Legislation

The "Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act" aims to regulate the export of electronic waste and used electronics. It prohibits the export of electronic waste, while allowing the export of certain exempted items like tested, working electronics under specific conditions, including registration, detailed export information, and compliance with international agreements. The Act mandates the Secretary of Commerce to enforce these regulations and sets penalties for violations. This bill seeks to prevent environmental damage and the introduction of counterfeit goods into the global market.

The National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025 seeks to strengthen advocacy for veterans by establishing an independent Office of the National Veterans Advocate within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which reports directly to the Secretary. This office will monitor Department processes, recommend improvements to Congress, manage veteran casework, and ensure adequate training and staffing of veteran advocates across the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The act mandates biannual reports to Congress and requires the office to maintain a public website and casework portal. Finally, the act authorizes \$25 million in appropriations annually from 2026 to 2030 to carry out these provisions.

The USPS SERVES US Act aims to modernize the Postal Service by reforming cost and efficiency measures, establishing sanctions for service failures, and improving change-in-service procedures. It modifies postal rate adjustments, allows for sanctions if performance targets aren't met, and ensures the Postal Regulatory Commission's decisions are reviewed. The act also focuses on improving the complaint process, managing retiree health benefits funds, and maintaining mail volume.

The TREES Act of 2025 establishes a grant program through the Department of Energy to support tree planting projects that reduce residential energy consumption. Grants will be awarded to state and local governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofits, and retail power providers, with priority given to projects benefiting low-income communities, areas with low tree cover, and those engaging local residents. The program aims to plant at least 300,000 trees annually and is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.

The "USA CAR Act" introduces a tax deduction for interest paid on loans used to purchase automobiles assembled in the United States, starting after January 1, 2025. This deduction applies to interest on debt secured by the qualified automobile, aiming to incentivize the purchase of domestically assembled vehicles.

The Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes \$4,000,000,000 in appropriations for contributions to the Green Climate Fund for each of the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This fund supports climate mitigation and adaptation projects in developing countries, addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. The Act aims to advance environmental and climate justice globally, ensuring that climate financing respects human rights, promotes gender equality, and supports community-led programs. It also recognizes the urgent need for greater climate financing to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming.

The "Expediting Generator Interconnection Procedures Act of 2025" aims to accelerate and streamline the process for connecting new energy generation and storage projects to the electric grid. It directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish new rules within 180 days to make grid connection faster, more affordable, and more reliable. These rules will focus on improving modeling assumptions, risk tolerance considerations, cost-effective solutions, information transparency, best practices, and timely construction of necessary network upgrades. The Act does not alter the existing cost allocation methods for transmission system upgrades.

The Financial Technology Protection Act of 2025 establishes an Independent Financial Technology Working Group to Combat Terrorism and Illicit Financing, tasked with researching and developing proposals to counter illicit uses of digital assets and emerging technologies. It also requires a report and strategy from the President on how these technologies could be used to evade sanctions and finance terrorism, along with measures to prevent such illicit activities. The Act defines key terms related to digital assets, emerging technologies, and illicit activities to provide clarity and ensure effective implementation. The goal of the act is to protect the US financial system and national security.

The Ukraine Support Act aims to provide extensive support to Ukraine through diplomatic, financial, and strategic measures, while countering Russian aggression and disinformation. It authorizes financial support, expands war risk insurance, and establishes initiatives to aid Ukraine's reconstruction and integration with Europe. The act also extends lend-lease authority, authorizes direct loans for Ukraine and NATO allies, and supports Baltic countries' military capabilities. Finally, the legislation imposes sanctions and export controls on Russia and related entities, targeting key financial institutions, energy sectors, and individuals involved in actions against Ukraine.

The STABLE Act of 2025 establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, limiting issuance to approved entities and setting standards for reserves, transparency, and risk management. It defines key terms, outlines the approval process for stablecoin issuers, and grants supervisory and enforcement powers to federal regulators, while also allowing state-regulated entities to operate under certain conditions. The act also includes customer protections, interoperability standards, a temporary ban on endogenously collateralized stablecoins, and directs studies on the broader digital asset landscape. Finally, the act clarifies that payment stablecoins are not to be considered securities under existing securities laws.

The Border Airport Fairness Act of 2025 requires the President to designate eligible airports near the northern or southern border as ports of entry. It also terminates user fees for these airports, provided they meet specific criteria related to location, association with border crossings, and Customs and Border Protection standards. This aims to improve access and reduce costs at border-adjacent airports.

The Homeland Security Climate Change Coordination Act establishes a Climate Coordinating Council within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This council will coordinate departmental efforts to address and mitigate the effects of climate change on DHS programs, operations, missions, assets, and personnel. The Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit annual reports to Congress on the council's activities for ten years.

The "EITC for Older Workers Act of 2025" eliminates the upper age limit for claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This change allows older workers to be eligible for the EITC, regardless of their age. This amendment to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The "1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act" repeals Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, eliminating requirements for financial institutions to collect and report data on small business loans. This aims to reduce compliance costs for financial institutions, particularly smaller ones like community banks and credit unions. The goal is to alleviate regulatory burdens and improve credit access for small businesses by removing these data collection requirements.

The "Restore M-44 Act" aims to reinstate the use of M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices for predator control by rescinding a previous memorandum that prohibited their use. This bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase, deploy, and train individuals on using M-44 devices, including their components and related chemicals. Additionally, it removes the requirement for the Secretary of Agriculture to provide updates to congressional committees regarding the prohibition of these devices.

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, acknowledging the ongoing crisis and need for increased awareness, resources, and updated research. It calls on the public to remember the lives lost and support the victims' families, while also urging the Department of Justice to conduct a new study to update statistics on this critical issue.

The "Protection from Cumulative Emissions and Underenforcement of Environmental Law Act of 2025" aims to address public health risks from combined environmental stressors by requiring the EPA Administrator to establish a protocol for assessing and mitigating these risks, with consideration for climate change impacts and pollution exposure. The Act also mandates the identification and support of at least 100 environmental justice communities disproportionately affected by environmental law violations, requiring analysis, solutions, and implementation of measures to reduce these violations. It defines key terms such as "community of color," "environmental justice community," and "low-income community" to ensure targeted and effective implementation.

The "Fair Taxation of Digital Assets in Puerto Rico Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that income earned by Puerto Rican residents from digital asset activities like mining, staking, holding, or selling digital assets will not be considered income derived from sources within Puerto Rico for tax purposes. This applies to any digital representation of value recorded on a cryptographically-secured distributed ledger. The amendment aims to clarify the tax treatment of digital assets for Puerto Rican residents, effective for taxable years beginning after the Act's enactment.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount beneficiaries pay in coinsurance for certain services received in ambulatory surgical centers. Specifically, it ensures that the coinsurance amount for facility services during a year for a surgical procedure does not exceed the inpatient hospital deductible under section 1813(b) of the Social Security Act. If the coinsurance exceeds the inpatient hospital deductible, the bill mandates a reduction in the coinsurance amount to match the deductible, with the government covering the difference to the service supplier. These provisions are set to take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

The "Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2025" establishes a program to offer financial aid and research opportunities to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers studying cybersecurity for energy-related fields. This program, run by the Secretary of Energy, will provide scholarships, fellowships, and research projects at universities, along with training at National Laboratories and utilities. The program will also conduct outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and minority-serving institutions. Within a year of the Act's enactment, the Secretary of Energy must report to Congress on the program's development and implementation.