Legislation

The Campaign Transparency Act eliminates the existing dollar threshold for reporting donor names to political committees in federal elections. This change mandates that political committees must now disclose the identity of any individual who makes a contribution, regardless of the amount. Consequently, all donations, no matter how small, will be publicly reported starting immediately upon the Act's enactment.

The Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act aims to shift federal contracting away from strict reliance on specific educational degrees. This legislation requires federal agencies to provide written justification if they impose minimum education requirements in contract solicitations. The Office of Management and Budget will issue guidance to ensure these requirements are necessary and to encourage the use of skills-based alternatives. These new rules will take effect 15 months after the bill is enacted.

The RESTORE Act of 2025 aims to improve re-entry support by removing barriers to essential aid for individuals with past drug-related convictions. This legislation voids state restrictions that prevent eligible individuals from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits based on these convictions. Additionally, it allows individuals scheduled for release within 30 days to be counted in SNAP household determinations.

The Peace Corps Modernization Act aims to increase efficiency and strategic alignment for the agency. It strictly caps administrative overhead at 15% of the budget, ensuring the majority of funds directly support volunteers. The bill also mandates that Peace Corps placements align with U.S. foreign policy priorities set by the State Department. Finally, it establishes a dedicated fast-track pathway for former volunteers seeking to join the Foreign Service.

The Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act ensures that certain qualified relief payments received by individuals for wildfire-related losses are excluded from their federal gross income. This provision applies to payments covering uninsured or underinsured expenses, damages, or lost wages resulting from federally declared forest or range fires. The tax exclusion is designed to prevent double benefits and is set to expire for payments received after December 31, 2032.

The Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2025 transforms the existing pilot project into a permanent, federally funded program for procuring domestically grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for schools. This bill expands participation to 14 states and mandates dedicated annual funding of $25 million through fiscal year 2030. It also enhances requirements for states to support small, local, and socially disadvantaged farmers while strengthening program evaluation and reporting.

The Domestic Jobs Protection Act amends immigration law by updating the definition of "unauthorized alien" within employment verification rules. This change specifically removes a reference to the Attorney General in the existing statutory definition. The goal is to streamline and clarify who is covered under current employment verification statutes.

The Faster Buses Better Futures Act aims to significantly improve public transit by creating competitive grants for ambitious bus network redesigns focused on doubling ridership. It also establishes funding to ensure bus stops have accessible shelters and mandates that road owners implement transit priority measures to improve bus reliability. Finally, the Act provides dedicated funding for the Federal Transit Administration to administer these new programs and support transit planning efforts.

The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2025 establishes the Healthy Kids Grant Program to combat rising childhood obesity rates by focusing on children from birth through age five. This program will fund organizations to train early care providers, improve nutrition and activity policies in childcare settings, and engage parents. The goal is to build lasting systems that promote healthy eating and physical activity where young children spend most of their day.

The American Energy Security Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to modernize and improve the safety of community-owned natural gas distribution pipelines. These funds will help public utilities repair leaks, reduce accidents, and upgrade infrastructure to handle future energy sources. The Secretary of Transportation will award grants based on pipeline risk, job creation, and economic benefits, with $200 million authorized annually through fiscal year 2029.

The Kidney Care Access Protection Act aims to improve patient access to innovative kidney disease treatments by refining Medicare payment systems for new drugs and equipment. It also ensures greater stability for dialysis centers by adjusting annual payment updates to accurately reflect actual labor cost increases. Specifically, the bill extends transitional payments for new therapies and mandates direct payments from Medicare Advantage plans for these innovations. Finally, it corrects past errors in Medicare's cost predictions for dialysis services starting in 2026.

This Act establishes a three-year pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or PTSD, funded exclusively through donations. It also mandates an updated report from the Comptroller General assessing recent clinical trials on HBOT for TBI and PTSD. Finally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain existing limits on veteran pension payments.

The Safe Airspace for Americans Act mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish standardized procedures for collecting, analyzing, and sharing reports regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) from aviation personnel. This legislation aims to reduce the stigma associated with reporting UAP encounters while ensuring that such reports cannot be used punitively against reporters, except in cases of criminal activity or accidents. The FAA must coordinate with defense and intelligence agencies and protect the employment and certification status of individuals who report these sightings.

The Duplication Scoring Act of 2025 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review bills reported by Congressional committees for potential duplication with existing government programs. If a risk of overlap is found, the GAO must notify the CBO and the reporting committee, and publish the findings online. The CBO Director may then supplement the bill's cost estimate with the GAO's duplication assessment.

The Student Loan Deduction Act of 2025 allows households applying for food assistance to deduct monthly student loan payments from their countable income. This deduction applies to both federal and private education loans, covering payments made for any household member. Claiming this deduction can positively impact eligibility for food assistance benefits.

The In God We Trust Act mandates the prominent display of the national motto, "In God We Trust," on all public federal buildings. This requirement falls to the Administrator of General Services, who must ensure compliance within one year of the Act's enactment.

This bill, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of the Interior to take approximately 265 acres of specified public land into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. This action revokes a prior Public Land Order from 1964 and establishes the land as part of the Tribe's reservation for management under existing trust laws. Importantly, the transferred land is explicitly prohibited from being used for Class II or Class III gaming activities.

The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 aims to provide unemployment compensation to workers who are unemployed due to a strike or lockout. This benefit becomes available after a 14-day waiting period or upon the occurrence of specific conditions like a lockout or the hiring of permanent replacements. The Act ensures that participation in a labor dispute does not automatically disqualify workers from meeting general unemployment eligibility requirements, such as being available for work.

This Act establishes a one-time federal grant, ranging from $\$5$ million to $\$10$ million, to support the operations, security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. To receive the funds, the eligible entity must agree to provide free admission to specific groups and submit to annual federal financial audits. The Secretary of Homeland Security awards the grant after reviewing the museum's needs and commitment to public access and education.

The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025 establishes a new process for federal agencies to identify and return unused "surplus salaries and expenses funds" to the Treasury for deficit reduction. Agencies may retain up to 10% of these returned savings to provide cash awards to the employees who identified the waste. This temporary system includes strict reporting requirements for agencies and is set to expire six years after enactment.