Legislation

The Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) Formalization Act mandates that the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) must establish and maintain a joint reserve detachment. This change converts the current discretionary authority for the DIU into a firm requirement for this reserve component.

The Patriots Over Politics Act creates a special, limited window for certain service members separated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine between August 2021 and January 2023 to transfer their unused VA education benefits to an eligible dependent. This transfer option is available for 90 days following the bill's enactment. If transferred to a child, the benefit use is contingent upon the service member having completed at least six years of service.

The MARSHALS Act fundamentally restructures the United States Marshals Service (USMS), moving its organization entirely into the judicial branch. This bill establishes that the Director and all U.S. Marshals will be appointed by the Chief Justice, subject to oversight from a new Board. The legislation also clarifies the USMS's authority to protect federal judicial personnel and outlines specific conditions under which the Service can assist the Department of Justice.

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.

The Carla Walker Act establishes federal grants to improve forensic activities, specifically by funding the adoption of advanced whole genome sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy technology in public crime labs. These grants aim to help law enforcement generate investigative leads in unsolved cases or identify unknown human remains when standard DNA databases yield no results. The legislation also mandates that the Attorney General report back to Congress on the current use and future implementation needs of this technology.

The Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act mandates that colleges and universities must prominently display essential mental health and suicide prevention contact information on student ID cards or official websites. This includes the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and the campus mental health center. These requirements take effect one year after the Act is signed into law.

The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the financial industry's role in combating human trafficking. It mandates a review and enhancement of anti-money laundering procedures used by banks to better detect trafficking-related transactions. Furthermore, the bill requires an interagency task force to report specific legislative and administrative recommendations for improving detection and information sharing. Finally, it adds a requirement that the U.S. evaluate foreign countries' systems for stopping financial transactions linked to human trafficking.

The GRAIN DRY Act updates federal loan programs to specifically allow agricultural producers to access funds for building or improving storage facilities for propane. These loans must be used for propane primarily intended for agricultural production purposes. This ensures infrastructure funding directly supports farming operations.

The Streamlining Foreign Military Sales Act of 2025 amends the Arms Export Control Act by significantly raising the dollar thresholds for various financial reporting and approval requirements related to U.S. foreign military sales. This legislation aims to streamline the process by adjusting these key spending limits. The changes affect numerous sections governing the sale of defense articles and services to foreign nations.

The Vaccines in Trial and Liability Act of 2025 (VITAL Act) establishes a new federal crime for companies that commit fraud or conceal material data during clinical vaccine trials. This Act ties the discovery of such fraud to the revocation of Emergency Use Authorizations and removes liability protections previously granted under "Right to Try" and pandemic response laws. Furthermore, it allows individuals to pursue civil lawsuits against manufacturers who commit fraud related to vaccine trials while still accessing compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

The Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to strengthen local business districts, particularly in underserved communities. This program will award grants to larger intermediary organizations, which will then provide technical assistance, training, and capacity building support to smaller, local groups managing neighborhood commercial areas. The goal is to enhance the ability of these local organizations to drive economic growth, job creation, and revitalization in distressed and rural areas.

The Taiwan PLUS Act officially designates Taiwan as a key defense partner for the United States for an initial five-year period. This designation streamlines defense cooperation and the transfer of defense articles by treating Taiwan similarly to NATO Plus allies. The bill emphasizes Congress's view that this enhanced support is vital for U.S. national security interests. The Secretary of State may extend this special treatment in subsequent five-year increments, subject to national security review and notification to Congress.

This bill establishes new limitations and specific conditions for transit agencies making advance payments for bus rolling stock using federal funds. It permits advance payments without a manufacturer's performance bond, provided strict requirements are met. These requirements include having a fully executed contract and limiting the advance payment to no more than 20% of the total purchase order cost.

The Investing in Digital Skills Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to prioritize digital literacy within adult education programs. This legislation explicitly mandates that adult education must focus on equipping individuals with the necessary digital literacy skills for full participation in modern life. The bill updates definitions and program requirements to ensure digital proficiency is a core component of adult learning and workforce readiness.

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nursing workforce by expanding federal grant support for advanced nursing education programs, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. The bill updates funding rules to cover more training costs and allows nursing schools to invest in modern educational tools like simulation and telehealth technology. Furthermore, it authorizes increased appropriations through fiscal year 2030 to support these critical educational and practice expansion efforts.

The Safe Prescribing Through Reporting Act of 2025 amends federal law to allow the disclosure of patient records related to substance use disorder medications to state prescription drug monitoring programs. This sharing is contingent upon the specific requirements and mandates set forth by individual state laws. The goal is to enhance oversight and safety in prescribing these critical medications.

The Guam Temporary Workforce Act establishes a new requirement for Guam employers seeking to hire temporary, non-agricultural foreign workers under the H-2B visa program. Employers must first obtain a temporary labor certification approved by the Governor of Guam before filing a petition with the federal government. Upon receiving this certification, the federal government must approve the H-2B petition if the required labor market and job condition standards are met. This Act streamlines the federal approval process contingent upon local certification.

The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025 establishes a federal loan and loan guarantee program managed by HHS to finance the construction, renovation, and equipment upgrades for mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities. Priority will be given to projects that increase bed capacity in underserved areas, with at least 25% of funds reserved for pediatric facilities. Furthermore, the bill creates a dedicated Trust Fund to hold surplus revenue from the loan program, which Congress can then appropriate as block grants for community mental health services.

The Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025 aims to streamline the process for third-party contractors to remove hazardous fuels from forests to prevent wildfires, emphasizing salvage requirements in those projects. Additionally, the bill updates the minimum dollar threshold for publicly advertising timber sales in national forests to account for inflation, raising it from $10,000 to $55,000. This new threshold will be automatically adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index moving forward. The Act also mandates a report to Congress five years after enactment detailing the outcomes of these new contracting procedures.

This bill amends Medicare rules to require the detection of cognitive impairment during routine patient visits. Specifically, it mandates that cognitive screening using National Institute on Aging-approved tools be incorporated into both the Annual Wellness Visit and the Initial Preventive Physical Examination. These new requirements are set to take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.