Legislation

The DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act directs the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to conduct joint research and development activities that advance the missions of both departments, utilizing a competitive, merit-based review process. This collaboration aims to address key challenges in agriculture, energy, and the environment through data-driven solutions, technological advancements, and sustainable practices. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the progress and future opportunities of these interagency efforts.

The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, repealing the overtime wage exemption for certain employees. This change ensures that truckers are eligible for overtime pay, entitling them to receive additional compensation for working beyond the standard 40-hour work week.

The "Woke Endowment Security Tax Act of 2025" or "WEST Act of 2025" introduces a 6% excise tax on the investment income of private colleges and universities with assets of at least $11.9 billion and state colleges with at least $10.5 billion in assets. This tax will be effective starting in 2025. Asset valuation and student count will adhere to existing IRS regulations.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 409 South Hicks Street in Lawrenceville, Virginia, as the "James Solomon Russell Post Office." Any reference to this facility in any document will now refer to it as the James Solomon Russell Post Office.

The "Public Health Improvement Act" aims to reform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and limit the scope of public health authorities by setting term limits for the CDC and NIH directors, narrowing the CDC's strategic plan, and modifying the advisory committee to the CDC Director. Additionally, it requires congressional approval for extending public health emergencies beyond 90 days and transfers several offices from the CDC to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Finally, the Act limits the scope of regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services to control communicable diseases and overrides any conflicting laws.

The "National STEM Week Act" aims to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education by designating a National STEM Week. This week will showcase STEM career pathways, encourage family engagement, and facilitate partnerships between schools and industry leaders. The Act directs the National Science and Technology Foundation Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CoSTEM) to oversee the week and report annually to Congress on its activities and impact. Ultimately, the goal is to improve access to quality STEM education for all students, including those in underserved communities, to build a diverse and skilled workforce.

The "Transparency in Banking Act" mandates financial regulatory bodies like the Federal Reserve and FDIC to provide annual reports to Congress detailing the activities, goals, and decisions of the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision. These reports aim to increase transparency regarding international banking standards and their potential impact on the U.S. Additionally, major changes to planned activities must be reported to Congress within 30 days. The Chair and Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must include details of the annual report in their yearly testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services.

This bill aims to reform banking privacy, enhance financial record-keeping, and reinforce protections against unwarranted government access to personal financial records. It terminates the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) due to privacy concerns, prevents the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and increases congressional oversight of agency rulemaking. Additionally, the bill strengthens penalties for unauthorized access to financial records, reverses changes to online transaction reporting requirements, and protects individuals' freedom to use virtual currencies for personal transactions.

The "Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act" amends the Clean Air Act to include fuel used by ocean-going vessels as renewable fuel. This inclusion allows for the generation of credits under the renewable fuel program. The EPA Administrator is required to implement regulations and report to Congress on the implementation of this amendment.

The "Rent Relief Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for individuals who spend over 30% of their gross income on rent for their primary residence. The credit covers a percentage of rent exceeding this threshold, capped at the small area fair market rent, with higher limits in high-cost areas. It also allows those in subsidized housing to elect for a credit equal to 1/12 of the rent they paid during the year. Taxpayers can elect to receive advance monthly payments of the credit.

The "Block Organ Transplant Purchases from China Act of 2025" prohibits Medicare, Medicaid, group health plans, and health insurance issuers from covering organ transplants performed in China or those not procured through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, along with related medical services. Healthcare providers who furnish prohibited transplants or services will face criminal and civil penalties. The Act allows coverage for services needed to save a life after a prohibited transplant and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue rules to implement these provisions.

The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act increases the financial assistance上限 for disabled veterans to make necessary home improvements for home health services, raising the maximum benefit under 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(1)(A)(ii) from $6,800 to $10,000 and under 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(1)(B)(ii) from $2,000 to $5,000. These adjustments apply to first-time applicants on or after the enactment date, with the Secretary required to make annual inflation adjustments to these amounts.

This resolution designates the first week of April 2025 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week" to raise awareness about asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure. It urges the Surgeon General to educate the public about the health risks associated with asbestos and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Office of the Surgeon General.

The "Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act" amends the Social Security Act to reinforce protections for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. It prevents health plans from discriminating against ESRD patients or making Medicare the primary payer for their healthcare costs. The act clarifies that dialysis services should not be singled out for unfavorable treatment or coverage limits compared to other medical services, while allowing plans to manage their dialysis provider networks.

The SHARKED Act of 2025 aims to improve understanding and management of shark depredation by establishing a task force to coordinate research, identify priorities, and develop management strategies. This task force will include representatives from various fisheries management bodies, researchers, and experts, and will report its findings to Congress every two years. The act also amends existing legislation to include shark depredation research projects, focusing on identifying causes and solutions, while clarifying that it does not alter the authority of the Secretary of Commerce under other existing acts.

The "Protecting Our Nations Capital Emergency Act of 2025" aims to address rising crime rates in Washington, D.C., by restoring collective bargaining rights for law enforcement on disciplinary matters and reinstating the statute of limitations for disciplinary cases against Metropolitan Police Department personnel. This bill seeks to reverse provisions of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, with the goal of supporting law enforcement recruitment, retention, and fair treatment.

This resolution celebrates Volkert, Inc.'s 100th anniversary, acknowledging its significant contributions to Alabama and the nation through engineering and infrastructure projects. It recognizes the firm's involvement in key developments like highway systems, bridges, and disaster recovery efforts. The resolution requests official recognition be sent to Volkert, Inc.'s leadership.

The "Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act" directs the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to create a pilot program supporting evidence-based mental health peer support activities in secondary schools. States, subdivisions of States, territories, or Indian Tribes/Tribal organizations can apply for funding to implement these activities, which must be overseen by a school-based mental health professional. The program aims to improve early identification, response, and support for student mental health and substance use challenges. The Assistant Secretary will evaluate the program's effectiveness and report findings to relevant Senate and House committees.

The "Social Security Overpayment Relief Act" amends the Social Security Act to limit the recovery of overpayments under Title II (Social Security) and Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to a ten-year period. The government is restricted from recovering funds from individuals who received overpayments more than 10 years before the error was discovered.

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify the terms of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. It sets permit durations at no more than 10 years for state or municipal entities and no more than 5 years for other permit holders. The bill also corrects technical errors within the Act related to NPDES permits.