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Steve Cohen Voting Record & Scorecard | Institute for Legislative Analysis

US Representative from TN

District: 9 • Democrat

2025 Alignment:

9.04%

Lifetime Alignment:

6.60%

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District Performance
Cook PVI Rating: D+23 (Solid D)
District Estimate: 3%
District Performance: +6 (9.04%)
District Based Rating:
D
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Lifetime Ratings by Policy Category

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Title

Lawmaker Position

Condemning Socialism and Defending Individual Liberty, Private Property, and Free Enterprise.

The "Denouncing the horrors of socialism" concurrent resolution, sponsored by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), expresses the sense of Congress that socialism should be denounced in all its forms and that Congress opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution lays out a series of findings describing the historic record of socialist and communist regimes, including famine, repression, and mass death, and it highlights how centralized economic control often collapses into authoritarian rule. It also underscores America's founding principles by citing the importance of property rights, personal liberty, and the freedom to enjoy the fruits of one's labor.
Support is the Limited Government Position as socialism requires centralized power that undermines personal freedom, private property, and voluntary exchange – the very antithesis of limited government.
Against
Limited
Government

Overturning a Biden Bureau of Land Management Plan that Prevents Coal Leasing on 1.7 Million Acres of Federal Land

This resolution introduced by Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a Biden administration rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relating to the "Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment." Resource management plans guide how BLM-administered lands are managed, including whether and where coal leasing may be considered. The Miles City plan amendment made 1.7 million acres unavailable for future coal leasing. According to supporters, this kind of federal land "lock up" undermines local economies and energy affordability by putting Washington planners ahead of workers, communities, and responsible development.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress must rein in unelected agencies that use sweeping land-use decisions to restrict lawful resource development and centralize control over local economies.
This resolution helps restore accountability and protects access to America's domestic energy resources.
Against
Limited
Government

Overturning a Biden Bureau of Land Management Rule that Restricts Oil, Gas, and Coal Development on Federal Lands in North Dakota.

This resolution introduced by Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a Biden administration rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relating to the "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan." Resource management plans guide how BLM-administered lands are managed, including where energy development is allowed or restricted. Biden's North Dakota plan modified the prior 1988 plan by limiting oil and gas development in certain areas and restricting new coal leasing to areas within four miles of existing mines. According to supporters, the rule represents a federal land-use "lock up" that would limit access to domestic resources, threaten jobs and state revenues, and increase energy costs for families and businesses.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress must rein-in unelected bureaucrats who use federal land plans to restrict lawful energy development and centrally plan the economy.
This resolution helps protect energy affordability and strengthens American energy independence.
Against
Limited
Government

Overturning a Biden Bureau of Land Management Plan that Blocks Mineral Extraction on Millions of Acres in Alaska's Central Yukon Region.

This resolution introduced by Rep. Nicholas Begich (R-AK) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a Biden administration rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relating to the "Central Yukon Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan." Resource management plans guide how BLM-administered lands are managed, including where uses such as responsible development, access, and conservation rules will apply. The Central Yukon plan was issued on November 12, 2024, and, among other changes, designates 21 areas as "critical environmental concern" and locks up roughly 3.6 million acres. According to supporters, these designations and related restrictions amount to a federal land "lock up" that can limit multiple-use access, hinder economic opportunity, and place Washington bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made closer to the people most affected.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress must rein in unelected federal agencies that use sweeping land-use plans to restrict lawful activity and centralize control over local economies.
This resolution helps restore accountability and protects access to America's vast public-land resources.
Against
Limited
Government

Denying Congress the Ability to Fulfil its Constitutional Duty of Evaluating the Imposition of a 40% Tariff (Tax) on Imports from Brazil.

This motion tables (defeats) a discharge petition sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) that would allow Congress to debate and vote on the imposition of an additional 40% tariff on imports from Brazil. Specifically, the discharge petition would terminate the national emergency declared by President Trump on July 30, 2025, in Executive Order 14323, pursuant to the National Emergencies Act. President Trump's EO imposed an additional 40% tariff on Brazilian goods, which was on top of a 10% tariff the President imposed on Brazilian goods in April of 2025. Notably, on February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Learning Resources v. Trump that these emergency-tariff actions are unconstitutional.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the U.
S. Constitution provides Congress – not the Executive Branch – the "power of the purse" to impose taxes and appropriate funds under Article 1, Section 9. Blocking the petition obstructs the ability of duly elected officials to fulfil their constitutional duty to manage the level of taxation (tariffs) being imposed on Americans.
Supports
Limited
Government

Restoring American Energy and Jobs by Reversing the Biden-Era Plan that Shut Down Future Federal Coal Leasing.

This resolution, sponsored by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a former Biden administration rule implemented at the Bureau of Land Management titled "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment" on November 20, 2024. The Biden-era rule made no federal coal available for future leasing in the Buffalo Field Office area, effectively ending future federal coal leasing in Wyoming's Powder River Basin. By disapproving the 2024 rule, Congress would undo those restrictions and revert management back to the 2020 Trump-era plan, thus expanding the domestic energy supply.
Support is the Limited Government Position as the Biden-era decision locked up domestic resources and unnecessarily raised consumer costs.
Nullifying this rule helps unleash American energy dominance and increases taxpayer revenues.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing the Biden-Era ANWR Coastal Plain Leasing Restrictions to Restore Domestic Energy Production and Lower Costs.

