Legislation

The NeighborWorks Accountability Act establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to ensure proper oversight. This IG office will be fully funded and dedicated solely to oversight functions, not program operations. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual, independent financial audit of the corporation's accounts by certified public accountants.

The National Guard and Reserve Student Loan Fairness Act simplifies student loan forgiveness for members of the military reserves. It mandates that qualifying years of service, based on points earned toward retired pay, automatically count as qualifying payments toward Federal Direct Loan forgiveness programs. This change applies even if the borrower was not working in public service during those payment months. The Departments of Defense and Education must coordinate data to ensure these payments are counted without requiring extra paperwork from the service member.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over the timing of this leave, which cannot result in the loss of existing benefits. This federal requirement supplements, but does not override, any state or local laws that offer greater employee protections.

The Gun Safety Board and Research Act establishes a new federal Gun Safety Board within the Department of Health and Human Services. This Board is mandated to fund original research aimed at reducing gun violence and to educate the public on effective prevention methods. It will also publish annual policy recommendations based on scientific findings regarding various forms of gun violence.

The End Solitary Confinement Act aims to drastically limit the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities by mandating a minimum of 14 hours of daily social interaction for all incarcerated individuals. The bill establishes strict emergency exceptions for isolation, prohibits its use against vulnerable populations, and creates an independent community monitoring body to ensure compliance. Furthermore, it incentivizes states to adopt similar standards by tying federal funding to adherence to these new minimum treatment requirements.

The Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act places specific limits on the President's authority under the Defense Production Act concerning domestic energy supplies. This bill prevents the President from using certain energy-related powers solely for environmental protection purposes. Furthermore, it prohibits denying financial support under the Act to companies involved with fossil fuels, provided the support is not directly for energy production.

The Pay Teachers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly boost federal investment in public education across three main areas. Title I guarantees substantial, growing funding for disadvantaged students, rural schools, Impact Aid, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Title II mandates a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000, raises pay floors for support staff, and requires states to address pay inequities. Finally, Title III establishes mandatory, increasing appropriations for programs that recruit, train, and support new educators, especially through paid residencies and specialized disability services.

The PHDs First Act of 2025 creates a new pathway for individuals who have earned a doctoral degree in the U.S. to obtain permanent residency by exempting them from annual numerical green card limitations. To qualify, recipients must have a job offer in their field that pays above the local median wage. Furthermore, the bill ensures that current doctoral students are not barred from obtaining or extending their student visas based on their intent to seek permanent residency later.

This Act mandates the Department of Homeland Security to produce a comprehensive report analyzing current and emerging threats from vehicular terrorism, including risks posed by new automotive technology. The report must detail current countermeasures, identify vulnerable locations, and outline coordination efforts with federal, state, local partners, and the private sector. Furthermore, the Secretary must recommend new technologies for prevention and response while ensuring all actions respect civil liberties.

The Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act revises immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired offenses. This bill makes non-citizens inadmissible to the U.S. if they have been convicted of, or admit to committing, DUI/DWI offenses, regardless of whether the offense was a misdemeanor or felony. Furthermore, the Act establishes that a conviction for driving while intoxicated or impaired makes an alien deportable from the United States.

The Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act places a moratorium on all involuntary workforce reductions across the Department of the Interior until Congress passes the full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This freeze prevents widespread layoffs or separations during this period. The only exception allowing an employee to be let go is for documented cause, such as misconduct or poor performance.

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 officially renames the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to better reflect a focus on recovery efforts. This legislation ensures that all federal laws, regulations, and documents now use the updated title. The core protections of the original act remain in place under the new name.

The Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act mandates a comprehensive review by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assess the current state of stomach cancer incidence, risk factors, and screening effectiveness in the U.S. It also requires the Department of Defense to study stomach cancer rates and potential service-related risk factors among military personnel and veterans. The ultimate goal is to develop better public health strategies, improve provider education, and establish clearer guidelines for prevention and early detection.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The No Tax Treaties for Foreign Aggressors Act of 2025 mandates the termination of the U.S. income tax treaty with the People's Republic of China under specific conditions. If the President notifies the Treasury Secretary that China has initiated an armed attack against the Republic of China, the Secretary must formally begin the treaty termination process within 30 days. This action requires simultaneous notification to key Congressional committees by the President.

The Stop Ineffective Paper Straws (SIPS) Act prohibits covered federal agencies from procuring or using flimsy paper straws on government property. This legislation mandates that any straw provided by these agencies or their contractors must meet the strength and durability standards of traditional plastic straws. Furthermore, contractors must certify they will not provide paper straws under the contract and have no internal policies favoring them.

The Larry Barrett Veterans’ Memory Care Act of 2025 aims to improve extended care options for veterans. It mandates that the VA prioritize a veteran's preferences for care location and continuity when arranging services through the Community Care Program. Furthermore, the bill establishes an expedited 30-day approval process for Veterans Care Agreements for eligible veterans living in remote areas. This ensures faster access to preferred, non-traditional care providers while maintaining necessary in-home support during the review period.

The Correct the Count Act mandates a special national census conducted immediately after enactment that exclusively counts United States citizens. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to implement a citizenship question on the census forms. The resulting population figures for each state will only reflect the count of U.S. citizens.

The Affordable Housing Resident Services Act establishes a new competitive grant program managed by the Department of Health and Human Services to fund supportive services in qualified affordable housing properties. These grants will finance activities like health coordination, education, and financial stability assistance for residents, with a requirement that services remain strictly voluntary. Grantees must dedicate at least 25% of the funds to service coordinator salaries and report annually on the impact of the services provided.