provided by the program must not be considered saturated fat for the purposes of measuring compliance with USDA regulations. Finally, the bill prohibits schools participating in the program from purchasing or offering milk produced by Chinese state-owned enterprises.

To nullify the modifications made by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2023 to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for the abortion pill mifepristone, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

This bill nullifies certain changes made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to dispensing requirements for mifepristone. (Mifepristone is a drug that is approved to end pregnancies through 10 weeks gestation when used in conjunction with the drug misoprostol. The procedure is often referred to as medication abortion or the abortion pill.) The FDA regulates the use of mifepristone through the Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. The program requires health care providers to comply with certain requirements in order to prescribe or dispense mifepristone to end a pregnancy; the program previously included an in-person dispensing requirement that required mifepristone to be directly dispensed to patients in clinics, medical offices, or hospitals. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the FDA temporarily stopped enforcing the in-person dispensing requirement, which allowed mail-order pharmacies to fill and dispense mifepristone prescriptions. In January 2023, the FDA modified program requirements so as to (1) remove the in-person dispensing requirement, and (2) require pharmacies to be certified in the program in order to dispense mifepristone. The modifications allow retail pharmacies, after receiving certification, to dispense mifepristone pursuant to prescriptions that are written by program-certified prescribers. The bill nullifies the January 2023 changes and prohibits any similar changes in the future.

MERIT Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Life at Conception Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025

Life at Conception Act This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Nothing in this bill shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025

Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to take certain actions to increase mathematical and statistical modeling education in elementary and secondary schools. First, the NSF must make competitive awards to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations for research and development to support high-quality mathematical modeling education (e.g., data science and computational thinking) in schools. This authority to provide awards expires on September 30, 2029. Second, the NSF must seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on mathematical and statistical modeling education in schools.

PROTECTS Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Protecting Resources Of Taxpayers to Eliminate Childhood Transgender Surgeries Act of 2025 or the PROTECTS Act of 2025 This bill prohibits providing or using federal funds to perform, refer for, or reimburse any entity for certain gender transition procedures for an individual under the age of 18.  The bill’s prohibition applies to certain gender transition procedures that are performed to intentionally change an individual’s body to no longer correspond to the individual's biological sex, including surgeries, medications, and implants specified in the bill. The bill provides exceptions for specified procedures, such as treating certain genetic abnormalities or preventing imminent death or impairment of a major bodily function, when performed by a health care provider with the consent of the individual’s parent or legal guardian. 

STAR Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations Security Council should immediately impose an arms embargo against the military of Burma.

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

This resolution states that the United Nations Security Council should immediately impose an arms embargo against the military of Burma (Myanmar) and hold it accountable for its ongoing violations of human rights.

Banning SPR Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 This bill adds a new source of revenue for the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Specifically, the bill requires certain civil monetary penalties collected from settlements and judgments in cases involving fraud and false claims against the federal government to be deposited into the CVF through FY2029.  The CVF supports federal, state, and local programs and activities to compensate and assist victims of crimes. Currently, the CVF is funded by deposits from a variety of sources, including federal criminal fines, penalties, and assessments; forfeited bail bonds; and certain other gifts, donations, and bequests. 

Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025

Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA's) working definition of antisemitism when reviewing or investigating complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. According to the IHRA's working definition, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.