Daniel Webster

Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 This bill prohibits shark feeding in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) seaward of Florida for any purpose other than to harvest sharks, subject to limited exceptions. (Florida state waters generally extend 3 miles from the shore in the Atlantic Ocean and 9 miles from the shore in the Gulf of America. The EEZ is seaward of and adjacent to state waters and generally extends to 200 miles from the U.S. coastline.) Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to introduce, or attempt to introduce, food or any other substance into these waters to attract sharks for any purpose other than to harvest sharks. Exceptions allow shark feeding (1) for research programs funded by federal appropriations, or (2) to the extent that the feeding presents no public health hazard or safety risk (as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or under state law).

HEALTH Act of 2025

The bill proposes changes to tax rules related to health care, though the specific provisions are not yet detailed in the referral. Congress is sending it to two committees—Ways and Means (which handles taxes) and Energy and Commerce (which handles health policy)—to review how the tax changes would affect the health care system. The committees will determine what parts of the proposal fall under their authority before moving forward.

America First Energy Act

America First Energy Act This bill places certain restrictions on board members and employees of the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation of the Department of Energy (DOE). The foundation is an independent, agency-related foundation that assists DOE in addressing energy and environmental challenges through science and technology solutions, including by accelerating the development and commercialization of critical energy technologies and fostering public-private partnerships. Specifically, the bill requires the foundation's voting board members, executive director, officers, and employees to be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) admitted as refugees, or non-U.S. nationals lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Finally, the bill directs the foundation to require covered individuals listed on an application for a research and development award from the foundation to disclose all current and pending research support received or expected to be received by the individuals. Covered individuals means individuals who (1) contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of a research and development project proposed to be carried out with an award from the foundation; and (2) are designated as a covered individual by the foundation.

Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2025

Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2025 This bill allows for the use of a pulsating light system for vehicle braking. Specifically, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108 (Standard 108) must be deemed to allow for the use of a pulsating light system on covered vehicles (i.e., passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, and motorcycles). The Department of Transportation must issue regulations to update Standard 108 to (1) include performance-based standards for pulsating light systems, and (2) allow for the use of the systems on motor vehicles. As background, Standard 108 regulates all automotive lighting, signaling, and reflective devices. Under the bill, a pulsating light system includes a system for a high-mounted stop lamp in which the lamp pulses rapidly no more than four times and for no more than 1.2 seconds when the brake of the vehicle is applied and then converts to a continuous light (as a normal stop lamp) until the brake is released.