Legislation

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 mandates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a public database and webpage detailing all U.S. "billion-dollar disasters." This hub must include estimated costs, location, and type of event, updated at least every six months. The system will also feature historical maps and graphs, ensuring continuity with previous disaster tracking methods.

The Safety Grant Consistency Act aims to streamline federal highway safety grant programs by imposing strict limits on the Secretary of Transportation. This legislation prohibits the creation of any new performance goals or requirements for existing grant programs (under 23 U.S.C. §§ 402 and 405). Furthermore, the Secretary must eliminate or ease existing requirements unless they were explicitly mandated by Congress.

The Grasslands Grazing Act of 2025 makes a technical update to federal law regarding grazing leases and permits by aligning the land reference in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 with the current definition of "National Forest System land." This change clarifies terminology without altering existing regulations or the application of other laws governing national grasslands.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

This bill amends the Veterans Community Care Program to officially include eyeglass lens fittings as a covered medical service provided by non-VA providers. It mandates that the VA quickly establish procedures to ensure veterans eligible for community care can easily access local providers for these fittings. The VA Secretary must report to Congress within 180 days on the implementation and impact of this new coverage.

This bill establishes a pilot program for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test whether allowing canine handlers to keep their working dogs at home is effective compared to traditional central kenneling. The program must run for at least two years across various ports of entry, with handler participation being voluntary. Upon completion, CBP must report findings to Congress comparing the two methods regarding cost, performance, and animal/handler well-being, along with recommendations for future policy.

The NSF AI Education Act of 2025 significantly expands the National Science Foundation's role in bolstering the AI workforce through education and training. It establishes new scholarships and fellowships for students and professionals in AI-related fields, while also creating Centers of AI Excellence at community colleges and technical schools. Furthermore, the bill funds research awards to develop effective AI teaching methods and materials for K-12 education. Overall, this legislation aims to build a robust, skilled, and diverse AI talent pipeline across all educational levels.

The Military Housing Performance Insight Act mandates that the military submit detailed reports on privatized housing twice a year instead of annually. These semi-annual reports must now include specific data on how housing information is collected, used for decision-making, and any limitations in resident satisfaction metrics. Furthermore, the Department of Defense is required to publish these comprehensive reports publicly within 30 days of submission.

This bill, the William Lacy Clay Sr. Memorial Stamp Act, directs the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring the life and significant legislative achievements of the late Congressman William Lacy Clay, Sr. The stamp will recognize his decades of service, particularly his work as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and his efforts to advance civil rights and equality. The Postmaster General is tasked with determining the final design and the period during which the stamp will be available for sale.

The Saving the American Dream Act mandates that key federal housing agencies collaborate to share research and data through a formal agreement. This legislation requires these agencies to jointly submit a comprehensive report to Congress outlining policy solutions for improving housing finance coordination, reducing mortgage costs, and addressing barriers to new home construction. The goal is to ensure federal housing policy is based on coordinated, evidence-based analysis.

The VA Extenders Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to ensure the continuity of numerous existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities for another year, generally through September 30, 2026. It extends key provisions across healthcare, benefits administration, housing support, and oversight functions, preventing lapses in critical services like suicide prevention grants, homeless veteran support, and educational assistance protections. The legislation also includes structural improvements and increased accountability measures for the VA's mortgage protection programs.

The Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2025 establishes a new pilot loan program to address the unique upfront capital needs of new farmers and ranchers. This program offers specialized development loans, up to $100,000, with flexible repayment terms (3-10 years) for long-term business investments. Borrowers must also receive mandatory training in farm and ranch management.

This Act mandates that the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture study and report on delays in approving authorizations for deploying communication equipment on public lands. The goal is to identify regulatory hurdles and propose solutions, including staffing plans, to ensure these critical broadband deployment requests are processed in a timely manner.

The Sovereign Enforcement Integrity Act of 2025 prohibits state and local law enforcement from enforcing warrants or orders issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This Act asserts federal authority over foreign relations by barring local officials from cooperating with the ICC unless explicitly authorized by new federal law or a Presidential order tied to national security. It ensures that federal policy, not local action, governs U.S. interaction with the ICC.

The Food Farmacy Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund the creation and operation of "healthy food pharmacies." These pharmacies will provide free, nutritious food and professional nutritional counseling, primarily targeting low-income and food-insecure communities. The goal is to improve public health outcomes by integrating access to healthy food with medical care. The program authorizes $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

The Climate Resilient Elections Act aims to safeguard American elections against increasing threats from natural disasters fueled by climate change. The bill mandates that states receiving federal election funds must develop and maintain continuity of operations plans for use during emergencies. Furthermore, it establishes new federal grants to help states strengthen election infrastructure, train workers, and improve voter communication in the face of disasters. Finally, it requires a report analyzing the impact of disasters on voter registration and federal assistance effectiveness.

The Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 establishes the Health Equity Innovation Grant Program to combat health disparities. This program provides funding to qualified community and faith-based organizations in underserved areas to expand access to necessary medical services and culturally appropriate care. Priority is given to groups that maintained health services during recent public health emergencies.

The Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act establishes new mandatory procedures for the Postal Service when closing or consolidating contract postal units. These new rules require the Postal Service to publish impact reports, hold public hearings, and wait at least 180 days after summarizing public feedback before any closure can take effect. This ensures greater transparency and community input regarding changes to local postal services.

The Dam Assessment and Mitigation Support (DAMS) Act updates the National Dam Safety Program by removing an outdated rule for dam rehabilitation and standardizing how states prioritize repairs for high-hazard dams. This legislation requires states to adopt the federal risk-based system if they lack their own, and it extends federal funding authorization for the program through 2031.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.