Legislation

The Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act mandates a review of the federal government's "lowest price technically acceptable" sourcing method. This review will determine if this common purchasing practice creates any risks to national security. The findings of this assessment must be reported to key Congressional committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The Chip Security Act mandates the implementation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported to protect U.S. national security interests. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure chips include features verifying location and reporting unauthorized use or tampering. Furthermore, the Act calls for an assessment and potential rollout of secondary security features to enhance export control compliance and prevent misuse by adversaries. The goal is to maintain the U.S. competitive edge by securing sensitive hardware sent to allies and partners.

The Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2025 aims to establish coverage and payment mechanisms for FDA-approved Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs) under Medicare Part B, beginning in 2026. This legislation mandates the Secretary to develop payment methodologies based on manufacturer pricing and private insurer rates, while also requiring manufacturers to report detailed payment data. Furthermore, the bill extends coverage for these software-based treatments to beneficiaries under the Medicaid program.

The Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program designed to increase the number of mental health professionals working in schools. This program creates matching grants where the government helps cover graduate students' educational costs if their institutions agree to match the funding dollar-for-dollar. The goal is to incentivize graduate schools to support students who commit to careers in school-based mental health services, with specific outreach targeting low-income students.

The PELL Act of 2025 establishes the new Workforce Pell Grant to provide federal aid for short-term, high-demand workforce training programs. To qualify, these programs must be approved by the Governor and meet strict criteria regarding length, employer alignment, credentialing, and performance metrics. This new grant aims to support students pursuing credentials that lead directly to employment while ensuring credits are transferable to further education.

This Act restricts federal funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or designated "Chinese entities of concern." Specifically, institutions with such ties become ineligible for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. Eligibility can be restored only if the institution terminates its relationship with the restricted entity.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the successful restoration program through 2034 and significantly expands its scope and capacity. This bill increases the number of projects funded annually, allows projects to address forest pathogens, and encourages innovative funding and implementation methods. Furthermore, it strengthens support for local collaboratives and prioritizes projects focused on wildfire risk reduction and watershed health across all land types.

The Countering Russian Innovation and Safeguarding Individual Scientists Act of 2025 (CRISIS Act) establishes a new special immigrant pathway for highly educated Russian nationals holding doctoral degrees in critical STEM fields. This program allows up to 3,000 eligible scientists and their families annually to immigrate to the U.S. to work in their expertise, bypassing standard visa caps. The Act mandates expedited processing and rigorous security vetting for all applicants.

The Paycheck Protection Act prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from automatically deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from employee paychecks. This legislation effectively ends the practice of direct payroll deductions for union-related payments for federal and postal workers.

The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act establishes a "safe harbor" to protect non-controlling blockchain developers and service providers from being regulated as financial institutions. This protection applies as long as they do not regularly control users' digital assets on the network. Essentially, the bill shields those who build or provide access to blockchain software unless they have the unilateral power to move user funds.

This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Sergeant Alfredo 'Freddy' Gonzalez for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. The medal will be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and ultimately presented to the Museum of South Texas History for permanent display. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with all proceeds returning to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The Protect Patriot Spouses Act simplifies the immigration process for spouses of current or honorably discharged U.S. service members. This bill allows eligible military spouses to adjust their status to permanent resident within the U.S. by waiving certain inadmissibility grounds. Furthermore, it grants the Secretary of Homeland Security discretionary power to waive other immigration violations for these spouses. The Act also ensures that previously removed spouses can apply for benefits under these new provisions from overseas.

The Protect Patriot Parents Act creates a special immigration pathway for parents of U.S. citizens who have served in the Armed Forces. This bill adjusts status requirements and waives certain inadmissibility grounds for these military parents seeking to adjust their status or immigrate. It also establishes procedures for previously removed parents to apply for visas and potentially enter the U.S. temporarily to reunite with their citizen children.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude certain military bonuses from gross income for federal tax purposes. Specifically, it adds bonuses paid to uniformed service members under Chapter 5 of Title 37, U.S. Code, to the list of qualified military benefits that are tax-exempt. This exclusion applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and prevent conflicts of interest within agricultural commodity checkoff programs. It strictly prohibits Boards from using assessment funds for lobbying activities and mandates detailed public disclosure of all spending. Furthermore, the bill requires regular audits by the Inspector General and the GAO to ensure compliance and integrity in how these producer funds are managed.

The Legislative Accountability Act mandates that Congress clearly document which members are responsible for specific adopted amendments and provisions within bills and joint resolutions. This information must be reported by committee chairs within three legislative days of adoption or reporting. Finally, the names of the responsible members and their contributions must be included as footnotes in all official versions of the legislation.

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025 establishes a mandatory, public code of conduct and a formal complaint process for Supreme Court Justices, modeled after procedures for lower federal judges. The bill also institutes stricter disclosure requirements for gifts and financial ties, and mandates judicial disqualification in cases involving recent lobbying contact or significant financial relationships with involved parties. Furthermore, it creates new review panels for disqualification motions and requires parties and *amici* to disclose financial supporters connected to the case.

The Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act mandates that government agencies provide a public, online status tracker for all permit applications. This tracker must detail every step of the review process, the time taken for each stage, current status, and contact information for all involved personnel. The goal is to increase accountability and provide applicants with clear timelines for final decisions.

The Protect Our Heroes Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes for the killing or assault of public safety officers and judges. This legislation provides enhanced federal jurisdiction and severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment or the death penalty for murder, when such acts involve interstate commerce or federal connections. The bill recognizes the increasing danger faced by law enforcement and first responders across the nation.

The Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits life insurance companies from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or canceling policies solely because an individual is a living kidney donor. This federal law ensures that living donors are not penalized financially for their altruistic act, unless unrelated health risks are present. Individuals harmed by discrimination under this Act have the right to sue in federal court.