Legislation

The Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025 establishes a competitive federal grant program to help states create or expand high-quality, full-day prekindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Federal funding will cover up to 80% of program costs, requiring states to use the money to supplement, not supplant, existing early childhood education funding. Programs must be housed in public schools and taught by qualified educators.

The Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2025 updates federal disaster preparedness by clarifying which building codes apply to mitigation plans. It also streamlines the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program through technical amendments. Crucially, the Act establishes a new pilot program to provide grants to homeowners for retrofitting their residences against local natural hazards, with a required evaluation of its effectiveness.

The Indian Trust Asset Reform Amendment Act updates existing law to clarify participation in the Indian Trust Asset Management Project for federally recognized tribes and their organizations. This legislation grants tribes with approved management plans greater authority to manage their trust assets, such as leasing or forest management, without prior secretarial approval. The amendments also ensure that participation in the management project does not negatively impact a tribe's eligibility for federal funding.

The Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement Operations Expansion Act encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance joint law enforcement operations with Canada across land, air, and sea borders. This legislation also grants authority to establish agreements that provide legal protections to designated foreign law enforcement officers working alongside U.S. Customs officials. Furthermore, it allows for the stationing of U.S. law enforcement personnel overseas and the acceptance of foreign personnel in the U.S. for cooperative security missions.

The Peace Through Strength Act of 2025 officially renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This change, which also renames the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War, aims to better reflect the nation's resolve and willingness to fight to protect its interests. The Act mandates that all references to the former name throughout the U.S. Code and official documents be updated to reflect the new title.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

This Act co-designates the Arlington Memorial Bridge as the United States-Mexican War Memorial to honor the historical significance of the war. The designation is honorary and does not change the bridge's operational name or function. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to install limited, non-structural commemorative elements, which must be funded entirely through private donations.

The Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act allows private operators of contract postal units to temporarily continue service after a non-fault-based contract termination. If the operator chooses this option, the existing agreement generally remains in effect without further Postal Service payments until the contractor terminates, breaches the agreement, or closes the location. The Postmaster General retains discretion to establish payment terms for this continued operation.

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2017 rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population within 180 days. This reissuance must occur without regard to other applicable laws governing final rules. Furthermore, the reissued 2017 rule is explicitly shielded from judicial review.

The Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act of 2025 significantly increases mandatory minimum prison sentences for several serious violent crimes in the District of Columbia. This legislation raises the minimum penalties for offenses including first-degree murder, rape, carjacking, and first-degree burglary. The changes will only apply to criminal acts committed on or after the date the bill is officially enacted into law.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2025 raises the mandatory retirement age for pilots in certain commercial operations, generally known as Part 121 flights, from 65 to 67. This change allows experienced pilots to continue flying in covered operations until they reach the new age limit. The bill also includes provisions protecting pilots and carriers who acted under previous regulations and requires the FAA to report on potentially raising the age further.

The Career and Technical Education Access Act establishes a federal grant program to help states build, expand, or upgrade high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs aligned with local workforce needs. This legislation also creates a new CTE Pell Grant to provide financial assistance to public high school students pursuing necessary job training and industry certifications. The goal is to increase student access to hands-on learning, connect education directly to high-demand careers, and facilitate credit transfer to postsecondary institutions.

The Stop DC CAMERA Act aims to eliminate automated traffic enforcement systems, such as speed cameras, within the District of Columbia. Furthermore, this bill repeals the authority allowing D.C. to post signs prohibiting right turns on red lights near traffic signals. In essence, it removes two specific traffic enforcement mechanisms currently used by the city.

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act) explicitly extends the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to job applicants, prohibiting employers from limiting or classifying applicants based on age during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EEOC conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed under the ADEA since 2015. The EEOC must then report these findings, along with recommendations for combating hiring bias, to Congress and the public.

The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act mandates updated threat analyses of the northern border every two years, with the first due by September 2, 2026. Following each analysis, the Department of Homeland Security must update its border strategy or formally explain why an update is unnecessary. The bill also requires classified briefings for Congress and the development of performance measures for Air and Marine Operations along the northern border.

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to expand eligibility for additional federal subsidies for water infrastructure projects. It specifically allows these funds to support investments in new technologies and processes that promote water efficiency, energy efficiency, and stormwater runoff reduction. The goal is to encourage the development of cost-effective and sustainable water infrastructure.

The America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 establishes a new pathway to permanent residency for certain individuals who entered the U.S. as children, lived here legally for at least eight years as dependents of work visa holders, and subsequently earned a U.S. college degree. The bill also introduces significant "age-out" protections, allowing long-term dependents to retain their original priority dates for visa processing. Furthermore, it clarifies rules for derivative beneficiaries, potentially granting them work authorization in certain dependent statuses.

The Protecting Americans from Doxing and Political Violence Act establishes new privacy protections for Members of Congress, former Members, and their families by restricting the public disclosure of sensitive personal information by government agencies and data brokers. The bill mandates the removal of "covered information," such as home addresses and personal phone numbers, from public records within 72 hours upon request. It also makes it illegal for data brokers to sell this protected information and requires other online entities to cease posting it after receiving notice.

The Stop Censoring Military Families Act mandates the immediate restoration of previously available learning materials in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and prevents new restrictions until after the 2026–2027 academic year. It establishes strict notification and review processes before the Secretary of Defense can issue major directives affecting multiple DoDEA schools. Furthermore, the Act nullifies several specific Executive Orders within the Department of Defense and requires a study on establishing an independent body to manage DoDEA curricula.