Legislation

The Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2025 establishes a system of advance appropriations for key Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and Indian Health Service (IHS) programs starting in fiscal year 2026. This legislation mandates that budget requests must include forward-looking funding estimates for the subsequent fiscal year to improve agency planning and transparency. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on resource adequacy for these critical services after consultation with Tribal nations.

The Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce patient out-of-pocket costs for essential prescription inhalers and nebulizers used to treat conditions like asthma and COPD. This bill caps patient cost-sharing for these products at a maximum of \$15 per 30-day supply for most private insurance and Medicare beneficiaries, effective in 2026. Additionally, it establishes a new program to provide similar cost relief for uninsured individuals. The legislation ensures that payments made toward these caps count toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

The Nitazene Control Act of 2025 permanently classifies the entire class of highly potent synthetic opioids known as nitazenes (2-Benzylbenzimidazole opioids) as Schedule I controlled substances. This action is taken due to their extreme danger, high potential for abuse, and role in fatal overdoses across the country. By scheduling the entire chemical class at once, the bill aims to proactively stop the emergence of new, dangerous analogs. This permanent scheduling subjects nitazenes to the strictest federal controls, mirroring those applied to fentanyl.

The SEED Act expands the existing educator expense tax deduction to include early childhood educators. This amendment updates the Internal Revenue Code to recognize educators working with very young children alongside traditional K-12 teachers. These changes will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Pipeline Safety Engagement Act of 2025 renames the existing Community Liaison Services within the Office of Pipeline Safety to the **Office of Public Engagement**. This new office will be responsible for actively reaching out to the public, industry, and governments to promote pipeline safety practices and ensure information is accessible. The Department of Transportation must also report to Congress on the implementation of these changes within 18 months.

The Opioid Treatment Providers Act expands eligibility for Health Professions Opportunity Grants (HPOG) to include opioid treatment programs and other comprehensive addiction care providers. This change allows these critical addiction treatment organizations to compete for federal funding to train new healthcare professionals. These provisions will take effect on October 1, 2025.

The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2025 mandates the President to review specific Azerbaijani government and military officials for potential U.S. sanctions. This review is prompted by Congressional findings detailing severe human rights abuses, including the forced displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh and the alleged war crimes committed by Azerbaijani forces. The President must report to Congress within 180 days on whether these individuals meet the criteria for sanctions under existing human rights and anti-corruption laws. This action aims to address ongoing abuses and the detention of political figures and prisoners of war.

The Health Opportunities to Promote Equity (HOPE) Act aims to ensure equitable distribution of federal grants by requiring the Secretary to award funds to at least two eligible organizations in every state, provided sufficient applications are received. The bill also mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing application and approval statistics for these grants. These changes are scheduled to take effect starting October 1, 2025.

The Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone (MORE) Act prioritizes applicants for Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) that demonstrate strong pre-existing partnerships with government, education/training, and healthcare/labor organizations. This change aims to ensure grant funding supports programs with established connections ready to place trainees into jobs. These new requirements will take effect starting October 1, 2025.

The Make America Healthy Again Act of 2025 officially codifies Executive Order 14212 into statutory law. This action transforms the existing executive order's rules and requirements into binding federal legislation. The bill ensures the provisions of the Executive Order have the full force and effect of law.

This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense conduct an annual review of the financial assistance limits provided to child care and youth program services providers under Title 10 of the U.S. Code. This ensures that the maximum monthly payment caps for these essential services are regularly updated. The goal is to keep the financial support current with the needs of the providers.

The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow eligible employees protected leave following the spontaneous loss of an unborn child. It also grants federal employees the same entitlement to leave for this specific loss. Furthermore, the Act establishes a new, refundable federal tax credit for individuals who suffer a stillbirth during the tax year.

The Mentoring and Supporting Families Act prioritizes grant applications for job training programs that incorporate peer mentoring, career coaching, and financial stipends for participants. This legislation mandates that career coaching be a continuous part of case management plans for recipients of these grants. These changes are set to take effect starting October 1, 2025.

The Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025 establishes an automatic continuing appropriations mechanism to fund federal operations if Congress fails to pass a budget by the start of the new fiscal year. This automatic funding begins at 94% of the previous year's level and decreases by one percentage point every 90 days until a formal budget is enacted. This measure ensures essential government functions continue while discouraging prolonged budget impasses.

This bill, the Restoring the United States Department of War Act, seeks to formally codify Executive Order 14347 into permanent federal law. By doing so, it elevates the directives and policies established in that order to the full force and effect of a statute passed by Congress.

The Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025 aims to improve consumer credit profiles by allowing more on-time rent, utility, and telecom payments to be reported to credit agencies. This change permits landlords and service providers to share positive payment history, potentially boosting credit scores for responsible consumers. Consumers retain the right to opt-out of this expanded reporting. The bill also mandates a GAO study on the impact of this new data on consumer credit scores.

The Price Stability Act of 2025 amends the Federal Reserve Act to revise the central bank's primary mission. This legislation removes the requirement for the Federal Reserve to pursue maximum employment as part of its official mandate. Moving forward, the Fed will be solely focused on achieving and maintaining stable prices.

The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act establishes a new grant program to boost arts education at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). These funds are intended to increase access to the arts for minority students through financial aid, mentorship, and career development. The bill aims to address the lack of diversity in arts leadership by supporting institutions well-positioned to train diverse arts professionals. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to preserve and promote the work of artists of color while strengthening arts programs nationwide.

The Technical Assistance for Health Grants Act updates how the Secretary of Health and Human Services provides support to certain grant recipients under Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. This bill restructures existing rules to mandate tailored technical assistance for grantees, including specific support for tribal organizations and U.S. territories. It also establishes peer support conferences and requires regular reporting to Congress on the assistance provided. These changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025, with $15 million dedicated to funding the new support structure in fiscal year 2026.

The Health CARE Training Act establishes new minimum training hour requirements for participants in federally funded health profession demonstration projects starting in late 2025. Additionally, this bill ensures that cash stipends and emergency assistance provided through these specific health workforce projects will be excluded from federal income tax for recipients. This exclusion also removes the reporting requirement for the entities distributing those funds.