Legislation

Recognizes January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring in improving outcomes for young people. Mentoring programs support academic achievement, social skills, and career exploration, especially for underserved youth. The resolution encourages the expansion of mentoring opportunities through collaboration between various sectors. Ultimately, this helps connect more young people with adult mentors to guide them toward success.

This bill, named the "MACARTHUR Act," amends the mission statement of the United States Military Academy to include the values of "Duty, Honor, Country." It requires the Secretary of the Army to implement this change within 30 days, ensuring these principles remain central to the Academy's teachings and culture.

The "MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025" aims to enhance collaboration between the U.S. and Israel in healthcare by establishing a program focused on joint research and development, innovation, regulatory harmonization, and healthcare system improvements. This includes initiatives in telemedicine, disease prevention, biological product manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. The Act authorizes $8 million per year from 2026-2030 to support these collaborative efforts.

The "Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act Amendments Act" amends the 1989 Act to update definitions and authorize additional land transfers within the Apex Site to Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, or the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association. It permits the sale of mineral materials from land grading at fair market value and ensures all land transfers comply with federal environmental laws.

The "Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act of 2024" aims to regulate shipping rates for goods transported to and from noncontiguous areas of the United States, such as Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. It amends existing law to define a reasonable rate as one that is within 10% of a comparable international ocean rate index recognized by the Federal Maritime Commission. This adjustment seeks to ensure fair pricing in these essential trade routes.

The "Protecting Military Parental Leave Evaluations Act" ensures that members of the Armed Forces who take parental leave of more than 31 consecutive days are exempt from performance evaluations during that leave. It allows service members to utilize parental leave within two years of a child's birth, adoption, or placement without requiring a waiver. The Secretary of Defense is tasked with creating these regulations and reporting on their implementation to the Senate and House Armed Forces Committees.

The ACES Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on cancer rates and mortality among veterans who served as active duty aircrew, identifying potential links between military exposures and specific cancers. The study will utilize data from multiple government sources to determine cancer rates and mortality among aircrew members. A report of the findings will be submitted to the Secretary and the Veterans Affairs Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The "Reining In Federal Licensing Enforcement Act of 2025" or the "RIFLE Act of 2025" aims to reform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by modifying penalties for Federal firearms licensees who commit civil violations, changing the process for license applications, and defining "willfully" in the context of firearms license violations. The bill also requires the Attorney General to reconsider denied firearm license applications based on the new rules, establish formal inspection standards, and limit the use of firearms purchaser information. Additionally, it provides opportunities to cure violations after the acquisition of a firearms business and sets standards for criminal violations of recordkeeping requirements.

The Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025 amends section 2306(h) of title 38, United States Code, concerning the provision of additional burial benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs when an urn or plaque is provided. It modifies the criteria for providing additional burial benefits, specifically concerning the furnishing of headstones or markers for eligible individuals. This amendment applies to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.

This bill would rename the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as the "Donald J. Trump International Airport." It would apply to all federal laws, regulations, maps, documents and records.

The "Public Lands in Public Hands Act" restricts the federal government from transferring ownership of publicly accessible federal land to non-federal entities. Exceptions exist for transfers under 300 acres (or 5 acres if accessible by waterway) and those authorized by specific existing laws or land exchanges. This act aims to maintain public access to federal lands and prevent the government from subdividing land to circumvent these restrictions.

This bill amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land within the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). This update extends the existing leasing authority to include these tribal lands.

The "Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025" aims to improve wildlife connectivity by providing financial and technical assistance to enhance habitat in key movement areas. This will be achieved through grants to state and tribal agencies, research programs, and continued mapping efforts by the USGS. The Act prioritizes collaboration among federal, state, and tribal entities, and ensures that private property rights and existing land uses are protected. It reauthorizes funding for existing wildlife programs and establishes new initiatives to support wildlife migration and habitat conservation.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the deduction for qualified business income. This removes the previous expiration date, providing long-term tax certainty for eligible businesses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025" modifies tax deductions for performing artists by adjusting the income threshold for deduction phaseouts, clarifying deductible expenses to include commissions, and increasing the threshold for nominal employers. The adjusted gross income (AGI) threshold is $100,000, and the nominal employer threshold is $500. Both amounts will be adjusted for inflation after 2025. This ensures fair tax treatment and helps offset professional expenses.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act exempts certain noncontiguous trade from coastwise laws if specific conditions are not met. The exemption applies unless at least three independent owners operate coastwise-qualified vessels on the route, each transporting at least 20% of the goods volume. This aims to foster competition in shipping to noncontiguous areas.

The Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 prioritizes the appointment of individuals with specific veterans' law experience to the Board of Veterans Appeals. When the Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals recommends individuals to the Secretary for Board membership, those with at least three years of legal experience related to veterans' laws will be given priority. This amendment to Title 38 of the U.S. Code aims to enhance the expertise and understanding of veterans' issues within the Board.

The Expression of Interest Sensibility Act amends the Mineral Leasing Act to replace bonus bids with fees for expressions of interest in oil and gas leases. The Secretary will assess a fee for the expression of interest against the person who submitted the first expression of interest if no bid is received, or against the successful bidder if land receives a successful bid at a lease sale. An expression of interest remains active for at least 5 years, unless the land is offered at a lease sale.

This bill reaffirms the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity amidst Russia's ongoing invasion. It condemns Russia's war crimes and demands the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the Donbas. The bill insists on the safe return of kidnapped Ukrainian children and supports the prosecution of Russian leaders for war crimes. It emphasizes that any lasting peace agreement must include Ukraine and its European allies.