Legislation

The "Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act" amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The amendment broadens access to capital for rural-area small businesses. This bill aims to provide rural-area small businesses the same access to capital as women-owned small businesses.

This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. This ensures the area will not receive the specific protections and management guidelines associated with wilderness areas.

The Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II amends permitting requirements for the Point Loma Plant in San Diego, setting new limits for discharge of total suspended solids into marine waters. The bill requires the plant to maintain its deep-ocean outfall system and meet specific reduction targets for pollutants by certain dates. It also mandates the production of at least 83,000,000 gallons per day of water suitable for potable reuse by December 31, 2039, and continued ocean monitoring to ensure compliance. Alternatively, the plant can submit an application that complies with standard secondary treatment requirements.

The "Future in Logging Careers Act" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, defining "timber harvesting employer" and "mechanized timber harvesting employer". It modifies child labor provisions for 16 and 17-year-olds in hazardous logging occupations, except when employed by their parent or guardian. These provisions are applicable based on the type of timber harvesting activities performed by the employer.

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 aims to provide legal relief to victims of trafficking by allowing them to vacate convictions or expunge arrests for certain federal offenses committed as a direct result of their trafficking. It also allows for reduced sentences for covered prisoners and enables the use of grant funds for legal representation in post-conviction relief cases. The act further establishes a "human trafficking defense," and mandates reports to Congress on the implementation and impact of these provisions. This bill seeks to address the exploitation of forced criminal activity by human traffickers and provide support and protection to survivors.

The Susan Muffley Act of 2025 ensures that eligible participants and beneficiaries under specific pension plans, like the Delphi and PHI retirement programs, receive their full vested benefits. It directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate benefits, provide lump-sum payments for past-due amounts with interest, and establishes a trust fund within the Treasury to cover these increased payments. The act also includes provisions for the tax treatment of lump-sum payments, allowing recipients to spread the income over three years unless they elect otherwise.

The Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot "Food is Medicine" program. This program will provide eligible veterans with medically-tailored meals and groceries, nutrition education, and cooking classes. The goal is to improve health outcomes for veterans with chronic conditions or maternal health needs, while also evaluating cost savings and program effectiveness. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2025-2028 and will terminate three years after enactment.

The Space Infrastructure Act designates space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to define its scope and identify coordinating bodies. This act amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to formally include space-related assets as critical infrastructure. It also mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on the implementation of these changes.

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include Irish nationals in the E-3 visa program if reciprocity is determined by the Secretary of State. Employers hiring Irish nationals under this program must participate in E-Verify. The number of E-3 visas available to Irish nationals annually is capped at the difference between 10,500 and the number of visas issued to Australian nationals in the previous fiscal year.

The "Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act" amends the Social Security Act to allow for cost-of-living adjustments to the non-labor portion of Medicare payments for hospital outpatient services in Alaska and Hawaii. Beginning in 2026, the Secretary will adjust payments to mirror adjustments made under section 1886(d)(5)(H). These adjustments aim to address the unique circumstances faced by hospitals in these states and will not be budget neutral.

The IRS MATH Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to improve IRS notices regarding math or clerical errors by requiring more detailed explanations of errors, informing taxpayers of abatement options, and implementing a pilot program for certified mail delivery of notices. The Act mandates that the IRS provide clear, specific information about the error, including the relevant tax code section and line number, and establishes procedures for taxpayers to request abatements. Additionally, the Treasury Secretary must conduct a pilot program using certified mail for error notices and report the program's effectiveness to Congress.

The "Presidential and First Spouse Coin Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins honoring deceased U.S. Presidents, along with bullion coins and bronze medals emblematic of their spouses. These coins will feature designs and inscriptions as determined by the Secretary, with a new coin for each President and their spouse. If a President served without a spouse, the corresponding bullion coin is not required. All coins minted under this act are considered legal tender and numismatic items.

The "BEST Facilitation Act" establishes a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to create image technician positions that will review images of cargo and conveyances entering and exiting the U.S. to identify potential contraband or illegal activity. These technicians, supervised by CBP officers, will undergo specialized training and annual assessments, and will be located in five regional command centers. The Act also mandates semiannual reports to Congress detailing the program's implementation, performance metrics, and impact on interdiction rates and CBP operations. The pilot program is set to sunset after five years, with provisions for transferring the image technician positions to other roles within CBP or DHS.

The "Tax Fairness for Survivors Act" exempts from federal income tax any monetary awards from settlements related to sexual assault or sexual harassment claims. This exemption also applies to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment taxes, and wage withholding. This change applies to taxable years starting after the enactment of this law.

The "SCRUB Act of 2025" aims to reduce the economic burden of federal regulations by requiring agencies to repeal existing rules when creating new ones, prioritizing cost savings. It mandates a review of existing regulations, targeting a 33% reduction in regulatory costs by 2026, and requires agencies to include review plans for new rules to ensure regular evaluation and potential repeal. The Act also allows for judicial review of agency compliance and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

The "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' personal information with the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) based solely on the appointment of a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Information can only be shared if a judicial authority determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.

The "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025" amends the Clean Air Act, modifying the process for ethanol waivers and Reid Vapor Pressure limitations, allowing for higher ethanol blends during high ozone season. It also permits small refineries to reclaim certain retired credits from 2016-2018 for future use, under specific conditions related to prior exemption petitions.

The "Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act" aims to regulate communications about prescription drugs, especially on social media, to prevent false or misleading information. It imposes penalties for deceptive endorsements by social media influencers and healthcare providers, mandates disclosure of payments for drug promotions, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide guidance on what constitutes misleading communication. The act also establishes a task force to monitor drug advertising and authorizes funding for these activities, ensuring that patients receive accurate and complete information about prescription drugs.

The "Protecting Americas Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025" prohibits individuals and entities associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States and from participating in certain Department of Agriculture programs. The bill also expands reporting requirements and increases penalties for violations of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. Finally, the Act mandates reports from the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Government Accountability Office on foreign ownership of agricultural land.

The Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 amends Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 4001, to prohibit the detention of individuals in the United States based solely on protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and any additional characteristic the Attorney General specifies. The Attorney General cannot remove any of the characteristics already listed (race through disability).