This resolution, sponsored by Rep. Nicholas Begich (R-AK), uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a former Biden administration rule implemented at the Bureau of Land Management titled "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision" on December 9, 2024. The Biden-era rule changed how oil and gas leasing can occur in the Coastal Plain program area within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Biden-era decision replaced the 2020 record of decision under the first Trump administration that had made the full 1.6 million acre program area available for leasing. The Biden-era decision made only 400,000 acres available for leasing (the statutory minimum) placing roughly 1.2 million acres off-limits.
Support is the Limited Government Position as the Biden-era decision locked up domestic resources and unnecessarily raised consumer costs.
Nullifying this rule helps unleash American energy dominance and increases taxpayer revenues.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing a Biden Rule at the Department of Energy that Effectively Bans Popular Natural Gas Tankless Water Heaters

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Department of Energy rule titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters" and published on December 26, 2024. The underlying rule set new federal efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous (tankless) water heaters, including widely used non-condensing models. According to supporters, the rule was designed in a way that effectively pushes non-condensing units out of the market and forces homeowners and small businesses into more expensive options and complicated retrofits. They argue this is part of a broader regulatory playbook where Washington uses appliance rules to squeeze out natural gas products, shrinking consumer choice while raising costs for everyday replacements and home repairs.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should stop unelected regulators from using appliance standards as a backdoor ban that raises costs and limits consumer choice.
Repealing this rule helps prevent federal bureaucrats from dictating what energy options Americans are allowed to use in their homes and businesses.
Against
Limited
Government

Blocking Biden's Costly Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Energy Standards Mandate by Overturning a Department of Energy Rule

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Department of Energy rule titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers" and published on December 23, 2024. The underlying rule establishes new federal energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers commonly used by grocery stores, restaurants, warehouses, and other commercial facilities. According to supporters, the repeal of the Biden rule would stop Washington from using one-size-fits-all efficiency mandates to dictate the design and purchase of essential refrigeration equipment. They argue these mandates drive up compliance and replacement costs, squeeze small businesses, and ultimately raise prices for consumers as businesses are forced to absorb yet another layer of federal micromanagement.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should rein in costly, top-down energy mandates imposed by unelected regulators.
Repealing this rule helps protect small businesses and consumers from bureaucratic micromanagement that drives up prices.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing a Biden IRS Rule that Grows Financial Surveillance Through Expanded Crypto "Broker" Reporting

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal an Internal Revenue Service rule titled "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales" and published on December 30, 2024. The underlying rule expands who the IRS treats as a "broker" for digital asset sales and would require covered entities to report gross proceeds and send new tax statements tied to crypto transactions. According to supporters, repealing the Biden rule would stop Washington from rewriting the definition of "broker" to sweep in parts of the digital asset economy that do not operate like traditional brokerages, including technology platforms that cannot realistically collect the personal data the rule demands. They argue the Biden rule is less about honest tax administration and more about building a new reporting regime that turns financial innovation into a compliance trap, pushing lawful activity overseas while increasing the federal government's ability to monitor Americans' economic lives.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should stop the IRS from expanding surveillance-style reporting mandates that go beyond clear statutory authority and punish emerging technologies.
Repealing this rule helps protect financial privacy and innovation from bureaucratic overreach.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing Biden's EPA Methane Fee Rule That Grows Federal Penalties and Drives Up Domestic Energy Costs

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Environmental Protection Agency rule titled "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions" and published on November 18, 2024. The underlying rule sets the compliance framework for the federal "waste emissions charge," including how covered facilities calculate emissions, use "netting," and qualify for exemptions, with EPA positioned to assess penalties when standards are not met. According to supporters, this rule is the enforcement engine for a Washington created methane tax that punishes American oil and gas production, increases compliance burdens across the supply chain, and ultimately raises energy prices for families and job creators. They argue it hands regulators another tool to pressure domestic producers while making the U.S. less competitive and more dependent on foreign energy.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should stop the federal government from using regulatory schemes and penalty regimes to tax and micromanage domestic energy production.
Repealing this rule helps block bureaucratic enforcement that would raise costs and expand Washington's control over the energy economy.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing a Biden Rule at the Department of Energy that Imposed Unnecessary Labeling and Certification Mandates on Consumer Appliances.

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Department of Energy rule titled "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment" and published on October 9, 2024. The underlying rule imposed new federal paperwork, labeling, and reporting requirements and expanded enforcement provisions across a wide range of everyday appliances and equipment. It covered roughly 20 product categories, reaching into items like dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners and heat pumps, battery chargers, light bulbs, and other common products used by families and employers. According to supporters, by nullifying the rule, the resolution would stop Washington from turning routine appliances into a compliance headache where manufacturers face more audits, more forms, and more threats of enforcement, and then pass those costs along to everyone at the checkout counter.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should rein-in unelected regulators that keep adding paperwork mandates and enforcement traps that raise prices and restrict consumer choice.
Repealing this rule helps protect businesses from another round of bureaucratic micromanagement.
Against
Limited
Government

Repealing a Biden EPA Rule that Imposed Costly New Emissions Mandates on U.S. Tire Manufactures.

