Legislation

The Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Social Security system through several key changes. It increases the minimum benefit for long-term, low-earning workers and introduces a new bonus payment for long-term beneficiaries. The bill also extends student benefits until age 26 and modifies the taxation of high earners above the current contribution cap. Finally, it increases the OASDI employment tax rate starting in 2026.

The Preparing for the Future Act establishes a new federal grant program to support students pursuing degrees to become school psychologists. Eligible students can receive up to $8,000 annually, provided they maintain strong academic standing and commit to serving full-time in high-need schools for four years after graduation. Failure to complete this service obligation will convert the grant funding into a repayable federal loan with accrued interest. This initiative aims to increase the number of qualified school psychologists in underserved educational settings.

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2025 significantly lowers the standard of proof required for employment discrimination claims under major federal laws like the ADEA, Title VII, and the ADA. It establishes that an illegal factor only needs to be a "motivating factor" in an employer's decision, rather than the sole cause. While this makes it easier to prove discrimination, remedies like damages are limited if the employer can prove they would have made the same decision regardless. These new standards apply immediately to all pending claims upon enactment.

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 creates a mandatory national organization, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), to standardize health, safety, and medication rules across participating states. This body will establish uniform, science-based regulations for medication control and racetrack safety, enforced through a comprehensive disciplinary framework. The legislation also mandates the creation of expert committees to continuously update these standards for specific horse breeds. Participation requires states to adopt specific anti-deceptive sales laws and adhere to the RHSO's overriding rules.

The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2025 permanently establishes a 7-year recovery period for the depreciation of motorsports entertainment complexes. This legislation allows owners and operators of these facilities to continue writing off building costs significantly faster than standard commercial property. By removing the previous expiration date, the bill ensures long-term tax predictability for the motorsports industry.

The End Price Gouging for Medications Act requires the Secretary of HHS to establish annual reference prices for prescription drugs based on international pricing benchmarks. These reference prices will cap the retail list price for beneficiaries of major federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Furthermore, this pricing structure must be extended to all consumers, including those with private insurance or who are uninsured. Manufacturers who violate these price caps face significant civil penalties, with collected funds directed to the NIH for drug research and development.

The RTCP Revitalization Act aims to strengthen support for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). This bill removes existing payment caps for eligible recipients when funding is sufficient to cover all applications. Furthermore, it establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for this program starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2031 and beyond.

This Joint Resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to formally disapprove and nullify an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule. The rejected rule concerned the reclassification of major sources of pollution as area sources under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. Consequently, the EPA's December 29, 2023, final rule will have no legal effect.

The Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2025 amends existing law to prioritize and fund the creation and support of farmer-to-farmer networks for technical assistance. This initiative aims to connect farmers with peer mentorship and learning sessions focused on adopting science-based conservation methods. The Secretary of Agriculture can award funds to various eligible groups, with a focus on those serving historically underserved farmers.

The Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025 temporarily halts the government's ability to garnish wages for certain student loans until new systems for error correction and tracking are certified by the Secretary of Education. If the required fixes are not implemented, the garnishment program will cease entirely. Furthermore, the bill establishes strict rules for employers and mandates double repayment for any wrongfully garnished funds. Finally, it prohibits garnishment for loans outstanding for more than 10 years.

The Nuclear Ecosystem Drone Defense (NEDD) Act of 2025 grants the Secretary of Energy new authority to procure and operate certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems otherwise restricted by law. This allows the Department of Energy (DOE) to acquire necessary drones from flagged foreign entities under specific exemptions. Additionally, the bill expands the Secretary's authority to protect sensitive nuclear assets from drone threats.

The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act directs the FAA to establish new rules within one year to allow civil supersonic flight over U.S. airspace. This authorization is strictly conditioned on the aircraft being operated in a manner that prevents any sonic boom from reaching the ground. The goal is to safely reintroduce faster-than-sound commercial travel domestically.

The ASSIST Act of 2025 clarifies that medically necessary automobile adaptations for veterans, such as ramps and specialized seating, must be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs' definition of medical services. This ensures veterans receive necessary support for safe transportation related to service-connected disabilities. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veteran pension payments from late 2031 to September 30, 2032.

The Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements Act prohibits U.S. colleges and universities from accepting gifts or entering into contracts with entities from designated "foreign countries of concern." This legislation establishes a clear ban on such funding, while also modifying existing disclosure requirements for other foreign government gifts. The definition of a "foreign country of concern" includes nations already flagged for national security risks and those later identified by the Secretary of Education in consultation with other key officials.

The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for healthcare entities and individuals who object to participating in specific medical procedures, such as abortion, based on moral or religious beliefs. It prohibits discrimination against providers who refuse such services and significantly bolsters enforcement mechanisms within the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly grants individuals and affected parties the right to file private lawsuits seeking damages when these conscience protections are violated.

This Act prohibits U.S. entities receiving federal funding from collaborating on sensitive technology research with specific Chinese organizations tied to the People's Liberation Army's military-civil fusion strategy. The law mandates the creation of a public list detailing restricted research areas and identified Chinese entities of concern. Covered entities must annually report all current and past collaborations with these prohibited entities or face immediate termination of all future federal funding.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act aims to ensure that individuals held in custody awaiting the disposition of their charges maintain access to Medicaid coverage. This legislation removes the current automatic ban on Medicaid payments for pre-trial detainees. Furthermore, the bill establishes federal planning grants to help states prepare their systems for this change, focusing on assessing needs and building provider networks.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for training programs for local school food service personnel. This bill mandates that required training must occur during paid work hours and be provided at no cost to the employee. It also ensures that staff are fairly compensated, including overtime, for any training conducted outside of regular hours, and prohibits retaliation against employees who cannot attend.

The National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025 grants the National Taxpayer Advocate the explicit authority to hire and appoint legal counsel who will report directly to their office. This change strengthens the independence and capabilities of the Taxpayer Advocate Service. The provisions are effective retroactively to 1998.

The Employee Ownership Fairness Act of 2025 seeks to modernize rules governing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) by addressing current contribution limits that hinder employee ownership growth. This bill separates ESOP contribution calculations from other defined contribution plans, ensuring that successful ESOPs do not inadvertently penalize employees or restrict employer matching contributions. Ultimately, the Act aims to remove unnecessary tax roadblocks so that more workers can benefit from owning a stake in their companies.