Legislation

The Foreign Adversary Investment Prohibition Act bans Members of Congress from engaging in any financial transaction that benefits a designated foreign adversary or their associated entities while in office. This prohibition covers investments, gifts, loans, and other transfers of value to or from these adversaries. The law specifically names countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as foreign adversaries. Violators face escalating civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General.

This bill amends federal law to improve how the Department of Defense verifies the professional licenses of its military healthcare providers. It mandates the creation of a centralized system to allow military facility commanders to quickly confirm a provider's current licensure status. The goal is to ensure that at least 90% of standard license verification requests are completed within seven days.

The ON TIME Act mandates that airlines must immediately notify passengers of flight delays caused by maintenance or crew rest issues when backup resources are unavailable. This notification must include an estimated delay time or an acknowledgment that an estimate is pending. Airlines are required to deliver this crucial information through multiple channels, including gate announcements, display boards, and direct digital alerts.

The VET PFAS Act expands healthcare and disability benefits for veterans and their families exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals, like PFOA, at contaminated military installations. It establishes a presumption of service connection for specific related illnesses, making it easier for veterans to receive disability compensation. Furthermore, the bill grants eligible family members access to VA medical care, contingent upon future appropriations. The VA is also required to report annually on the implementation and utilization of these new provisions for three years.

The Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Transportation to establish performance standards for automatic emergency braking systems in new passenger vehicles. These standards must ensure the systems can detect vulnerable road users, including cyclists, in various lighting conditions. The final rule must be issued within three years, with compliance required within two model years following the rule's issuance.

The Federal Gift Shop Tax Act authorizes states to impose their regular sales tax on purchases made at gift shops located on federal property, including museums like the Smithsonian. This applies to both in-person purchases and online sales directly through the gift shop's website. This legislation modifies existing limitations on state taxation of sales occurring on federal land.

The Protecting Our Protesters Act of 2025 clarifies that the use of force against protesters by government officials constitutes a deprivation of rights under color of law. This update strengthens existing federal law regarding civil rights violations by law enforcement. Additionally, the bill revises sentencing provisions by removing the possibility of the death penalty in these specific cases.

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to help states and districts address racial isolation and concentrated poverty in public schools. Funds will support the creation and implementation of plans designed to increase racial and economic diversity within covered schools. The law emphasizes performance measurement focused on both student outcomes and diversity metrics, while explicitly prohibiting federal control over local educational decisions.

The Veterans’ Life Insurance Expansion and Integrity Act of 2025 significantly broadens eligibility for a key VA life insurance program, removing the service-connected disability requirement so that most veterans under 81 can enroll. This bill also establishes new integrity measures, preventing the VA from easily voiding policies due to administrative errors made more than one year after issuance, provided the veteran is given due process. Furthermore, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a comprehensive report to Congress on the program's enrollment, claims, and financial stability within two years of enactment.

The Public Safety and Mental Health Reporting Act mandates the Attorney General to annually collect detailed, anonymized data on all law enforcement interactions with individuals experiencing mental illness. This data will be used exclusively for research and statistical analysis, with annual summaries reported to Congress and made publicly available. The goal is to better understand these encounters to improve public safety and mental health responses.

The Rape Shield Enhancement Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive review of federal rules governing evidence and discovery in court cases involving sexual assault. This review, conducted by the Judicial Conference, aims to strengthen protections for alleged victims by further limiting the admissibility of their past sexual behavior. The Act specifically calls for amendments to rules to narrow pre-trial information requests and enhance privacy safeguards for any sensitive victim information that is deemed admissible.

The END CELLS Act amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the introduction, possession, or transfer of unauthorized wireless communication devices in jails and prisons. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations involving contraband electronics in detention facilities. The law specifically targets actions that violate existing federal or state rules regarding such devices within correctional settings. These new rules apply to all conduct occurring after the date the Act is officially enacted.

The Protect LNG Act of 2025 aims to streamline and stabilize the permitting process for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. It ensures that existing facility approvals remain valid even if challenged in court over environmental reviews, requiring courts to remand violations to agencies for correction rather than invalidating permits. Furthermore, the Act centralizes legal challenges to these covered applications exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals with geographic jurisdiction over the facility, subject to a strict 90-day filing deadline.

The End For-Profit Prisons Act of 2025 phases out the federal government's use of private companies for operating core federal prisons and community confinement facilities over an eight-year period. The bill mandates increased reporting on the federal prison population and requires research into effective recidivism reduction programs. Additionally, it establishes new duties for the Attorney General and the Bureau of Prisons to ensure comprehensive support and financial transparency for individuals upon their release from federal custody.

The National ACERT Grant Program Authorization Act establishes a new federal grant program to help communities address the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Administered by the Attorney General and HHS, these grants will fund local teams to improve trauma response systems, coordinate services, and train professionals. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually for these efforts from fiscal years 2026 through 2029.

The Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) submit an annual report detailing the causes of death among veterans. This report must specifically identify veterans with totally disabling service-connected disabilities and note any deaths by suicide linked to those conditions. The goal is to provide Congress with comprehensive data on veteran mortality trends.

The Gold Star Spouses Health Care Enhancement Act removes the three-year time limit for certain Gold Star surviving spouses to access TRICARE Prime medical and dental benefits. This change ensures eligible surviving spouses are no longer restricted by this previous eligibility window. These enhancements apply retroactively to qualifying surviving spouses.

The Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act authorizes the relocation of a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members lost in a 1982 training crash. The Secretary of Agriculture can permit the move to the Stratton Ridge rest area, provided private landowner consent and approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are secured. Crucially, this act mandates that all costs associated with the relocation, installation, and maintenance must be covered entirely by non-federal funds.

The Interactive Federal Review Act aims to modernize and accelerate environmental reviews for major federally funded highway projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It mandates the Department of Transportation to encourage the use of interactive digital platforms and 3D models, or "digital twins," in the review and public engagement process. Furthermore, the bill prioritizes funding applications that commit to using these advanced digital tools to improve efficiency and transparency.

The Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act mandates a comprehensive report detailing the success rate of veterans transitioning their military credentials into recognized civilian workforce certifications. This report will analyze existing credentialing programs and identify specific roadblocks veterans face when seeking state-level recognition for their military training. The goal is to improve the process for veterans entering skilled trades.