Legislation

The "Honoring our K9 Heroes Act" establishes a grant program to help cover the medical costs of retired Federal working dogs. Grants will be awarded to eligible non-profit organizations with a history of assisting retired Federal law enforcement and military working dogs. The bill authorizes $1,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to fund the program.

The Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act clarifies legal jurisdiction and commerce definitions related to the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It grants the State of Utah civil jurisdiction over legal cases involving the Band on Indian lands, designates contracts involving the Band as commerce under federal law, and ensures that the Band's sovereign immunity is not affected. Additionally, it amends existing law to include land held in trust for the Shivwits Band of Paiutes in leasing authority provisions.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

The Reduction in Force Review Act requires federal agencies to provide detailed justifications to Congress for any planned workforce reductions. These justifications must include the reasons for the reduction, its impact on employees and operations (including veterans), considered alternatives, and summaries of consultations with employees. The bill also broadens the definition of "rule" to include significant agency actions like workforce restructuring or office closures that affect employees.

The PREVAIL Act aims to strengthen U.S. patent protections and promote innovation by reforming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) procedures, particularly inter partes reviews (IPR) and post-grant reviews. It seeks to prevent repetitive patent challenges, ensure fair processes, and align claim construction standards with district court practices. The Act also redirects USPTO fees to the "United States Patent and Trademark Office Innovation Promotion Fund" to be used solely for patent and trademark-related activities and makes patent and trademark information available online free of charge. Finally, the act requires a report on the impact of patent ownership by small businesses and civil actions against them related to patent infringement.

The "Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure accrediting agencies uphold free inquiry standards consistent with First Amendment rights and institutional policies. It prohibits accrediting agencies from considering race, color, sex, or national origin in the composition of students, faculty, or staff, and ensures institutions can adopt any lawful policy regarding these factors without accreditation repercussions. Higher education institutions can take civil action against accrediting agencies that violate these prohibitions.

The Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax exemptions for payments received through the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. This change aligns the tax treatment of these payments with that of other qualified scholarships and loan repayment programs, effective for taxable years starting after the law's enactment.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary, through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy, to award grants to rural hospitals for facility upgrades, equipment, and operational costs. Eligible hospitals can receive up to $5,000,000 over five years to improve access to healthcare for rural residents. The Secretary must report to Congress on the grant program's activities and outcomes. It authorizes $500,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2025.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow a surviving child who inherits a service-disabled veteran's small business to maintain the business's status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business for up to three years after the veteran's death. The business must have been listed in the relevant database prior to the veteran's death to qualify. A "surviving child" is defined as a biological or legally adopted child of the veteran.

The "Canadian Snowbird Act" allows Canadian citizens aged 50 and older who own or rent a U.S. residence to stay in the United States for up to 240 days per year as visitors. It also ensures that these individuals are considered non-resident aliens for tax purposes, and sets forth that owning property in the U.S. is not indicative of intent to abandon their Canadian residence. Spouses of qualified Canadian retirees may also be admitted under the same terms.

The BASIC ACT, or "Building Advanced Semiconductors Investment Credit Act," increases the advanced manufacturing investment credit from 25% to 35%. It also extends the credit period, changing the expiration date from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2030. These changes are effective for property placed in service after the enactment of this act.

This bill reauthorizes the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System. It extends authorization for the United States Geological Survey through 2030. It also extends authorization for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through 2030.

The HEROES Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. It defines eligibility criteria for volunteer firefighters and EMTs based on service and requires the Secretary of Education to establish regulations, in consultation with public safety groups, to determine minimum volunteer hours and verification methods for loan forgiveness eligibility.

The "No Official Palestine Entry Act of 2025" seeks to modify the standing of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in United Nations agencies, ensuring they do not receive any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status. This bill amends existing legislation to prevent the PLO from obtaining standing beyond observer status in UN organizations. The Act clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to Taiwan.

This bill proposes to reauthorize and reform the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It amends Title IV of the Social Security Act, likely modifying eligibility requirements, funding structures, or program objectives related to assisting needy families. The changes aim to improve the effectiveness and outcomes of the TANF program.

The "Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act of 2025" aims to bolster domestic manufacturing by increasing the loan limits for small manufacturers under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act. This will allow small manufacturers to access more capital, with loan limits increasing to $7,500,000 - $10,000,000 depending on the type. The goal is to provide greater financial support to help these businesses grow and thrive within the United States.

The Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2025 aims to streamline the process for eligible Ukrainian nationals to gain lawful permanent resident status in the United States. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust the status of Ukrainians who were paroled into the U.S. after February 20, 2014, or to join family members already in the U.S., provided they meet certain vetting and admissibility requirements. The Act also provides protections for battered spouses and prohibits charging fees for application-related processes, while exempting those granted adjusted status from certain immigration quota limitations.

The ICELAND Act would allow Icelandic nationals to be eligible for E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas to the United States, which are for treaty traders and investors, respectively. This would occur if the Government of Iceland provides similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals.

The "Tenants Right to Organize Act" ensures tenants in housing choice voucher and low-income housing tax credit programs have the right to form and participate in tenant organizations without fear of retaliation. It requires Public Housing Agencies and owners to recognize these organizations, consider tenant concerns, and provide meeting spaces. The Act also establishes an enforcement protocol for violations of these rights and provides funding for tenant outreach, training, and resident councils.

The Student Loan Tax Elimination Act eliminates origination fees on federal direct loans. This change applies to loans where the first disbursement is made, or for consolidation loans when the application is received, on or after July 1 of the year following the Act's enactment. By repealing subsection (c) of section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, this act seeks to reduce the upfront costs associated with federal student loans.