Gabe Evans

**Preventing Aliens Through Rivers or Land Act or the PATROL Act** This bill prohibits the Department of Justice (DOJ) from bringing certain civil actions against a state for building a physical structure impacting navigable waters along the U.S. border for security purposes. Specifically, the DOJ is prohibited from bringing an action for (1) the construction of a bridge, causeway, dam, dike, or other structure over or in a port, harbor, or other navigable water of the United States without federal approval; or (2) the creation of any obstruction to the navigable capacity of waters of the United States without federal approval.

**Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act** This bill requires the Science and Technology Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a department-wide policy for safeguarding research and development from unauthorized access or disclosures of sensitive information in related acquisitions. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the compliance of DHS with a 2021 presidential memorandum and related guidance that required certain disclosures about government-funded research and development (e.g., conflicts of interest involving foreign governments).

**DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act** This bill restricts funding to an institution of higher education (IHE) that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern. The bill defines (1) *Confucius Institute* as a cultural institute funded by the Chinese government; (2) *Thousand Talents Program* as any technological or educational program funded or administered by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and (3) *Chinese entity of concern* as generally any university or college in China that is involved in China's military, police, or intelligence activities. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must ensure that an IHE that has awarded a contract to, entered into an agreement with, or received an in-kind donation or gift from a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern is ineligible to receive any funds from DHS, unless the IHE terminates the relationship. The IHE may regain eligibility for these funds upon termination of the relationship.

**Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025** This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Specifically, the bill requires Interior to reissue the final rule titled *Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife* and published on November 3, 2020. The rule removed the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States, except for the Mexican wolf (*C. l. baileyi*) subspecies, from the endangered and threatened species list. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule on February 10, 2022. As a result, the gray wolf reattained the protection status it had prior to the rule's promulgation. The bill also prohibits the reissuance of the rule from being subject to judicial review.

**Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Legislation to Defend Against the CCP Act or the SHIELD Against CCP Act** This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to form a working group tasked with duties related to countering terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats posed to the United States by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The working group must assess and annually report on current DHS efforts to counter the CCP’s (1) use of the U.S. immigration system, (2) economic and trade practices, and (3) support for illicit financial activity and trafficking controlled substances. The working group must terminate seven years after its establishment. DHS must additionally carry out research and development on technologies and techniques for enhancing its security and situational awareness to these threats. The Government Accountability Office must report on the implementation of this bill.