Legislation

The AIRFARE Act establishes a system to expedite gate passes and security access for caregivers accompanying minors or passengers needing assistance to their departing flights. This requires the TSA to create procedures allowing up to two designated helpers to walk these individuals directly to the gate. The system aims to streamline the process for family members and guardians needing to provide essential support at the airport.

The Catastrophic Specialty Hospital Act of 2025 establishes a new designation for hospitals specializing in long-term care for severe injuries like spinal cord or acquired brain injuries. This designation exempts qualifying hospitals from standard Medicare payment rules, implementing a new payment structure tailored to their specialized services. Hospitals must meet strict criteria regarding patient volume, continuum of care, and research commitment to receive and maintain this three-year designation.

The Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act of 2025 asserts that access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right, citing international agreements. This bill mandates that the U.S. Secretary of State comprehensively detail the status of reproductive rights, including access to contraception, abortion care, and freedom from coercion, in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Furthermore, it requires detailed reporting on disparities in reproductive health outcomes based on identity, such as race, sexual orientation, or disability. The Act emphasizes the need to hold governments accountable for denying these essential health services globally.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual funding to states specifically for improving election administration, security, and accessibility. This funding is sourced from a dedicated Trust Fund and administered by a new federal office. States must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use the money for upgrades like cybersecurity and expanded voting options, while being prohibited from using funds for voter intimidation or other prohibited activities.

The 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2025 strengthens the oversight of the 504 loan program by granting the Office of Credit Risk Management new authority to supervise Certified Development Companies (CDCs). This includes mandatory file reviews, the ability to impose enforcement actions and civil penalties for violations, and the requirement for an annual risk analysis report to Congress. Furthermore, the bill mandates the SBA to establish clear procedures for CDCs to comply with existing National Environmental Policy Act requirements.

The MORE USDA Grants Act aims to boost economic opportunities in rural areas, specifically targeting counties with significant federal land ownership and low populations. This bill lowers the required local matching funds by 50% for qualifying USDA grants in these designated areas. It also mandates priority consideration and enhanced technical assistance for grant applications submitted by local and Tribal governments within these counties. Furthermore, the Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to offer flexibility in grant scoring and requirements that disadvantage smaller, isolated communities.

The RECHARGE Act mandates the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at rest areas along the Interstate Highway System. This legislation ensures access to necessary charging infrastructure to alleviate range anxiety for EV drivers. It clarifies that this allowance is strictly for EV charging and does not open rest areas to general commercial activity.

The Community-based Refugee Reception Act of 2025 establishes a new program allowing vetted community sponsorship groups to directly refer and resettle refugees, supplementing existing federal efforts. This initiative aims to expand citizen involvement in welcoming refugees and supporting their initial 90 days of settlement. Refugees admitted through this community sponsorship track will not count against the annual numerical cap of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The Act mandates the creation of training and support systems for these local groups while ensuring refugees maintain access to all other eligible public benefits.

The Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act of 2025 aims to secure the jobs at vital public naval shipyards by prohibiting workforce reductions and hiring freezes. This legislation specifically protects essential roles, including welders, engineers, and nuclear maintenance staff, from budget-driven cuts. The Act ensures the stability of the shipyard workforce while preserving the Secretary of Defense's authority to address individual employee performance or misconduct.

The International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 strengthens global anti-trafficking efforts by integrating these measures into U.S. foreign policy and development aid. It extends and increases authorization for federal programs combating trafficking and child exploitation through 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates increased transparency by requiring the State Department to immediately brief Congress on the annual Trafficking in Persons Report rankings and any granted anti-trafficking waivers.

The Modern Risk Detection Act of 2025 mandates that transportation safety standards allow organizations to implement risk-based approaches when meeting regulatory requirements. This shifts the focus from rigid, one-size-fits-all rules to methods that prioritize managing specific, identified risks. The goal is to encourage the use of risk-based concepts in achieving overall safety compliance.

The DOCTORS Act, or the Directing Our Country’s Transfer of Residency Slots Act, establishes a new system for reallocating unused J-1 visa residency requirement waivers among states. Starting in 2026, states must report unused waivers annually, which the Secretary of State will then redistribute to eligible states for the following year. A portion of these reallocated waivers must be used to staff facilities serving medically underserved areas.

The Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025 establishes the "Rule of Two" within the Small Business Act. This rule mandates that federal contracts exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold must be reserved for small businesses if the contracting officer reasonably expects at least two responsible small business offers. This ensures greater competition among small businesses for significant government procurements, provided a fair market price can still be achieved.

This bill authorizes pipeline owners and operators to use risk-based inspection methods for in-service breakout tanks, replacing existing standard inspection requirements. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to promptly update federal regulations to formally permit these risk-based inspections. This change provides flexibility in how certain storage tanks are inspected.

The Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act aims to increase transparency by requiring drug and biological product sponsors to certify that the patent information submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) aligns with the data provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This ensures consistency regarding patentability information shared between the two agencies. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new defense in patent infringement lawsuits if the patent holder negligently or intentionally failed to disclose this required information. These measures are designed to promote patent integrity alongside drug approval processes.

The LETITIA Act significantly increases criminal penalties for public officials who commit financial crimes, including bank fraud, lying on loan applications, and tax fraud. This legislation establishes mandatory minimum sentences and higher fines that escalate based on the number of prior offenses committed by the official. Furthermore, it directs the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury to issue guidance ensuring rigorous investigation and enforcement of these enhanced statutes against public servants.

The STOP Scammers Act empowers the Treasury Secretary to designate foreign organizations actively defrauding U.S. citizens as "Foreign Financial Threat Organizations." This designation immediately triggers asset freezes and subjects these groups to penalties similar to those applied to designated terrorist organizations. Furthermore, the Act mandates steps to block these entities from contacting U.S. persons and requires annual reporting on enforcement actions and victim restitution.

The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act of 2025 requires the IRS to provide taxpayers with much more specific notices detailing exactly what information they plan to request from third parties. This law generally mandates that taxpayers receive at least a 45-day window to provide the information themselves before the IRS contacts external sources. These enhanced notification requirements aim to increase transparency and protect taxpayer privacy during information gathering.

The Merchant Banking Modernization Act updates regulations for bank holding companies regarding their merchant banking investments. This legislation extends the minimum holding period for these investments to 15 years. This new minimum duration applies retroactively to investments already held by banks.

The Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nation's drug supply chain by improving how manufacturers report potential disruptions for critical medicines. This legislation mandates earlier and more detailed notifications to the government regarding production halts, demand spikes, or supply interruptions for life-supporting drugs. Furthermore, it requires drug makers to report their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suppliers twice annually, increasing transparency into the entire supply chain.