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Environmental Protection Agency rule titled "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing" and published on November 29, 2024. The underlying rule imposed new federal emissions standards on parts of the rubber tire manufacturing process and expanded EPA's regulatory reach over domestic tire plants. According to supporters, repealing the Biden rule would stop Washington from piling more red tape and expensive compliance demands onto an industry that supports thousands of American jobs and produces an essential product used by nearly every household and business. They argue the mandate would raise production costs, squeeze smaller facilities the hardest, and push more manufacturing out of the United States.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should block unaccountable bureaucrats from imposing costly mandates that punish domestic manufacturing through backdoor rulemaking.
Repealing this EPA action helps protect jobs, affordability, and U.S. competitiveness by reining in regulatory overreach.
Against
Limited
Government

Blocking Biden's Costly Commercial Refrigeration Energy Standards Mandate by Overturning a Department of Energy Rule

This joint resolution, introduced by Rep. Craig Goldman (R-TX), would utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a Biden Department of Energy rule titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers" and published on January 21, 2025. The underlying rule establishes new federal energy conservation standards for common commercial refrigeration equipment used by grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses. According to supporters, the repeal of the Biden rule would stop Washington from using one-size-fits-all efficiency mandates to dictate what equipment businesses can buy and how much it must cost to comply. These types of federal standards often function as a hidden tax on everyday commerce by forcing expensive redesigns, accelerating replacement cycles, and raising operating and purchase costs that ultimately get passed on to consumers.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should rein-in costly, top-down energy mandates imposed by unelected regulators.
Repealing this rule helps protect small businesses and consumers from bureaucratic micromanagement that drives up prices.
Against
Limited
Government

Extending Tax Relief but Also Worsening Cronyism and Wealth Redistribution through the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act".

This vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, introduced by Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), is on the reconciliation package whereby the House concured with the Senate amendments. From a limited government perspective, the bill contained positive provisions that extended the lower personal and corporate tax rates, as well as key estate and business tax provisions originally enacted within the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that were set to expire. However, the bill also contained negative provisions that worsened cronyism and wealth redistribution such as no tax on tips and overtime, a larger child tax credit, a car-loan interest deduction, and "Trump Accounts" seeded with a $1,000 federal contribution. With a razor-thin Republican majority, the bill was deemed a necessary evil to lock in the core tax relief and prevent a major tax shock, even as it expanded the practice of using the tax code to pick winners and losers and invited more lobbying and cronyism into federal policy.
Support is the Limited Government Position because, despite serious flaws, the bill prevents a large scheduled tax increase by extending broad-based tax relief and protecting taxpayers from a punitive expansion of Washington's reach into private earnings.
Against
Limited
Government

Protecting Parents and Students by Blocking CCP-Linked Money and Contracts in K-12 Public Schools.

The "Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act," also known as the "CLASS Act," sponsored by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), prohibits public elementary and secondary schools from accepting funds from, or entering into contracts with, the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, or their agents as a condition of receiving federal K-12 education funds. The bill also requires schools to disclose certain funds received from, or contracts with, a foreign source to the U.S. Department of Education, including reporting foreign funding or contracts above a set threshold. According to supporters, the CLASS Act is meant to stop foreign adversaries from buying access to school programs and materials, and to ensure families and communities are not kept in the dark when outside actors seek influence in local classrooms.
Support is the Limited Government Position as taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize school arrangements that invite foreign adversary influence and propaganda into American communities.
This measure strengthens transparency and accountability tied to existing federal funds without creating a new federal spending program.
Against
Limited
Government

Preventing Blackouts and Protecting Ratepayers from Costly Grid Failures through the "Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act".

The "Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act," also known as the "GRID Power Act," sponsored by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), is designed to more quickly bring baseload power plant projects online. The bill helps expedite certain power projects by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rule revising the prioritization and approval process for interconnection requests for dispatchable power projects. The nation's interconnection queue has become inundated with proposed projects seeking to capitalize on the Biden Administration's taxpayer-funded "green" energy credits. Such projects account for 97% of all projects in the queue and now result in a median weight time of 5 years for projects. This bill will help send projects such as natural gas plants to the front of the line.
Support is the Limited Government Position as government should remove bottlenecks that block dependable energy resources from coming online.
This bill helps lower consumer power costs by helping ensure reliable and affordable energy projects are more quickly brought online.
Against
Limited
Government

Exposing Foreign Influence in Higher Education by Strengthening Transparency Requirements Through the DETERRENT Act

The "Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act" (DETERRENT Act), introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements related to foreign gifts and contracts involving institutions of higher education. The bill updates Section 117 by lowering the reporting threshold for many foreign gifts and contracts, requiring regular reporting, and tightening rules for transactions connected to countries and entities of concern. It also aims to stop colleges and universities from quietly taking money tied to hostile foreign interests while benefiting from massive federal support and taxpayer-backed student aid. According to supporters, the measure is designed to deter foreign regimes from buying access, shaping campus policies, and gaining leverage over research, speech, and academic programs through opaque financial relationships.
Support is the Limited Government Position as taxpayers should not subsidize institutions that conceal foreign financial entanglements, especially when those ties can undermine national security and public accountability.
Strong transparency rules help prevent backdoor influence operations without creating new federal spending programs.
Against
Limited
Government

Empowering Unaccountable Bureaucrats at the Department of Education to Rewrite Foreign Gift Reporting Rules by Amending the DETERRENT Act

The Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) amendment #3 to the DETERRENT Act, would restructure how colleges and universities report foreign gifts and contracts under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. The amendment would shift more control to the Department of Education to redesign and administer the foreign funding reporting regime through an agency-driven process rather than through clear, fixed standards enacted by Congress. In practice, it would expand bureaucratic discretion and create new avenues for federal micromanagement of higher education institutions under the banner of "transparency."
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the amendment expands the Department of Education's regulatory power and invites agency rulemaking that undermines congressional accountability.
Transparency should be achieved through clear statutory requirements, not by empowering bureaucrats to rewrite the rules.
Against
Limited
Government

