Legislation

The ROUTERS Act mandates a study by the Secretary of Commerce to assess the national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities associated with consumer routers and modems supplied by companies linked to "covered countries." This report must detail the findings regarding equipment from these flagged nations and be submitted to relevant Congressional committees within one year of enactment.

The Ready Reserve Act of 2025 modifies early retirement eligibility for certain members of the Ready Reserve. This legislation updates the qualifying service date used to determine these benefits, replacing January 28, 2008, with September 11, 2001. This change aligns eligibility calculations with service periods related to the September 11th timeframe.

The TORNADO Act aims to significantly improve the nation's ability to forecast, communicate, and respond to hazardous weather events. It establishes new offices and strategic plans to enhance the clarity and speed of public warnings, mandates a review of the tornado rating system, and refocuses key tornado research programs. Ultimately, the bill seeks to leverage better science and communication strategies to save lives and protect property from severe storms and other natural hazards.

The STAR Plus Scholarship Act establishes a new federal program to award scholarships to students entering the substance use disorder and mental health treatment workforce. Recipients must agree to serve in designated mental health professional shortage areas for a period equal to the time they received funding. This initiative aims to increase the number of qualified professionals serving in critical shortage areas, with priority given to those likely to remain long-term and those from underrepresented backgrounds. The bill also creates a replacement fund to help facilities cover costs when service obligations are breached.

The 911 Community Crisis Responders Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund unarmed mobile crisis response teams across the nation. These teams will respond to nonviolent emergencies involving mental health, homelessness, or substance use, diverting calls away from law enforcement. Grantees must use funds for training, system upgrades, and reporting on program impact, including demographic data on those served. The goal is to ensure trained professionals provide appropriate, de-escalated care for individuals in crisis.

The Valid Benefits Act mandates that federal agencies must verify the eligibility of benefit recipients aged 105 and older twice annually. This new requirement aims to ensure continued qualification for federal benefits among supercentenarians. The verification process will begin with benefit payments made on or after December 31, 2025.

The Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act aims to update FEMA's approach to handling disasters, particularly those involving extreme heat and cold. It establishes a panel to review and modernize the definition of disaster "incident periods" to better account for slow-onset and complex weather events. Furthermore, the bill expands funding eligibility for mitigation projects focused on extreme heat and mandates comprehensive studies and new guidance to integrate extreme temperature preparedness across all FEMA operations.

The Make Autorail Great Again Act mandates that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) must change its name to "WMAGA" and rename the Metrorail system to the "Trump Train." These name changes are a strict prerequisite for WMATA to receive any future federal funding. This action requires an official amendment to the founding Compact agreement.

The Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 aims to eliminate period poverty by ensuring access to free menstrual products across various sectors of society. This comprehensive bill mandates the availability of these essential supplies in K-12 schools, colleges, correctional facilities, federal buildings, and workplaces with over 100 employees. Furthermore, it expands coverage under Medicaid, allocates specific funding through social service block grants and TANF programs, and prohibits states from taxing menstrual products.

This bill grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to waive the required matching funds for recipients of grants under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. This change allows the Secretary discretion in awarding funds without requiring the recipient to contribute their own matching capital. The waiver applies to grants awarded on or after the date the law is enacted.

The Oath of Exit Act establishes a new, voluntary "separation oath" for members of the Armed Forces upon leaving service. This oath encourages departing service members to commit to supporting fellow veterans, seeking and offering help, and maintaining their well-being. By taking this oath, veterans reaffirm their commitment to the values learned in service as they transition to civilian life.

The Improving Veterans’ Experience Act of 2025 establishes a new Veterans Experience Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by a Chief Officer reporting directly to the Secretary. This office is tasked with creating a unified strategy to improve veteran satisfaction by collecting feedback, assessing service quality, and advising other VA departments. The Secretary must submit an annual report to Congress detailing customer feedback and proposed solutions for barriers preventing veterans from accessing benefits.

The Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2025 clarifies that the service member's military department, not the Defense Health Agency (DHA), retains ultimate authority over fitness-for-duty decisions during the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). This ensures service members maintain full due process rights throughout the medical separation process. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new, mandatory appeal right within the military chain of command for those disagreeing with a fitness determination.

The VA Data Transparency and Trust Act mandates significant, detailed annual reporting from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for five years. This new law requires comprehensive data on veteran care, demographics, benefit recipients, and claims processing times to be made public. Furthermore, it establishes secure, anonymized data-sharing systems to allow approved researchers access to detailed VHA and VBA information.

The International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost the global competitiveness and export of U.S. civil nuclear technology, particularly advanced reactors. It establishes new White House coordination roles and working groups to develop a comprehensive 10-year trade strategy for nuclear exports. The bill also authorizes initiatives to provide financial and technical assistance to developing nations starting nuclear programs, while promoting cooperation with allied nations on next-generation reactor development. Finally, it mandates regular high-level conferences to advance international standards for nuclear safety, security, and sustainability.

The TERRA Act establishes a framework allowing federally recognized Indian Tribes to consolidate funding from multiple eligible federal programs into a single, flexible plan for environmental resiliency and community needs. This grants Tribes significant self-determination by streamlining bureaucratic requirements, simplifying reporting, and providing strong authority to waive federal regulations that impede their plans. The legislation mandates federal agencies to coordinate their reviews and accelerate the transfer of funds to participating Tribes. Ultimately, the Act aims to increase efficiency and local control over federal resources while protecting sensitive Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

This bill, the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Joan Trumpauer Mulholland in recognition of her lifelong, courageous commitment to nonviolent civil rights activism. The legislation details her significant contributions, including participation in the Freedom Rides and sit-ins, which led to numerous arrests and personal danger. The Act also permits the creation and sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board Act of 2025 establishes an independent federal board tasked with investigating deaths, shootings, and severe injuries resulting from police use of force. This Board will conduct thorough inquiries, issue public reports with findings and recommendations, and establish special boards of inquiry for high-profile cases. Furthermore, the Act imposes requirements on state and local governments receiving federal funds to ensure the Board's findings can be used in subsequent legal proceedings.

The Real Estate Reciprocity Act tightens reporting requirements for foreign owners of U.S. real estate by eliminating previous dollar thresholds for filing. It also mandates the State Department to report on countries restricting American property ownership. Crucially, the Act imposes a new 50% federal tax on U.S. real estate acquisitions by "disqualified persons" from targeted foreign nations.

The Transit Captions Innovations Act authorizes the Department of Transportation to support the use of real-time transcription and translation technology in public transit systems. This initiative aims to improve accessibility for riders who are deaf, hard of hearing, or limited English proficient. The bill also sets specific funding authorizations through fiscal year 2031 to support these innovative language access projects.