Legislation

The "Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act of 2025" restricts federal funding to non-profit organizations that do not certify compliance with federal laws on human trafficking, alien smuggling, fraud, and bribery. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop strategies and best practices for non-profits to comply with federal law, detect and report violations, and improve cooperation with law enforcement. Additionally, the Comptroller General is required to report to Congress on any violations by non-profit entities.

The "Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025" mandates increased transparency by requiring the TVA Board to hold at least four annual public meetings with a minimum of six days' notice. It also requires the TVA to make meeting minutes and summaries accessible to the public, ensuring greater accountability. Exceptions are made for emergency meetings called by the Board chairman.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the adoption tax credit to $25,000 and establishes a new tax credit for qualified in vitro fertilization (IVF) expenses. The increased adoption credit will be adjusted for inflation after 2025. The IVF expense credit covers medical care costs related to IVF.

The Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the imprisonment or detention of individuals based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and other categories as determined by the Attorney General. This amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to ensure that civil liberties are protected against unlawful detention based on these characteristics. The Attorney General has the authority to add characteristics to the list, but not remove any.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and make permanent the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave. It raises the minimum credit to 25% and the maximum to 50%, adjusting the incremental increase in the credit. These changes will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "More Homes on the Market Act" increases the tax exclusion for profit from the sale of a primary residence, raising it to $500,000 for single filers and $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2025. This change encourages homeowners to sell their properties, thereby increasing the availability of homes on the market.

The "Safeguarding Social Security and Medicare Act" orders a study to assess the effects of inflation and cost of living increases on Social Security and Medicare. The goal is to provide Congress with recommendations on legislative actions needed to maintain full benefits under these programs. This is important because millions of Americans rely on these benefits, and increased cost of living and inflation are putting a financial strain on them.

This bill aims to improve federal programs for the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It updates the Public Health Service Act to enhance TBI prevention and surveillance, extends grant programs to include high-risk populations and Tribal entities, and requires the CDC to make aggregated TBI data publicly available. Additionally, the bill mandates studies and reports on TBI's long-term effects and high-risk populations, ensuring continued support and research in this critical area through 2030.

The LIVE Beneficiaries Act aims to prevent improper payments in state medical assistance programs by requiring states to cross-reference their enrollee lists against the Social Security Death Master File quarterly, starting in 2027. States must disenroll deceased individuals and stop payments, but also reinstate coverage retroactively for anyone incorrectly disenrolled. States can use other data sources to identify deceased beneficiaries, but must still comply with the Death Master File requirements.

The Family Income Supplemental Credit Act (FISC Act) establishes a program providing monthly payments to pregnant women and caregivers of eligible children, with payment amounts varying based on the recipient's status and the child's age, subject to income-based phase-outs and limitations. It also repeals the existing child tax credit, replacing it with this new family income supplement program. The program will be managed by the Commissioner of Social Security, who will establish regulations and reporting systems, and it is set to take effect one year after enactment.

The "Protect Medicaid Act" prohibits federal Medicaid funding for state administrative costs associated with providing healthcare benefits to unauthorized immigrants. It requires a report from the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services on how states that offer health benefits to non-lawfully admitted noncitizens handle Medicaid program administration costs separately. The report will also cover how these states fund programs for non-lawfully admitted noncitizens and analyze the impact of these non-lawfully admitted noncitizens receiving outpatient drugs purchased under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or the 340B drug discount program.

The "Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025" aims to safeguard U.S. agricultural land by prohibiting its purchase or lease by individuals or entities associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia, while also preventing their participation in USDA programs. The bill expands reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, increases penalties for violations, and mandates public online databases of foreign ownership. Additionally, it requires regular reports from the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Government Accountability Office on foreign ownership and its potential risks.

This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate a portion of United States Route 74 in North Carolina as a high-priority corridor, paving the way for its future designation as an interstate highway. The specific section of Route 74 affected runs from Columbus, North Carolina, to Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The bill also updates references to high-priority corridors within the Act.

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, eliminating the requirements for the President to report to Congress on decisions to withhold or delay spending of appropriated funds. This removes the process by which Congress can approve or disapprove of these presidential actions.

The "Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act" requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct an independent assessment of its claim forms to improve clarity and organization. A federally funded research center will lead the assessment, consulting with various stakeholders, and provide recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary must then implement these recommendations, where legally compliant, within a set timeframe to make the forms more user-friendly for veterans.

The Mudslide Recovery Act establishes a pilot grant program to aid communities recovering from mudslides that occur after wildland fires. The Secretaries of Interior and Homeland Security will administer the competitive grant program, awarding funds to eligible recipients such as states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations. The program is authorized to receive $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2032.

The ENABLE Act permanently extends provisions that allow for increased contributions to ABLE accounts, which are savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. It also allows penalty-free rollovers from 529 education savings accounts to ABLE accounts, providing greater flexibility in financial planning for families and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the act includes contributions made to an ABLE account when calculating retirement savings contributions.

The Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, recognizing their dedicated service to the United States. Following the award ceremony, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. The Secretary of the Treasury is permitted to create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. Funds from the sales will be deposited back into the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2025 amends the eligibility requirements for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This act increases the maximum age for eligible children to receive medical care under the program to 26 years old, regardless of their marital status. This change does not affect benefits for children incapable of self-support and takes effect for medical care provided on or after the enactment of this act.

The Wildfire Response Improvement Act aims to improve wildfire recovery and mitigation efforts by directing FEMA to update its policies and guidance. These updates include expanding eligibility for fire management assistance, providing specific guidance on wildfire recovery in FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, and updating the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of wildfire mitigation projects. The Act focuses on addressing challenges like debris removal, protecting water infrastructure, and reducing the impact of wildfire smoke.