Targeting Israel by Labeling It a "Foreign Country of Concern" Through the DETERRENT Act

The Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) amendment #5 to the DETERRENT Act is largely intended to target Israel by expanding the bill's definition of a "Foreign Country of Concern." Specifically, the amendment would add any country defending a case before the International Court of Justice related to alleged violations of the Geneva Conventions or the Genocide Convention, and any country whose government includes officials with outstanding arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. This change would import the judgments of international tribunals into U.S. higher education policy and allow politically charged foreign disputes to trigger sweeping federal consequences under the bill's restrictions and compliance framework. According to the sponsor, the Israeli Government is an "apartheid regime".
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this amendment largely represents a political vendetta against Israel and politicizes the law by tying domestic education policy to international court actions and warrants.
Congress should not use higher education compliance rules to advance ideological foreign-policy targeting or to outsource U.S. decision-making to unaccountable global bodies.
Supports
Limited
Government

Expanding the State Department's Power to Impose a Politicized Blacklist and Attack Israel by Amending the DETERRENT Act.

The Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) amendment #6 to the DETERRENT Act is largely intended to target Israel by expanding the bill's definition of "Investment of Concern" to include any entity that the Secretary of State determines consistently facilitates and enables state violence and repression, war and occupation, or severe violations of international law and human rights. This change would inject broad, subjective foreign-policy judgments into a higher education transparency bill and give the executive branch sweeping discretion to label entities based on political and diplomatic interpretations According to the sponsor, Israel "throws international law in the shredder" and are "perpetrators of the most horrific crimes against humanity."
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this amendment largely represents a political vendetta against Israel and creates a subjective, politicized standard that invites arbitrary enforcement.
Congress should advance transparency through clear rules, not by empowering the State Department to broaden blacklists at will.
Supports
Limited
Government

Empowering Parents by Requiring Transparency About Foreign Adversary Funding and Influence in K-12 Schools.

The "Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act," sponsored by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a "Parents' Right to Know About Foreign Influence" as a condition for local educational agencies receiving federal K-12 funds. The bill requires school districts to notify parents of their right to request and receive information regarding foreign influence in schools, including covered support or contributions tied to foreign governments or foreign entities of concern. It also requires disclosures related to curriculum and professional development materials connected to such foreign involvement, along with related agreements and arrangements that may shape what children are taught. According to supporters, the measure is aimed at deterring foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, from using funding streams and school partnerships to influence classroom content and school operations without parents' knowledge.
Support is the Limited Government Position as parents, not distant bureaucracies or foreign actors, should have transparency and control over influences in their children's education.
This bill strengthens accountability and disclosure standards tied to existing federal funds without creating a new federal spending program.
Against
Limited
Government

Stopping Chinese Communist Influence in K-12 Schools by Cutting Off Federal Funds to Confucius-Linked Programs.

The "Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act," also known as the "PROTECT Our Kids Act," sponsored by Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), prohibits federal education funds from going to any elementary or secondary school that directly or indirectly receives support from the Government of the People's Republic of China. The bill applies to schools that have partnerships with Chinese government-funded cultural or language institutes, including Confucius Institutes, operate Chinese government-supported "Confucius Classrooms," or receive Chinese-linked support such as teaching materials, personnel, funds, or other resources. According to supporters, the measure is designed to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining a foothold in local classrooms through partnerships and resources that can shape curriculum, messaging, and school activities without meaningful accountability to families and taxpayers.
Support is the Limited Government Position as federal education dollars should not subsidize arrangements that invite foreign government influence into local schools.
Cutting off funding for CCP-linked programs strengthens accountability and protects parents and communities without creating a new federal spending program.
Against
Limited
Government

Extending the Statute of Limitations to Prosecute Pandemic Unemployment Fraud and Recover Taxpayer Dollars.

The "Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act," introduced by Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), would extend the statute of limitations from 5 years to 10 years for federal criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions for fraud tied to several COVID-era unemployment insurance programs. This change is aimed at preventing major fraud cases from aging out as the current deadline begins to hit in 2025. According to supporters, pandemic unemployment programs were looted on a massive scale through identity theft and organized fraud schemes, and Washington should not let criminals keep stolen taxpayer dollars simply because the clock ran out. They argue the bill gives investigators and prosecutors the time needed to track down sophisticated fraud networks, pursue recovery through civil actions, and protect honest workers and small businesses from paying the price for a system that was abused.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should protect taxpayers by holding fraudsters accountable and recovering stolen public funds.
Extending enforcement time helps prevent waste and abuse from becoming a permanent loss that fuels bigger government and higher costs down the road.
Supports
Limited
Government

Expanding NSF Climate-Research Bureaucracy Through New Mandates for Activist-Driven Ocean Programs.

The "Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act" (ANCHOR Act), introduced by Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA), would require the National Science Foundation to develop and carry out a plan to upgrade telecommunications and cybersecurity capabilities for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The bill directs NSF to assess vulnerabilities, set modernization priorities, and coordinate improvements for research vessels used as at-sea laboratories. According to opponents, nothing in current law prevents NSF from making improvements using existing authorities and resources, and the bill instead adds another federal mandate that can become a work around to the DOGE reforms to an agency heavily criticized for waste and politicized climate change and DEI priorities.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the bill grows bureaucracy and invites wasteful spending.
Federal cybersecurity priorities should focus on national defense and critical systems, not expanding activist-driven research infrastructure. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $38 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.
Against
Limited
Government

Fueling Cronyism and Wasteful Spending on Climate Change Initiatives through the "DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act".

