Legislation

The Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025 aims to stop companies from secretly shrinking the size or quantity of consumer products while keeping the packaging the same, a practice known as "deceptive downsizing." This Act prohibits manufacturers from misleading consumers through this practice unless they provide clear, conspicuous notice of the reduced size on the product's principal display panel. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with writing the necessary regulations and enforcing compliance using its existing authority against unfair or deceptive business practices.

The IMAGES Act of 2025 significantly updates the National Flood Mapping Program to enhance the accuracy and detail of flood rate maps. It mandates the inclusion of property-level data like roads and parcel information on these maps and requires regular accuracy checks. Furthermore, the bill establishes a public data repository for raw flood modeling information and dedicates a portion of insurance fund revenue specifically for map maintenance.

This bill, the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, updates eligibility requirements for certain school employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It adjusts how paraprofessionals and education support staff meet the required hours of service by using a percentage of expected monthly hours worked during the school year. Furthermore, the bill mandates clear guidelines for calculating FMLA leave entitlement for these employees to account for non-standard school schedules.

The HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 removes a federal payment limitation for certain home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers under Medicaid. This change grants states greater flexibility in receiving federal matching funds for these essential community services.

The PART Act aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new vehicles to have traceable identifying markers on these parts. It establishes a federal grant program to help entities stamp identifying numbers onto existing converters. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict record-keeping requirements on businesses that buy used converters and creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking stolen catalytic converters.

The Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Secretary of Energy to assess the impact of growing AI and data center infrastructure on the nation's energy supply. This study must specifically examine energy needs, alternative power sources, and consumer costs, with a special focus on frontier and remote areas. The goal is to identify supply gaps and explore ways to expedite necessary infrastructure permitting.

The Congressional Power of the Purse Act is a comprehensive bill designed to reassert Congressional authority over federal spending, emergency declarations, and executive branch financial oversight. It strengthens Congress's ability to prevent impoundment of appropriated funds, mandates greater transparency regarding unspent government money, and imposes strict time limits and review procedures on presidential declarations of national emergencies. Ultimately, the Act aims to increase accountability across the Executive Branch regarding the execution and management of taxpayer funds.

The Border Wall Status Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a public, online tracker on the DHS website. This tracker will provide transparent, up-to-date information regarding active border wall construction and overall progress. The goal is to make the status of border wall projects easily accessible to the public.

This bill provides fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, along with key science agencies like NASA and the NSF. It allocates funding for trade enforcement, scientific research, law enforcement operations, and federal prisons. Furthermore, the Act imposes numerous policy restrictions across these agencies regarding spending transparency, technology purchases, social issues, and specific regulatory enforcement actions.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious and preventable public health crisis impacting the nation, highlighting its significant role as a leading cause of death, especially among young people. It expresses strong support for designating September as National Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness. Furthermore, the resolution advocates for prioritizing suicide prevention efforts and improving access to high-quality mental health and substance use disorder services.

The SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act authorizes federal agencies to establish new paid fellowships and internships for students and researchers connected to small businesses that have already won Phase II SBIR or STTR awards. This initiative aims to bolster the innovation workforce in critical technical fields. Furthermore, the Act mandates enhanced outreach efforts to ensure participation from women and economically or socially disadvantaged individuals in these new opportunities.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Majority Leader to bundle up to 15 non-high-level presidential nominations for consideration together, or "en bloc." This procedural change allows the Senate to expedite the confirmation process for these appointments by treating the group as a single item for debate and voting. The bundled nominations must all originate from the same Senate committee.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives opposing the implementation of the proposed Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. The House believes this model would severely undermine beneficiary access to necessary healthcare by significantly expanding prior authorization requirements in traditional Medicare. It urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to terminate the plan due to concerns over patient access and the poor track record of private entities managing these reviews.

The Department of State Policy Provisions Act streamlines administrative reporting, modernizes State Department management and technology, and enhances U.S. strategic engagement globally. It establishes new mechanisms to respond to wrongful foreign detentions and mandates increased oversight on consular spending and overseas construction. Finally, the bill reforms international security affairs, foreign assistance reporting, and public diplomacy efforts to better counter foreign influence and promote U.S. interests.

This bill enacts numerous technical amendments across various titles of the U.S. Code, primarily updating statutory references and correcting minor errors in existing federal laws. These changes affect statutes related to federal employment, agriculture, bankruptcy, conservation, higher education, taxation, and public lands management. The overall purpose is to ensure accurate cross-referencing and consistency within the U.S. Code without altering the substantive policy of the underlying laws.

The Aircraft Noise Reduction Act grants general aviation airports increased authority to work with the FAA to implement local aircraft noise limitations. This process requires consultation with airport owners and consideration of community input when adjusting flight and training routes. Crucially, airports taking these noise-reduction actions will not face the loss of federal funding as a result.

The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act establishes federal standards for student-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, allowing athletes to profit from endorsements while setting specific rules for agents and institutional compensation. The bill mandates enhanced support services, medical guarantees, and scholarship protections for athletes at high-revenue institutions. Furthermore, it grants states enforcement power over NIL violations and shields compliance actions from antitrust liability, while clarifying that student-athletes are not automatically considered employees.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of September 14, 2025, as "Celebrate Community Week." It recognizes the collaborative, nationwide volunteer efforts of four major international service organizations: Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, Optimist, and Rotary International. The bill applauds these groups for their commitment to community service and for instilling these values in young people.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 2025 as National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Month. The goal is to raise public understanding of PKD, a common genetic disorder that often leads to kidney failure. By promoting awareness, the resolution encourages support for patients, caregivers, and research efforts aimed at finding a cure.

This resolution strongly condemns the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, during his national speaking tour. It honors his life, his founding of Turning Point USA, and his dedication to conservative principles. Ultimately, the document calls for national unity and reaffirms the commitment to protecting the right to peaceful assembly and free expression.