Legislation

The SkyFoundry Act of 2025 establishes a new Department of Defense initiative, the SkyFoundry Program, tasked with rapidly developing, testing, and mass-producing small unmanned aircraft systems (drones). Run by the Army, the program will feature dedicated innovation and production hubs, utilizing special acquisition authorities to speed up fielding. The Act also directs efforts to boost domestic manufacturing capacity and allows for the modification of internal regulations to ensure rapid execution.

The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025 updates federal assistance for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. This legislation introduces new competitive grants specifically for developing and demonstrating pilot-scale biorefineries. It also modifies the criteria for existing loan guarantees, allowing for greater flexibility in reviewing projects with proven technologies. Overall, the bill aims to accelerate the commercial viability of domestic biobased manufacturing through targeted financial support.

The Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act grants states significantly more time—up to six fiscal years—to begin construction on federally funded emergency highway repair projects following a major disaster declaration. This extension allows states additional flexibility to complete planning and administrative tasks before starting physical construction. Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for governors to request further extensions if needed and mandates regular updates to the Emergency Relief Manual.

The Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act mandates that Members of Congress and their immediate families divest from or place specific stock holdings into qualified blind trusts to prevent conflicts of interest. The bill also establishes new civil penalties for failing to comply with existing stock trading disclosure laws (the STOCK Act). Furthermore, it requires that congressional financial disclosure forms be made publicly available online in a searchable, machine-readable format.

The NeighborWorks Accountability Act establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to ensure proper oversight. This IG office will be fully funded and dedicated solely to oversight functions, not program operations. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual, independent financial audit of the corporation's accounts by certified public accountants.

The National Guard and Reserve Student Loan Fairness Act simplifies student loan forgiveness for members of the military reserves. It mandates that qualifying years of service, based on points earned toward retired pay, automatically count as qualifying payments toward Federal Direct Loan forgiveness programs. This change applies even if the borrower was not working in public service during those payment months. The Departments of Defense and Education must coordinate data to ensure these payments are counted without requiring extra paperwork from the service member.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over the timing of this leave, which cannot result in the loss of existing benefits. This federal requirement supplements, but does not override, any state or local laws that offer greater employee protections.

The Gun Safety Board and Research Act establishes a new federal Gun Safety Board within the Department of Health and Human Services. This Board is mandated to fund original research aimed at reducing gun violence and to educate the public on effective prevention methods. It will also publish annual policy recommendations based on scientific findings regarding various forms of gun violence.

The End Solitary Confinement Act aims to drastically limit the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities by mandating a minimum of 14 hours of daily social interaction for all incarcerated individuals. The bill establishes strict emergency exceptions for isolation, prohibits its use against vulnerable populations, and creates an independent community monitoring body to ensure compliance. Furthermore, it incentivizes states to adopt similar standards by tying federal funding to adherence to these new minimum treatment requirements.

The Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act places specific limits on the President's authority under the Defense Production Act concerning domestic energy supplies. This bill prevents the President from using certain energy-related powers solely for environmental protection purposes. Furthermore, it prohibits denying financial support under the Act to companies involved with fossil fuels, provided the support is not directly for energy production.

The Pay Teachers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly boost federal investment in public education across three main areas. Title I guarantees substantial, growing funding for disadvantaged students, rural schools, Impact Aid, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Title II mandates a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000, raises pay floors for support staff, and requires states to address pay inequities. Finally, Title III establishes mandatory, increasing appropriations for programs that recruit, train, and support new educators, especially through paid residencies and specialized disability services.

The PHDs First Act of 2025 creates a new pathway for individuals who have earned a doctoral degree in the U.S. to obtain permanent residency by exempting them from annual numerical green card limitations. To qualify, recipients must have a job offer in their field that pays above the local median wage. Furthermore, the bill ensures that current doctoral students are not barred from obtaining or extending their student visas based on their intent to seek permanent residency later.

The Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act revises immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired offenses. This bill makes non-citizens inadmissible to the U.S. if they have been convicted of, or admit to committing, DUI/DWI offenses, regardless of whether the offense was a misdemeanor or felony. Furthermore, the Act establishes that a conviction for driving while intoxicated or impaired makes an alien deportable from the United States.

The Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act places a moratorium on all involuntary workforce reductions across the Department of the Interior until Congress passes the full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This freeze prevents widespread layoffs or separations during this period. The only exception allowing an employee to be let go is for documented cause, such as misconduct or poor performance.

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 officially renames the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to better reflect a focus on recovery efforts. This legislation ensures that all federal laws, regulations, and documents now use the updated title. The core protections of the original act remain in place under the new name.

The Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act mandates a comprehensive review by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assess the current state of stomach cancer incidence, risk factors, and screening effectiveness in the U.S. It also requires the Department of Defense to study stomach cancer rates and potential service-related risk factors among military personnel and veterans. The ultimate goal is to develop better public health strategies, improve provider education, and establish clearer guidelines for prevention and early detection.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The No Tax Treaties for Foreign Aggressors Act of 2025 mandates the termination of the U.S. income tax treaty with the People's Republic of China under specific conditions. If the President notifies the Treasury Secretary that China has initiated an armed attack against the Republic of China, the Secretary must formally begin the treaty termination process within 30 days. This action requires simultaneous notification to key Congressional committees by the President.

The Stop Ineffective Paper Straws (SIPS) Act prohibits covered federal agencies from procuring or using flimsy paper straws on government property. This legislation mandates that any straw provided by these agencies or their contractors must meet the strength and durability standards of traditional plastic straws. Furthermore, contractors must certify they will not provide paper straws under the contract and have no internal policies favoring them.