The "DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act," introduced by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), would require the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to carry out research and development activities through a formal interagency agreement. Joint initiatives include workforce development, biofuels and biobased products, and methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to opponents, these climate and energy agendas should be driven by states, markets, and private innovation – not the federal government – with this measure merely entrenching Washington's role in picking winners and losers.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill merely codifies and worsens cronyism.
Congress should focus on limiting federal involvement in the private sector, not promoting a politicized climate change agenda. Lawmakers must rein-in the out-of-control spending and $38 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.
Against
Limited
Government

Restoring Regulatory Certainty for Domestic Mining Projects to Strengthen America's Critical Minerals Supply Chain

The bill H.R. 1366, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), would clarify that mining operators may use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining (such as waste rock and tailings disposal) through mill site claims, regardless of whether the land itself contains valuable mineral deposits. The bill responds to the Ninth Circuit's 2022 Rosemont decision, which created new uncertainty for mine plans by calling into question long-standing federal practice for approving these support sites. According to supporters, the bill is needed to prevent litigation-driven permitting chaos that blocks domestic mineral production and deepens America's reliance on foreign adversaries for critical minerals.
Support is the Limited Government Position because it provides clear rules that limit bureaucratic gamesmanship and reduce permitting uncertainty that can be used to stall lawful projects.
It also helps strengthen domestic supply chains without expanding federal control over private industry.
Against
Limited
Government

Restoring Separation of Powers by Ending Nationwide Injunctions Issued by Rogue Federal Judges Through the "No Rogue Rulings Act".

The "No Rogue Rulings Act" (NORRA) sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) limits the authority of federal district courts to issue injunctions. Specifically, the bill prohibits a district court from issuing an injunction unless the injunction applies only to the parties in the particular case before the court. Supporters argue this would stop a single unelected judge from unilaterally freezing federal policy nationwide and would force broad national questions to be resolved through the normal appellate process rather than through "judge-shopping."
Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps rein in judicial overreach and protects the constitutional separation of powers by preventing nationwide injunctions from becoming a backdoor way to make policy from the bench.
Against
Limited
Government

Advancing a Politicized Climate Change Agenda by Forcing Taxpayers to Fund "Low-Emissions" Cement, Concrete, and Asphalt Programs at the Department of Energy.

The "Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies Act" (IMPACT Act), introduced by Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), would require the Department of Energy to establish a new program supporting the advanced production of "low-emissions" cement, concrete, and asphalt. The program would focus on specified technologies and processes, including carbon capture and energy-efficient production methods, and it would authorize DOE to select eligible entities – including government, nonprofit, educational, and private-sector organizations – to carry out demonstration projects. According to opponents, this is another example of the federal government picking winners and losers, using taxpayer-backed programs to advance "low-emissions" mandates that can crowd out market-driven innovation and invite future spending expansions.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the bill advances a politicized climate change agenda and enriches government-favored entities while socializing the costs onto taxpayers.
Lawmakers must rein-in the out-of-control spending and $38 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.
Against
Limited
Government

Growing Unnecessary Government Bureaucracy through More Reporting Mandates Under the "DHS Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act".

This bill, introduced by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), would require the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Transportation Security Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to submit a report to Congress on efforts to prevent, deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism. The report would have to assess current and emerging threats, review high-risk locations, examine vulnerabilities involving technologies such as autonomous and connected vehicles, and include recommendations for research, development, and other countermeasures, followed by a congressional briefing on the findings. According to opponents of the bill, Congress should not respond to every threat by ordering another federal report and briefing requirement when DHS and its component agencies already have authority to coordinate, assess threats, and respond to terrorism. They argued that the measure risks duplicating existing responsibilities, adding another layer of bureaucracy, and shifting focus away from actual execution, while still adding taxpayer cost.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Congress should not answer every potential threat by creating another Washington reporting mandate for agencies that already possess the authority to act.
Vehicular terrorism is a real danger, but lawmakers should insist on better execution of existing responsibilities rather than more bureaucracy, more paperwork, and more taxpayer expense.
Against
Limited
Government

Competing with the Private Sector by Growing the Size and Scope of the Small Business Administration's Workforce Outreach Role.

The Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), would impose new mandates on Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers to provide educational information to small businesses on hiring graduates of career and technical education programs. It would also grow the role of these Centers to now provide students and graduates with information about resources and services available to start and expand a small business. According to opponents, the measure broadens the SBA's mission into workforce placement and training coordination, creating another federally directed outreach function that will grow over time and duplicate what states, localities, employers, and private groups already do without Washington's involvement.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as workforce development is a private-sector responsibility, which states and localities also frequently engage in – but certainly not a role of the federal government.
The federal government should reduce market distortions and regulatory burdens rather than growing new federally directed functions inside SBA-backed centers.
Against
Limited
Government

Growing Government Bureaucracy through a New FCC "Security Council" that Risks Expanding Federal Control Over Communications Networks

