Legislation

The "Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act" prohibits the U.S. government from recognizing Russia's claim of sovereignty over Crimea. It also prevents any federal department or agency from taking actions that could imply recognition of this claim.

This bill renames the U.S. National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia, as the "Abit Massey Poultry Research Center." Any reference to the U.S. National Poultry Research Center will now refer to the Abit Massey Poultry Research Center.

The HEIR Act of 2025 amends regulations for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs to assist homeowners with heir properties or non-traditional documentation in proving property ownership after Presidentially declared disasters. It allows for the use of standardized affidavits and other forms of documentation to establish ownership. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is required to develop a standardized affidavit of ownership form for grantees to use.

The "Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2025" aims to limit federal government competition with the private sector by requiring agencies to procure goods and services from private sources unless specific exemptions apply, such as national security concerns or lack of private sector alternatives. It mandates a review process for existing agency activities and encourages the transfer of commercial activities to the private sector. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with issuing regulations and reporting to Congress on the implementation of this Act.

The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 aims to protect vulnerable communities by creating an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice, defining key environmental justice terms, and establishing a grant program to aid state, local, and tribal governments in enforcing environmental laws. The Office of Environmental Justice will be responsible for developing environmental justice strategies, coordinating related matters, and promoting public participation. A Senior Advisory Council will also be created to advise on environmental justice matters and recommend policies. The grant program will provide funding for training, staffing, and community engagement to help address disproportionate environmental and health impacts on low-income, Tribal, and Indigenous communities.

The "No CBDC Act" prohibits the Federal Reserve and related entities from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly to individuals. It also restricts these entities from offering related services or maintaining accounts for individuals related to a CBDC. Additionally, Federal Reserve banks are barred from holding U.S. government-issued digital currencies as assets or using them to meet reserve requirements.

The RESTORE Patent Rights Act of 2025 aims to strengthen patent protection for inventors by making it easier to obtain injunctions against patent infringers. The act establishes a legal presumption that patent holders are entitled to a permanent injunction when their patents are infringed upon. This reverses a recent trend of court decisions that have made it more difficult for patent owners to stop ongoing infringement. The bill seeks to encourage innovation, especially among individual inventors, universities, startups, and small businesses.

The "Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act" ensures parents are informed about school activities that involve surveys or evaluations concerning personal beliefs, sexual behavior, or illegal behaviors. Schools must notify parents 14 days in advance of such activities. Written consent from parents is required before students can participate.

The "Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025" establishes a trust account and authorizes the payment of $137.5 million to the Quapaw Nation and associated parties to settle claims in the case Bear, et al. v. United States. The funds will be distributed according to a plan developed by the Claimants, with a process for Secretarial allocation if mediation fails. The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for ensuring the funds are distributed within specified timeframes following the final distribution plan.

The "Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act" directs the Small Business Administration to enhance outreach efforts in rural communities for the SBIR and STTR programs. This will be done by instructing federal agencies to conduct specific outreach to small businesses in rural areas, with the goal of increasing their participation in these programs.

The "Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act" amends the Social Security Act's definition of "qualifying single source drug" to include advanced drugs using genetically targeted technology. This update applies to drugs that can modify gene function, potentially impacting drug pricing and access regulations under the Act.

The Criminal Illegal Alien Report Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to deliver a report to Congress within 60 days, detailing the number of individuals in the United States who were granted parole under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, or any other parole program under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and who have committed crimes in the United States. This report must include the nationalities of the criminals and any ties to terrorist or transnational criminal organizations.

The REDUCE Act mandates executive branch agencies to identify and eliminate redundant positions, limiting new hires to one for every four departures until staffing reaches 80% of the agency's size at the time of the Act's enactment. Agencies must also develop plans for workforce reduction or reorganization, with exemptions for critical national security and public safety roles.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by promoting the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through research, development, and incentives. It sets a national goal for aviation to achieve a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Act establishes a low-carbon aviation fuel standard, provides funding for SAF projects, encourages the Department of Defense to purchase SAF, and extends tax credits for SAF production. It also directs research on SAF feedstocks and the climate impacts of aviation, including non-carbon dioxide emissions.

The Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African-American astronaut candidate, in recognition of his pioneering achievements and contributions to art and Black history. The Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal and allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to the public. It also designates the medals as national and numismatic items and outlines the use of funds for medal production and sales.

The "IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act" mandates the Social Security Administration to issue free federal identification cards to U.S. residents who apply within 3 years, functioning similarly to a state-issued ID or driver's license. A task force will be established to determine the requirements for producing and providing the identification. The United States Postal Service, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, will develop a process, modeled after the passport application process, allowing individuals to apply for the ID through the Postal Service. The Act also authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to implement the Act.

The "Public Safety Free Speech Act" protects the free speech rights of public safety officers, including law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel, allowing them to express personal opinions on public safety, working conditions, and other related matters without fear of retaliation, while also outlining exceptions for speech that incites violence, discrimination, or discloses confidential information. This bill enables officers to sue their employers for adverse actions taken against them for exercising these rights and specifies the damages that can be awarded. This act does not preempt existing federal or state laws.

This bill amends title 39 of the United States Code to require that all mailed solicitations include a clear and conspicuous notice that the mailing is a solicitation. The notice must state "This is a solicitation" or similar language approved by the Postal Service. Certain types of mail are exempt from this requirement.

The "Equal and Uniform Treatment in the Military Act" seeks to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation within the Department of Defense. It ensures that all members of the Armed Forces have the right to serve and advance based on merit, fitness, capability, and performance. The bill defines key terms such as "gender identity" and "sex" to provide clarity and protect individuals from discriminatory practices. This act aims to promote equality and inclusion in the military, ensuring that service members are judged solely on their ability to meet occupational standards.

The College Thriving Act aims to improve first-year college student success by providing grants to higher education institutions to develop and implement "skills-for-success" courses. These courses will focus on essential skills such as time management, stress management, and building relationships, with priority given to institutions serving a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients. The Act allocates \$50 million for these grants, which will support institutions over a five-year period to develop, pilot, and fully implement these courses. Institutions will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and report their findings to the Secretary of Education.