Legislation

The Next Generation Farmer Act significantly lowers the experience requirement for certain farm loan applicants from three years to just one year. Furthermore, it allows the Secretary to waive this new one-year requirement for qualified beginning farmers who have relevant management experience as hired labor or who have secured a commitment from an approved mentor. This legislation aims to make federal farm loans more accessible to new agricultural producers.

The She DRIVES Act mandates immediate updates to federal motor vehicle safety standards by requiring the use of new crash test dummies, specifically incorporating both male and female dummies in front and side impact tests. This legislation aims to improve vehicle crashworthiness by basing new injury criteria on real-world data that better reflects diverse body types. Furthermore, the bill establishes a roadmap for the Department of Transportation to continuously review and adopt more advanced testing devices used internationally.

The Freights First Act revises federal law regarding track-sharing priority between Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains. This bill removes the automatic preference for Amtrak when sharing tracks within 50 miles of a port or major rail yard. Consequently, freight trains may now take precedence over Amtrak in these busy, localized areas unless a genuine emergency exists.

The Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025 (RESCUE Act) streamlines the permitting process for projects recovering critical materials from sources like mine waste and coal byproducts. This amendment expands eligibility under the FAST Act's expedited review to include the extraction of rare earth elements and specific forms of carbon from these secondary sources. The goal is to accelerate the development of domestic supplies of these vital resources.

The Safe Baby Formula Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the health effects of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in infant formula. Following the study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish clear limits for these toxic heavy metals within 90 days. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of the nation's baby formula supply.

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help law enforcement officers secure childcare during non-traditional work hours. Grants will be awarded to state agencies to fund local programs that support police families, with a focus on smaller departments. The program aims to cover startup costs, operational expenses, and direct family subsidies for off-hours care. This initiative is authorized through fiscal year 2030 and includes requirements for local financial matching and mandatory program evaluations.

This resolution commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and recognizes its vital role in American space exploration. It highlights MSFC's historical achievements, including the development of the Saturn V rocket. Furthermore, the resolution commends the Center's current leadership in developing the Space Launch System (SLS) as the backbone of the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars. This action formally honors the dedication and expertise of the MSFC workforce.

The LEO K9 Protection Act enhances penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals, especially when a weapon is used. It also mandates the development of federal guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel on treating injured police dogs. Finally, the bill establishes regulations allowing EMS to transport and provide emergency care to injured police dogs when human patients are not in immediate need.

This bill expands eligibility for the Vietnam Service Medal to include veterans who participated in Operation End Sweep. It authorizes the Secretary of the relevant military branch to award the medal upon application. This legislation formally recognizes the service of these veterans.

The Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act prohibits federal agencies from using specific military-grade drones to surveil U.S. persons engaged in protests or civil disobedience within the United States starting in fiscal year 2026. The bill mandates that the President must submit an annual, detailed report to Congress regarding any use of these "covered unmanned aircraft vehicles" domestically. This legislation aims to safeguard First Amendment rights against high-altitude, long-endurance drone surveillance during peaceful assemblies.

The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 provides the budgetary framework for funding all aspects of the U.S. military, including personnel compensation, day-to-day operations, and major equipment procurement. This bill allocates hundreds of billions of dollars across the services while establishing strict rules regarding spending flexibility, domestic sourcing requirements, and specific prohibitions on certain social and political programs. Overall, it funds the immediate readiness and modernization efforts of the DoD and related intelligence agencies for the fiscal year.

The Baby Sleep Tax Relief Act prohibits the President from imposing new or continuing existing duties on essential baby sleep items, such as cribs, mattresses, and monitors, under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This legislation ensures that these necessary items are not subject to additional tariffs imposed through that specific executive power.

The First-Time Parents Tax Credit Act establishes a new, one-time federal tax credit of \$1,250 for eligible new parents. This credit is available to individuals who welcomed a qualifying child through birth or adoption during the tax year. The provisions of this Act are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Immigration Enforcement Staff Body Camera Accountability Act mandates that all ICE and CBP enforcement staff wear body cameras during official operations, requiring them to remain on for the entire shift. The bill directs agencies to quickly establish policies covering training and the use of AI in reviewing footage, while acknowledging technology limitations. Furthermore, recorded footage must be made available to all parties in related legal proceedings, and staff violating the "always-on" rule face disciplinary action.

The Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act establishes a new grant program to help food hubs increase market access for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The bill also introduces an "Agriculture Hub Credit" tax incentive to encourage related spending. Furthermore, it strengthens civil rights accountability for USDA employees, grants new equitable relief powers to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, shifts the burden of proof in agency appeals, and creates an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson.

The NARCO Act of 2025 reforms the State Department's international narcotics and law enforcement efforts by placing the INL Assistant Secretary under the Under Secretary for International Security Affairs. This bill significantly expands the Assistant Secretary's responsibilities to oversee global crime fighting, counter drug and terror financing, and vet foreign police units. Furthermore, it mandates a minimum budget allocation for international rewards programs and requires new standards for measuring program success that look beyond simple drug seizures.

This Act establishes strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for individuals who falsely impersonate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or illegally sell ICE-branded apparel. It also mandates the seizure of fraudulent gear and requires the Department of Homeland Security to launch public awareness campaigns and create a reporting system for such impersonation incidents. Furthermore, the bill requires mandatory additional jail time for those convicted of impersonating an immigration official.

The Safe Return Act officially renames the program for assisting citizens and others returning to the U.S. during emergencies. This legislation shifts the primary method of assistance from repayable loans to non-repayable grants. The bill expands eligibility for this grant assistance to include destitute lawful permanent residents, in addition to U.S. citizens.

The RESPECT Act significantly increases the criminal penalties for intentionally sharing nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, commonly known as "revenge porn." This legislation stiffens maximum jail sentences for both first-time offenders and repeat or aggravated offenders involved in such violations. The goal is to provide much tougher consequences for the exploitation and sharing of private explicit content.

This Act officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Haven, Connecticut, to the Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center. The designation honors the life and service of Medal of Honor recipient Paul W. Bud Bucha, recognizing his heroism in Vietnam and lifelong advocacy for veterans' mental health. This legislation ensures all official records reflect the new name of the facility.