The Communications Security Act, introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a communications security council to make recommendations on the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. The new federal advisory structure would be tied to the FCC, bringing together stakeholders to develop recommendations and reports related to communications "security" and emergency preparedness. While framed as coordination, it places another layer of Washington bureaucracy and control into a sector that is already heavily regulated and constantly adapting to evolving threats. According to opponents, the measure creates a new bureaucracy that can become a vehicle for the FCC to pressure providers, shape network decisions, and justify additional regulatory mandates later, without clear evidence that existing structures are inadequate.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position because the bill grows the federal footprint by creating another FCC-backed body that can be used to expand regulatory influence over private communications networks.
Network security and resiliency can be advanced through voluntary industry standards and existing authorities without establishing new Washington councils that invite mission creep.
Against
Limited
Government

Growing Bureaucracy and the Surveillance State through New Mandates on the Expansion of AI at the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Consumer Safety Technology Act, introduced by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a pilot program exploring how artificial intelligence could be used to support the agency's mission. The bill mandates the pilot includes an activity such as tracking injury trends, monitoring the marketplace for recalled products, or flagging products that may not meet import requirements. The bill also includes a mandate to study how blockchain might be used for consumer protection services and directs the FTC to report on efforts involving digital tokens. According to opponents, this legislation grows bureaucracy and the reach of federal regulators by encouraging AI-driven monitoring and new federal reporting mandates that can become a stepping stone to broader enforcement, data collection, and mission creep.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure expands federal bureaucracy and incentivizes AI-driven surveillance of markets that can sweep up lawful activity and private data.
Consumer protection can be pursued through clear, limited enforcement of existing law and private-sector standards without building new invasive federal monitoring programs and technology mandates.
Against
Limited
Government

Growing the Size and Scope of the Federal Government through an Expansion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Great Lakes Fish Tagging Program.

The bill H.R. 1917, the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), would provide statutory authority for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program that "mass marks" hatchery-produced fish in the Great Lakes basin so they can be distinguished from wild fish. The bill would also expand the federal role in fisheries management by authorizing additional equipment purchases, staffing, and ongoing tag-recovery operations to support program growth. Opponents note this legislation moves a regional fisheries issue further into Washington's hands by locking in a federal program, increasing federal spending, and widening the scope of federal oversight in an area where states and local stakeholders should be leading.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it grows the size and scope of the federal government by codifying and expanding a federal program that is better handled by the states.
Federal taxpayers should not be put on the hook for new staffing, equipment, and ongoing operations when local authorities can manage these responsibilities.
Against
Limited
Government

Blocking a Federal Reserve "Digital Dollar" that Would Enable a Financial Surveillance State through the "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act".

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, introduced by Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), would prohibit a Federal Reserve bank from offering products or services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts on behalf of individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (a "digital dollar"). The bill would also prohibit the Federal Reserve Board from using a central bank digital currency to implement monetary policy and would restrict the Fed from testing, studying, creating, or implementing a CBDC except as specifically allowed by the bill. In effect, it would prevent Washington from building a government-controlled payment system that could bypass the private banking system and place day-to-day transactions under federal control. According to supporters of the bill, a CBDC would open the door to unprecedented monitoring, politicized control over what Americans can buy, and new pressure points for bureaucrats to punish disfavored lawful activity.
Support is the Limited Government Position because it blocks the creation of a federal digital currency that could expand government power into Americans' private financial lives.
It also reinforces constitutional accountability by keeping monetary innovation in the private sector rather than in a centralized federal system.
Against
Limited
Government

Unlocking American Energy Abundance by Ending Federal Barriers that Slow LNG Exports and Raise Costs at Home.

The "Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025," sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), reforms the federal approval process for importing and exporting natural gas under the Natural Gas Act. The bill transfers key approval authority from the Department of Energy to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, aligning export and import decisions with the same regulator that already reviews related infrastructure. According to supporters, this change is intended to streamline a delayed and politicized permitting process that has restricted U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and discouraged long-term investment.
Support is the Limited Government Position as the federal government should not use bureaucratic delay and discretionary approvals to restrict private energy production and exports.
This bill reduces red tape and unleash American energy dominance.
Against
Limited
Government

Ending Washington, D.C.'s Sanctuary Policies to Force Cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement

The District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), would prohibit the District of Columbia from adopting or enforcing laws, policies, or practices that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, with limited exceptions related to certain witnesses and crime victims. The bill would require D.C. agencies to share immigration status information and comply with federal requests that help identify and remove illegal immigrants who are in custody or otherwise encountered by local authorities. According to supporters, the nation's capital should not operate as a sanctuary jurisdiction that blocks lawful enforcement and makes it harder to detain and deport illegal immigrants, including those with criminal histories. They argue Congress has a duty to ensure D.C. follows federal law, protects public safety, and does not provide a safe haven that invites more illegal immigration and weakens confidence in the rule of law.
Support is the Limited Government Position as sanctuary policies are a form of selective enforcement that undermines the rule of law and public safety.
Congress should use its authority over the District to ensure local officials do not obstruct lawful federal immigration enforcement.
Against
Limited
Government

Strengthening Election Integrity by Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote in Federal Elections.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require documentary proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It would prohibit states from accepting or processing a federal voter registration application unless the applicant presents approved proof of citizenship, and it directs states to create an alternative process for applicants to submit other evidence to demonstrate citizenship. The bill also requires states to take ongoing affirmative steps to ensure only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, including establishing programs to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens and removing noncitizens from voter rolls. According to supporters, the measure closes loopholes that invite error and abuse in a system that often relies on self-attestation, strengthens public confidence in elections, and ensures political power remains tied to citizenship rather than being diluted through unlawful registration.
Support is the Limited Government Position as self-government depends on clear, enforceable rules that ensure only citizens participate in federal elections.
Requiring proof of citizenship strengthens accountability and protects the legitimacy of elections.
Against
Limited
Government

Expanding the National Park Service Footprint and Fueling Runaway Spending Through a New "National Park" Redesignation and Boundary Study in Salem.

The Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act, introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), would redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Massachusetts as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park. The bill would also direct the National Park Service to conduct a boundary study to evaluate whether additional lands should be added to the park unit. While the change is framed as largely symbolic, redesignations and boundary studies are often the first step toward expanding federal land management, acquiring additional property interests, and increasing long-term operating obligations. According to opponents, Congress should not be growing the federal parks bureaucracy or laying the groundwork for future expansion when federal land agencies already struggle with maintenance backlogs and should be focused on core stewardship of existing assets rather than creating new federal footprints.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as redesignations and boundary studies invite mission creep and future spending by expanding the reach of the federal land-management bureaucracy.
Congress should prioritize shrinking federal obligations and maintaining existing properties rather than setting up the next expansion.
Against
Limited
Government

Improving Data on Targeted Attacks on Law Enforcement to Strengthen Officer Safety

The Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC), would require the Department of Justice to report on targeted attacks on law enforcement officers, assess the feasibility of incorporating those attacks into existing national crime reporting systems, and identify mental health resources available to law enforcement. The measure is aimed at creating a clearer nationwide picture of threats and violence directed at officers and whether current reporting systems adequately capture that reality. It also pushes DOJ to evaluate how officer wellness resources are being provided and where gaps exist. According to supporters, better data and transparency are necessary to protect officers, inform policymakers, and ensure public safety decisions are based on facts rather than politics.
Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting public safety is a core duty of government, and basic reporting improves accountability without creating a new grant program or expanding federal control over local policing.
Supports
Limited
Government

Expanding the "Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act" to Let Qualified Officers Carry Concealed Firearms Across State Lines.

The LEOSA Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), would update the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act to broaden where qualified active and retired law enforcement officers may carry concealed firearms and ammunition across state lines. The bill would align LEOSA with the Gun-Free School Zones Act so qualified officers are not treated as criminals in school zones, and it would clarify that LEOSA protections apply in units of the National Park System. It would also prevent state and local laws from being used to ban qualified officers from carrying concealed firearms. In addition, the bill would strengthen LEOSA by explicitly covering magazines and by allowing states to extend the retired officer firearms qualification window from 12 months up to 36 months, reducing unnecessary red tape that can sideline trained professionals. According to supporters, these reforms remove carve-outs that have grown over time and empower vetted officers to respond to threats in public spaces.
Support is the Limited Government Position as state and local governments should never, or only in very limited circumstances, enact "gun free zones" which merely disarm law-abiding individuals.
This measure at least allows law enforcement to strengthen public safety.
Against
Limited
Government

Ending the Wasteful Destruction of Retired Federal Service Weapons by Authorizing Sales to Qualified Law Enforcement Officers.

The Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), would direct the General Services Administration to establish a program allowing current and retired federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service weapons that were issued to them, at salvage value. The program would apply only to officers in good standing and would require the purchase to occur within a set window after the firearm is retired. Instead of forcing agencies to destroy thousands of firearms through a costly disposal process, the measure would allow agencies to recoup some value while limiting transfers to the officers who carried those weapons in the course of duty.
Support is the Limited Government Position as taxpayers should not be forced to fund needless government destruction of valuable property when a straightforward, limited program can reduce waste and recover value.
The policy also provides benefit to law enforcement officers and avoids expanding a broader public pipeline of surplus firearms.
Against
Limited
Government

Defending U.S. and Israeli Sovereignty by Sanctioning the International Criminal Court for Targeting Non-Member Nations

The "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), would impose sanctions related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) when it attempts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute "protected persons" of the United States and certain U.S. allies that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. The bill requires visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who materially assist such ICC actions, and it also applies visa restrictions to certain immediate family members, while rescinding and restricting U.S. funding for the ICC. In part, the legislation responds to the ICC's escalating actions against Israel after, in November 2024, the ICC announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on baseless charges of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity." According to supporters, this is about stopping an unaccountable international tribunal from trying to police Americans and key allies from the outside, even though the United States never granted the ICC authority over our citizens and Israel is not subject to its jurisdiction either.
Support is the Limited Government Position as the United States should not submit its citizens or allies to an unaccountable international court that operates beyond constitutional checks and voter control.
Congress should use lawful tools to defend national sovereignty and deter foreign actors who help weaponize international institutions against Americans and Israel.
Against
Limited
Government

Codifying Medicaid Waiver Budget Gimmicks that Weaken Budget Neutrality and Enable Bigger Federal Spending

The Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) amendment #3 to the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 would codify guidance directing that Medicaid Section 1115 waiver "budget neutrality" determinations take into account claimed downstream savings. This approach can allow waiver proposals to appear "cost neutral" on paper by crediting speculative or indirect savings, even when the waiver expands spending in the Medicaid program itself. Locking this methodology into law would make it harder for future administrations and Congress to restore stricter budget-neutrality standards and could accelerate waiver-driven expansion of Medicaid benefits and federal obligations. According to opponents, the amendment weakens a key taxpayer safeguard, invites accounting games, and increases the risk that Medicaid costs will grow while transparency and fiscal accountability decline.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as budget neutrality should be a real, enforceable guardrail, not a political accounting exercise that unlocks larger entitlements and higher taxpayer exposure.
Congress should restrain waiver-driven expansions and insist on transparent, verifiable limits on federal Medicaid spending.
Against
Limited
Government

Enriching Labor Unions at the Expense of Taxpayers by Overturning President Trump's Executive Order that Limited Collective Bargaining in the Federal Workforce.

