Legislation

This bill streamlines the House's consideration of H.R. 1101, a bill designed to prevent unauthorized access to the Treasury Department's payment systems. It sets the rules for debating and amending the bill, limiting discussion to one hour. The bill also bypasses standard House procedures to expedite the process. Finally, it mandates that the Senate be informed of the House's decision on H.R. 1101 promptly.

The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025 modifies the tax treatment of research and experimental expenditures, allowing taxpayers to deduct these expenses in the year they are incurred rather than capitalizing them. This change applies to expenses related to the taxpayer's business and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. The act also includes provisions for electing to treat these expenditures as deferred expenses and updates related sections of the tax code.

The Stop Comstock Act seeks to revise Title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Tariff Act of 1930, narrowing the scope of prohibited materials that cannot be sent through the mail or interstate commerce to only obscene materials, thus removing restrictions related to abortion and contraception. This bill aims to repeal sections of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that criminalized the dissemination of certain materials through the mail. By amending these laws, the bill intends to clarify and limit the federal government's power to regulate the distribution of materials deemed to be obscene.

**American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025:** This bill aims to increase housing affordability by incentivizing affordable housing construction, boosting funding for housing programs, and prioritizing homeownership. It seeks to reverse the legacy of housing discrimination by providing down payment assistance, revitalizing communities, and strengthening fair lending practices. The bill also broadens protections against housing discrimination and updates housing assistance programs to help families access better neighborhoods, while reforming estate and gift tax laws and increasing accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities in HUD-funded housing projects.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act amends the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include projects that connect bike and pedestrian paths and reduce safety risks for vulnerable road users. It allows the federal government to cover up to 100% of the cost for these safety projects and broadens the scope of relevant safety plans to include measures for bicyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, the act permits the non-federal share of project costs to be calculated across a project, multiple projects, or a program.

The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research on the effects of wildfire smoke exposure on wine grapes. This includes identifying smoke exposure compounds, creating standard testing methods, building a database of natural smoke compound levels, developing risk assessment tools, and studying compounds that can protect grapes from smoke. The act authorizes $6,500,000 to be appropriated each year from 2026 through 2030 for these activities.

The "Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act" directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program members, also known as the Donut Dollies, for their service during the Vietnam War. It instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and made available for research. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs, with proceeds going back to the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

This bill prohibits the President from selling or licensing the export of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE is not providing material support to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The restriction applies to a wide range of military equipment and technologies listed under specific categories of the United States Munitions List.

The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act ensures rural veterans have access to patient advocates at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, including assigning advocates to rural community-based outpatient clinics when possible. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must implement these changes within two years. The Comptroller General will submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, evaluating the implementation within two years.

This bill amends the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which aims to reduce veteran suicide. It increases the maximum grant amount, extends the program's duration through 2028, and requires the VA Secretary to provide annual briefings to improve coordination between grantees and local VA medical centers. The bill reauthorizes the program with $285 million in funding for fiscal years 2026-2028.

The Combating Houthi Threats and Aggression Act mandates reports on Houthi capabilities, attacks on Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping, and violations of the UN arms embargo against Yemen. It authorizes the President to impose sanctions on those involved in Houthi attacks on international shipping or those providing support to the Houthis. The Act aims to protect maritime security and U.S. national security interests in the region. This act will terminate 5 years after it becomes law.

The Hidden Fee Disclosure Act of 2025 amends ERISA to clarify and strengthen fee disclosure requirements for covered service providers, particularly pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators for group health plans. It mandates detailed disclosure of compensation received from various sources, including drug manufacturers and providers, ensuring transparency in pricing and service costs. The Act directs the Secretary of Labor to establish rules for implementation, setting standards for disclosing expected compensation, with the changes taking effect for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill recognizes WOWO, one of the first radio stations in the U.S., for its 100 years of broadcasting excellence. It celebrates the station's historical significance, its role in strengthening communities, and its commitment to informing and inspiring future generations as a prominent conservative talk radio station.

The New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to redraw the boundaries of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to include Otero and Eddy Counties in New Mexico, in Veterans Integrated Service Network 17. This change must be implemented no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

The "Patients Before Middlemen Act" aims to ensure pharmacy access and choice for Medicare beneficiaries by requiring Medicare prescription drug plans to allow any pharmacy meeting standard contract terms to participate in their network, starting January 1, 2028. It sets requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) under Medicare Part D, including income restrictions, transparency, and reporting obligations, to ensure fair practices and cost savings are passed on to plan sponsors. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms and audit rights to ensure compliance and protect against contract violations.

This bill recognizes the significance of Sjögren's disease, a systemic autoimmune condition affecting millions, and supports designating April 2025 as "Sjögren's Awareness Month". It encourages further research, improved diagnosis and treatment, and increased awareness of the disease among healthcare providers and underserved communities. The bill also urges federal agencies to expand research efforts and improve data collection related to Sjögren's disease.

The Risk Disclosure and Investor Attestation Act amends the Securities Act of 1933, allowing individuals who attest they understand the risks of investing in private issuers to be considered accredited investors. This is achieved through a form, no longer than two pages, created by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC must issue rules and establish this form within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Plain Language in Contracting Act requires federal agencies to ensure that notices to small businesses are clear, concise, and easily understandable, using plain language best practices. It directs the Small Business Administration to issue rules for implementation within 90 days. The act specifies that no additional funds will be allocated for these changes.

This resolution addresses concerns over China's misuse of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 to assert its claim over Taiwan. It reaffirms the U.S. "One China Policy," clarifying it differs from China's "One China Principle," and supports Taiwan's international participation. The resolution opposes China's pressure tactics against Taiwan and other nations and encourages strengthening ties with Taiwan while countering Chinese narratives regarding Resolution 2758. It also supports Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations and access to UN facilities for Taiwanese passport holders.

The "Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act" introduces a tax credit for capturing qualified methane from mining activities, incentivizing the reduction of methane emissions. This credit applies to facilities that begin construction before January 1, 2036, and capture at least 2,500 metric tons of CO2e methane annually, provided the captured methane is used for energy or injected into a pipeline. The goal is to promote the use of methane capture equipment and reduce the release of methane into the atmosphere from mining operations. These provisions are effective for qualified methane captured after December 31, 2024.