Marsha Blackburn

Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act or the ITS Codification Act

This bill provides statutory authority for the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which serves as the telecommunications research and engineering arm of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

The bill also directs ITS to establish an initiative to support the development of emergency communication and tracking technologies for use in locating trapped individuals in confined spaces (e.g., underground mines) and other environments where conventional radio communication is limited.

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

This bill requires various federal agencies to continue certain operations, functions, and services related to firearms during a government shutdown.

The bill applies to

• the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including the processing of background checks in support of the operations of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF);

• the ATF's Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services;

• the activities of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses; and

• the activities of the Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses.

Under the bill, (1) these operations, functions, and services are deemed to relate to an emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property; and (2) employees carrying out the operations, functions, and services are deemed to be excepted employees. (Under an exception in the Antideficiency Act, an employee whose duties involve the safety of human life or the protection of property may be required to work during a government shutdown. Employees who are required to work during a government shutdown because they fall under this or other exceptions are known as excepted employees.)

Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026

This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia.

For example, under the bill, the President must

• impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons (individuals and entities) such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides goods or services relating to Russia's defense industrial base;

• increase the rate of duty on all goods imported into the United States from Russia to a rate of up to 500% ad valorem (i.e., relative to the value);

• increase the rate of duty up to 100% ad valorem on all goods imported into the United States from a country that was among the five largest importers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas if such country knowingly makes new purchases of such products after enactment of the bill;

• impose property-blocking sanctions on financial institutions organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia; and

• impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign vessels that knowingly transport certain products of Russian origin, including crude oil, uranium, and coal.

The bill prohibits (1) the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of U.S.-produced energy or energy product; (2) U.S. persons from making new investments in Russia or purchasing Russian sovereign debt; and (3) trading the securities of Russian government-owned, -controlled, or -affiliated entities on U.S. national securities exchanges.

The President may waive requirements of the bill by certifying it is in the national interest.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act

This bill modifies the retention requirements for firearm transaction records of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that go out of business.

Current law generally requires FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

This bill removes the requirement for FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the ATF. Further, the bill requires the ATF to destroy all out-of-business records it has collected from FFLs.