The Protect America's Workforce Act, introduced by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), would nullify (repeal) President Trump's executive order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs," issued on March 27, 2025. That executive order excluded specified executive agencies and subdivisions from the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which governs federal collective bargaining and related labor-management rules. The bill would then reauthorize all the collective bargaining agreements that were terminated by President Trump. In practice, this legislation would reassert federal union bargaining across parts of the federal workforce that were carved out for mission and management reasons, limiting agency flexibility and strengthening a government union system that often protects bureaucracy over performance.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position because it strengthens public-sector union power and makes it harder to manage the federal workforce in the taxpayers' interest.
Congress should prioritize efficient, accountable government, not policies that entrench bureaucracy and constrain executive branch management.
Against
Limited
Government

Prohibiting the Executive Branch from Enacting a Fracking Moratorium Without Congressional Approval through the "Protecting American Energy Production Act".

The "Protecting American Energy Production Act," introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), would prohibit the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes it. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for regulating fracking for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands. According to supporters, this is a direct response to the way Washington can use "emergencies," agency pressure, and executive actions to choke off American energy even when families are already being squeezed by high costs. They argue a federal fracking moratorium would kill jobs, raise utility and fuel prices, and hand more control of U.S. energy to bureaucrats and foreign producers.
Support is the Limited Government Position as Congress should stop unilateral executive actions that can function like a nationwide energy ban without a vote.
This bill helps keep energy decisions closer to states and the people while protecting affordable, reliable domestic production.
Against
Limited
Government

Growing Unnecessary Government Bureaucracy through Creation of More Task Forces Under the "Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act".

The "Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act", introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), would require the Department of Homeland Security, acting through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in consultation with the FBI and other federal agencies, to establish a joint interagency task force to detect, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity threats posed by Chinese state-sponsored actors targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. The bill would require annual reports for the next five years, and recurring classified briefings, while the Congressional Budget Office estimated the measure would cost taxpayers about $5 million over the 2025-2030 period, with additional reporting costs on top of that. According to opponents, Congress should not respond to every potential threat by creating another federal task force and reporting mandate when existing agencies already have authority to coordinate, share intelligence, and address cybersecurity threats. They argued the bill risks duplicating ongoing efforts, expanding bureaucracy, and shifting attention away from actual execution and enforcement while adding more administrative costs for taxpayers.
Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Congress should not create another Washington task force and reporting regime that duplicates work agencies are already authorized to perform.
Cybersecurity threats from China are serious, but the answer is better execution of existing authority, not more bureaucracy and taxpayer expense.
Against
Limited
Government

Requiring DHS Transparency on High Risk "Special Interest Aliens" to Strengthen Border Security and National Security Oversight

The "Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025", introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), would require the Department of Homeland Security to provide a monthly report on non U.S. nationals who attempt to unlawfully enter the United States and who potentially pose a national security risk. The report would include the number of such individuals, their nationalities or countries of last residence, and the locations where they were encountered. According to supporters, the bill addresses growing concerns that the federal government is not being fully transparent with Congress and the public about high-risk border encounters that may involve terrorism-related or hostile foreign actor threats. They argue that regular reporting strengthens accountability, helps lawmakers target resources and policy changes where they are most needed, and reduces the ability of unelected officials to downplay security failures behind closed doors.
Support is the Limited Government Position as basic transparency and congressional oversight are essential checks on executive branch power, especially in national security matters.
The bill helps ensure DHS cannot hide or obscure information about high-risk border encounters from the people's representatives.
Against
Limited
Government

Moving SBA Offices Out of Sanctuary Jurisdictions to Stop Federal Resources from Propping Up Local Defiance of Immigration Law

The Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), would require the Small Business Administration to relocate any regional, district, or local office if the SBA makes a public determination that the office is located in a sanctuary jurisdiction. The bill would require that relocation occur within 60 days and would also prohibit the SBA from establishing an office in a sanctuary jurisdiction in the future. It defines a sanctuary jurisdiction as a state or political subdivision that restricts information-sharing about citizenship or immigration status or restricts compliance with specified Department of Homeland Security requests. According to supporters, taxpayers should not be funding a federal footprint in jurisdictions that undermine lawful immigration enforcement, and relocating SBA offices is a practical accountability tool that pressures local officials to cooperate with the rule of law while keeping SBA services available in jurisdictions that do not obstruct federal enforcement.
Support is the Limited Government Position as the federal government should not reward or normalize local nullification of federal law with continued federal facilities and resources.
Conditioning the placement of federal offices on basic cooperation with lawful enforcement strengthens accountability and reinforces the rule of law.
Against
Limited
Government

Protecting Small Businesses from Rising Federal Compliance Costs Through the "Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025".

The "Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025" sponsored by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure its regulatory changes do not raise compliance costs for small businesses. This is accomplished by requiring the annual "small business regulatory budget" for SBA rulemaking to be no greater than zero. The bill defines that regulatory budget as the compliance cost to small businesses from federal rulemaking, including new rules as well as changes to existing rules. The sponsor noted the record-breaking $1.8 trillion in regulatory costs that had been imposed by the previous Biden administration.
Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill restrains federal bureaucratic overreach and helps prevent additional compliance burdens that harm entrepreneurs and workers.
It also pushes transparency and accountability for the true cost of federal regulation.
Against
Limited
Government
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