Legislation

The Fishing Equipment Tax Relief Act of 2025 reduces the federal excise tax rate on portable, electronically-aerated bait containers. This legislation lowers the applicable tax rate for manufacturers, producers, or importers of these specific items to 3 percent. This reduced rate will take effect for sales occurring after December 31, 2025.

The Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act mandates a comprehensive study on the safety and viability of using advanced composite materials for hydrogen and hydrogen-blend pipelines. The Secretary of Transportation must complete this review, including public consultation, within 18 months. Following the study and public feedback, the Secretary is required to initiate the rulemaking process for new regulations allowing the use of these composite materials.

This resolution officially designates the week beginning October 19, 2025, as "National Character Counts Week." It emphasizes the critical role of families, schools, and communities in teaching foundational ethical values like trustworthiness and responsibility to young people. The designation encourages nationwide activities and programs focused on strengthening the character of America's youth.

The Plant Safety Authorities Coordination Act of 2025 revises the federal definition of "transporting gas" to clarify regulatory scope. This legislation specifically excludes certain gas gathering activities in rural areas and the movement of gas solely for on-site plant operations. These exclusions ensure that localized, plant-supportive gas movement is not subject to federal transportation regulations.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's final rule regarding the Barred Owl Management Strategy in Washington, Oregon, and California. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the submitted management rule, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is overturning the executive branch's specific plan for managing the Barred Owl population in these states.

This Act prohibits the use of the U.S. Treasury Department's Exchange Stabilization Fund to provide any financial assistance or bailout to Argentina's financial markets. Congress asserts that these funds should instead protect American jobs and stability against foreign currency manipulation. The prohibition on using the fund to aid Argentina remains in effect until December 10, 2027.

The Veterans Prosthetics Advancement and Reform Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a comprehensive, evidence-based Formulary for all prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services. This new system requires public input during development and ensures all listed items are available at every VA facility. Furthermore, the Act establishes clear processes for veterans to be informed of their benefits and to appeal denials, while also creating a pathway for clinicians to prescribe medically necessary items not currently on the official list.

This resolution officially designates the week beginning October 12, 2025, as "National Wildlife Refuge Week." It recognizes the critical role of the National Wildlife Refuge System in conserving over 850 million acres of vital habitat for threatened and endangered species. The resolution also highlights the refuges' significant contributions to local economies, public recreation, and community access to nature. Ultimately, it reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting the conservation mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program Act (TAAP Act) reauthorizes and updates the existing program for assessing shared underground water resources between the U.S. and Mexico. This update officially expands the program's scope to include Arizona alongside Texas and New Mexico. Furthermore, the bill authorizes $1.5 million annually for the program from fiscal years 2026 through 2033.

The Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act of 2025 mandates federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, to cover medically necessary specialized foods and formulas prescribed for managing severe digestive or inherited metabolic disorders. This ensures patients with conditions like urea cycle disorders or short bowel syndrome receive essential, prescribed nutrition when standard food is insufficient. The bill aims to standardize access to these life-sustaining treatments across federal and state health plans.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal appropriations lapse to make tax-favored withdrawals of up to \$30,000 from their retirement plans without incurring early withdrawal penalties. These distributions can be repaid within three years and the taxable income can be spread over three years. This relief specifically targets furloughed federal contractors, grantee employees, and certain D.C. government workers impacted by shutdowns lasting two weeks or more.

The Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act temporarily suspends federal payment limitations for the 2025 crop year. It also establishes an option for eligible producers to receive an advance partial payment of up to 50% of their projected 2025 covered commodity payments by the end of that year. This measure aims to provide immediate financial support to rural agricultural producers.

The Personal Needs Allowance Modernization Act, or PNA Modernization Act, increases the minimum monthly allowance Medicaid recipients in long-term care facilities can keep for personal needs. This bill raises the minimum allowance from $\$30$ to $\$60$. Furthermore, it mandates that the allowance amounts will automatically increase in the future, tied directly to cost-of-living adjustments made to Social Security benefits after November 2025.

The Voter Purge Protection Act establishes strict new evidence requirements for states before they can remove registered voters from the rolls for federal elections. States must have objective proof that a voter is ineligible and cannot remove someone solely for not voting or failing to respond to a notice unless it was returned as undeliverable. If a voter is removed, the state must notify them within 48 hours with instructions on how to re-register.

This bill ensures that states are reimbursed by the Federal Government for any state funds they use to maintain essential operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in federal appropriations. It provides a mechanism for the Federal Government to pay back states that cover WIC costs during a government shutdown. This protects state budgets while keeping vital nutrition assistance running.

This bill prohibits the provision of federal funds to any local educational agency that imposes or enforces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on students attending its public elementary or secondary schools. Essentially, local school districts that require student COVID-19 vaccination for enrollment will lose their federal funding.

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act aims to protect federal employees and contractors from negative civil actions during a government shutdown. It temporarily pauses various legal and administrative proceedings, including evictions, foreclosures, and debt collections, when a worker is furloughed or working without pay. The bill also grants federal workers the ability to defer income tax payments without penalty and prevents negative credit reporting based on seeking relief under this Act.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to create and issue guidance for banks and lenders on how to support customers and businesses affected by a government shutdown. This guidance must encourage flexible loan adjustments and prevent unfair negative credit reporting for those experiencing income loss due to the lapse in funding. Regulators must also issue rapid alerts when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The STOP HATE Act of 2025 mandates that large social media companies publicly detail their policies for handling terrorist content and significantly increase transparency regarding enforcement. Covered platforms must report detailed, triannual data on content flagging, removal, and user appeals to the Attorney General. This data will then be compiled into a public database, with significant civil penalties imposed for non-compliance.

The No Taxation Without Operation Act suspends the collection of federal income taxes on wages for all citizens during any period of a government shutdown. Furthermore, furloughed federal employees will not pay income tax on any back pay received for the shutdown period. The Treasury Department is required to issue guidance to ensure employers correctly implement these tax suspension rules.