Legislation

This Act expands federal assistance available after wildfires to include environmental remediation efforts alongside traditional fire suppression. It authorizes debris removal from both public and private lands following eligible fires, even without a major disaster declaration. Furthermore, the bill allows the EPA to deploy resources to help states manage hazardous waste and substances during post-fire cleanup.

The Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act streamlines federal oversight for existing hydropower facilities by allowing routine maintenance and minor alterations without prior FERC approval. It also establishes an expedited licensing process for small, non-impounding hydrokinetic energy projects up to 5 megawatts. This legislation aims to balance operational flexibility for current licensees with the promotion of new, small-scale renewable energy generation.

The Biosimilar Inspection Modernization Act of 2025 mandates the development of a risk-based inspection schedule for facilities manufacturing biosimilar biological products to prioritize public health protection. It also requires the FDA to update inspection processes, increase the use of remote assessments, and develop a strategic plan for improving domestic biosimilar facility oversight. Furthermore, the bill calls for a public meeting and report on expanding the use of mutual recognition agreements for international inspections.

The Carson City Public Land Correction Act facilitates the transfer of approximately 1,288 acres of federal land to Carson City, Nevada, for public use. The bill also mandates the sale of certain federal and city-owned lands, with all proceeds deposited into the Carson City Special Account for specified conservation and management purposes. Finally, it amends existing law to clarify how Carson City can sell or lease certain lands for economic development or recreation.

The Global Climate Resilience Act of 2025 establishes programs to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change impacts. It authorizes the reduction of U.S. debt owed by eligible, climate-vulnerable countries, provided the savings are reinvested in resilience activities. Furthermore, the Act directs the U.S. to advocate within international financial institutions for debt restructuring and the creation of an automatic climate insurance program through the World Bank.

The Investing in American Workers Act establishes a new tax credit for employers who invest in job training for their non-highly paid employees that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential. This credit is calculated based on the increase in qualified training expenses over the average of the prior three years. Qualified small businesses may elect to apply a portion of this credit against their payroll taxes instead of income tax.

The Medicare Investment and Gun Violence Prevention Act restores the federal tax on firearm transfers and manufacturing to \$200 per firearm. Additionally, it allocates \$1.7 billion in new funding to the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 establishes a resident's right to designate at least one "essential caregiver" who must be granted in-person access to the resident in healthcare facilities, even during periods of restricted visitation. This right is designed to prevent the isolation and decline seen during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring family support remains available. Facilities can only deny access under strict, time-limited conditions if the caregiver violates agreed-upon safety protocols.

This bill directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a single, shared system for credentialing and privileging their medical providers. The Secretaries must jointly select one existing departmental system to serve as this uniform standard by January 1, 2027. This initiative aims to streamline the verification of medical provider qualifications across both departments.

The Artificial Intelligence Scam Prevention Act aims to combat the rising threat of fraud utilizing AI, such as deepfakes and voice cloning. This bill makes it illegal to use AI to impersonate individuals or entities for deceptive commercial acts. It also updates telemarketing laws to require clear disclosure when AI is used to emulate a human in calls or texts, while establishing an advisory group to develop best practices for prevention.

The Shelter Act establishes new nonrefundable personal and business tax credits for making qualified disaster-resilience improvements to homes and places of business. These credits, equal to 25% of eligible expenditures, aim to incentivize homeowners and businesses in hazard-prone areas to invest in mitigation against natural disasters. The personal credit has an annual cap of \$3,750 and a lifetime maximum of \$15,000, with income phase-outs for higher earners.

The Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA) modernizes copyright registration for visual artists by shifting deposit requirements to electronic copies and establishing third-party registries for photographs. The bill also introduces new options for group registration and deferred registration to ease the filing burden. Finally, VACRA mandates the development of modern application systems and creates reduced, subscription-based fee structures for visual creators.

The Payer State Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the annual calculation of how much each state contributes to federal taxes and how much it receives in federal spending. These figures, detailing each state's federal tax burden and outlays, must be compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Management and Budget. The resulting joint report must then be submitted to Congress and made publicly available online.

The Electric Supply Chain Act mandates the Secretary of Energy to conduct periodic assessments of the nation's electricity generation and transmission supply chain. This process requires consultation with relevant stakeholders to identify risks and vulnerabilities. The Secretary must then report these findings, including recommendations for strengthening the supply chain and reducing reliance on foreign entities of concern, to Congress.

This bill establishes a pilot program for testing emerging technologies to control moisture and prevent mold in military family housing. It also mandates the standardization of mold remediation guidelines across all military departments. The goal is to improve living conditions by proactively addressing moisture-related issues in covered housing.

The UPLIFT Act establishes a new, refundable residential energy tax credit for taxpayers facing significant increases in electricity, natural gas, or propane costs. This credit, capped at \$1,200 or \$2,400 for joint filers, is only available when energy price inflation exceeds 2% year-over-year. The benefit is subject to an income-based phase-out for higher-earning households.

The Quantum Leaders Education and Advancement Program Act (QLEAP) reauthorizes and extends the National Science Foundation's Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program. This extension continues support for developing the next generation of quantum science and technology leaders.

The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 seeks to significantly reform and strengthen benefits for coal miners suffering from black lung disease by clarifying eligibility rules, improving access to medical evidence, and increasing financial support. The bill also permanently establishes the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor and modernizes various technical and definitional aspects of the Black Lung Benefits Act. Overall, this legislation aims to make securing benefits easier and faster for disabled miners and their families while increasing accountability for coal operators.

The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) submit annual reports to Congress detailing the status of specific, long-pending hydropower license applications. These reports will cover new, subsequent, and original license applications where intent to file was declared at least three years prior. The goal is to increase oversight and provide clarity on the timeline and progress of these complex licensing processes.

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to strengthen survivor benefit presumptions for miners who died from black lung disease. It establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical expenses for claimants with long-pending cases. Finally, the bill mandates the GAO to conduct several studies on benefit payment sufficiency and the impact of interim payment recoupment.