Legislation

Kate's Law increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S. by individuals who are later convicted of serious crimes. The bill mandates a minimum five-year sentence for illegal entry if the person is subsequently convicted of a crime punishable by over one year in prison. Furthermore, it significantly increases prison sentences, including mandatory minimums, for aliens who illegally reenter the U.S. after being previously removed.

The Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce homelessness by making housing choice vouchers an entitlement program starting in 2029 and immediately expanding the voucher supply for extremely low-income families. The bill also prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income and establishes new, dedicated funding streams for emergency relief and supportive services under the McKinney-Vento Act. Finally, it repeals certain ineligibility criteria for housing assistance and sets priorities for funding based on local policies that encourage affordable housing and decriminalize homelessness.

The Stop the SWARM Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit a report to Congress within 30 days detailing the nation's readiness to combat a New World Screwworm outbreak. This report must specifically address domestic preparedness, including plans for building a domestic sterile fly production facility, current technology, and a comparison between domestic and international production capabilities. The goal is to ensure a robust national response strategy is in place against this serious pest.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office." This action formally renames the existing post office building.

The Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act requires local school districts receiving federal funds to provide parents with detailed information regarding foreign financial influence. This includes granting parents access to review and copy educational materials purchased with foreign funds, and the right to inquire about staff paid by foreign entities. Districts must publicly disclose the source, amount, and conditions of any foreign donations or agreements annually.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). This bill extends crucial tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and establishes new offices within the Treasury and Labor Departments to provide technical assistance and advocacy. Furthermore, it amends the Small Business Act to ensure ESOP-owned businesses do not automatically lose small business status when they transition to majority employee ownership.

The Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025 aims to strengthen oversight and security within U.S. student and exchange visitor programs. This bill increases criminal penalties for visa-related fraud, mandates official accreditation for institutions hosting international students, and tightens reporting requirements for schools via the SEVIS system. Furthermore, it imposes new vetting standards for school officials and restricts study in sensitive fields for nationals of certain adversarial countries.

The CROP for Farming Act updates existing conservation programs to explicitly include climate change mitigation as a primary focus. It expands the definition of a "conservation incentive" to cover issues like reducing nitrous oxide and methane emissions. Furthermore, the bill redefines successful conservation to include measurable reductions in greenhouse gases and increases in soil carbon storage.

The Written Informed Consent Act mandates that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) expand its informed consent directives to specifically cover several classes of medications, including antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and narcotics. This ensures veterans receive a thorough understanding of these prescribed drugs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must update VHA Directive 1005 to reflect these expanded requirements.

The Plastic Health Research Act aims to significantly increase federal research into the health effects of plastic exposure, including microplastics and nanoplastics. It mandates the expansion of existing research programs and the establishment of specialized Centers of Excellence to develop standardized testing methods and assess health risks. The bill requires annual reporting to Congress on research progress and authorizes dedicated funding through fiscal year 2030 for these initiatives.

The GATE CRASHERS Act establishes a new federal crime for illegally entering clearly marked, restricted Department of Defense (DoD) facilities. This legislation introduces escalating penalties for repeat offenses, ranging from 180 days for a first offense up to 10 years for a third or subsequent violation. The bill aims to enhance security by strictly penalizing unauthorized access to sensitive military property.

The PROVE Act establishes new requirements for non-military U.S. citizens living overseas who wish to vote in federal elections. These voters must now provide verifiable proof of a current in-state mailing address, which can belong to themselves, a spouse, parent, or legal guardian, to receive an absentee ballot. Voters who fail to provide this proof for a federal general election may instead vote in the District of Columbia election for that cycle. This new rule takes effect starting with elections held in 2026.

The District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act prohibits the District from establishing new "Sister City" partnerships with countries designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. government. Any existing agreements with such nations must be terminated within 180 days or upon their existing expiration date. Furthermore, D.C. cannot use federal funds for certain international outreach unless it certifies compliance with these termination requirements.

This bill extends the legislative authority for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish its commemorative work in the District of Columbia. Specifically, it revises a deadline within the original authorization, changing the relevant expiration or extension date tied to a seven-year period to November 3, 2032. This grants the Foundation additional time to complete the memorial establishment process.

The Alaska Native Landless Equity Act aims to correct an omission in the original Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) by granting eligibility to Native residents in five southeastern Alaska communities: Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell. This legislation authorizes these residents to form Urban Corporations and receive specific settlement lands and stock shares previously denied to them. The Act also mandates the transfer of approximately 23,040 acres of federal land to each new corporation, ensuring they receive their final ANCSA entitlement while protecting existing land rights and distribution rules for other Native Corporations.

The Fight for the American Dream Act expands eligibility for military enlistment to include individuals holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Employment Authorization Documents. This bill also modernizes the process for military naturalization by removing an outdated section and updating requirements for service-based citizenship. Overall, it streamlines pathways to service and citizenship for certain non-citizens.

The Revitalizing America’s Housing Act is a comprehensive bill designed to increase housing supply and affordability through regulatory reform, local zoning incentives, and expanded tax benefits for homeowners and investors. It also introduces targeted assistance and improved housing access for public servants, veterans, and low-income families. Finally, the legislation enhances federal oversight, mandates greater agency transparency, and tightens standards for housing counseling services.

The Advocate for Employee Ownership Act establishes a new Advocate position within the Department of Labor to promote and support employee ownership structures like ESOPs. This Advocate will serve as a central resource to connect stakeholders, educate the public, and resolve disputes related to employee ownership. Furthermore, the role includes recommending legislative and regulatory changes to facilitate the growth of employee-owned businesses. The Advocate must also submit an annual report to Congress detailing their activities and identifying barriers to employee ownership expansion.

The Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act aims to secure and expand the right to vote for citizens experiencing homelessness by prohibiting residency-based disenfranchisement. It mandates accessible registration methods, requires outreach from service providers, and establishes federal grants to help local governments implement these protections. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure that where a person sleeps cannot be a barrier to their participation in federal elections.

The Provider Training in Palliative Care Act allows healthcare professionals who received federal scholarships or loan repayment funds to defer their required service obligations for up to one year. This deferral is specifically granted to permit them to pursue specialized training in palliative care. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to facilitate this temporary pause in service commitments.