Legislation

The United States Automobile Consumer Assistance and Relief Act (USA CAR Act) allows taxpayers to deduct interest paid on loans taken out after January 1, 2025, for vehicles assembled in the United States. This new "qualified automobile interest" deduction can be taken "above-the-line," meaning it reduces gross income even if the taxpayer claims the standard deduction. This provision aims to provide direct financial relief to consumers purchasing domestically assembled vehicles.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

The OATH Act of 2025 establishes new requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs to proactively notify veterans released from secrecy oath programs about their full range of benefits. This legislation specifically mandates outreach to veterans who participated in programs like those at Edgewood Arsenal. Furthermore, it adjusts the effective date for disability compensation awards for these veterans to begin the day following their discharge.

The Appraisal Industry Improvement Act updates federal standards for real estate appraisers, particularly those working on FHA-insured mortgages, by establishing new certification and competency requirements. It also modifies fees for Appraisal Management Companies and formally recognizes state-credentialed trainee appraisers on the national registry. Furthermore, the bill authorizes new grants for appraiser workforce training and expands the membership of the Appraisal Subcommittee to include key federal housing agencies.

The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act modifies the maximum funding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide for necessary home improvements and structural alterations for disabled veterans receiving home health services. This bill increases the maximum benefit amount to $\$10,000$ for new applicants and establishes an automatic annual adjustment based on construction cost inflation. The law also limits any single veteran to a total of three such structural alterations under this specific benefit.

The Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2025 aims to enhance border security by mandating the annual hiring of new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, contingent upon funding, until staffing needs are met. The bill also requires a comprehensive report detailing necessary infrastructure and technology upgrades at ports of entry to combat drug smuggling. Furthermore, it establishes stricter quarterly reporting requirements for CBP regarding temporary staff assignments and service agreements to ensure operational transparency.

The Regular Order for Investments of the Federal Reserve Act mandates new annual reports from the Federal Reserve detailing the impact of its policies on the middle class and small business lending. This bill also imposes new restrictions on what Federal Reserve banks can purchase, specifically limiting the maturity of Treasury bills and prohibiting the purchase of mortgage-backed securities or common stock. Furthermore, it requires the Federal Reserve to adopt consistent GAAP accounting standards and use mark-to-market valuations for financial reporting.

The Rein in the Federal Reserve Act mandates increased transparency and accountability for the Federal Reserve's major monetary policy operations, such as quantitative easing and emergency lending. This bill requires the Fed to submit detailed, public reports to Congress explaining the necessity, financial impact, and exit strategy for any new large-scale program. Furthermore, these major programs are automatically subject to Congressional review and are limited to one year unless explicitly extended by Congress.

The Safe and Private Rides Act establishes clear rules for ride-sharing companies regarding cameras in drivers' vehicles. This legislation mandates that drivers must register cameras, and companies must notify passengers and provide an easy in-app option to opt out of riding in vehicles equipped with recording devices. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits how long ride-sharing companies can retain passenger video recordings. Violations of these new requirements will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 aims to combat rising food insecurity by eliminating the work requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This legislation recognizes the critical role SNAP plays in supporting vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. By removing bureaucratic barriers, the Act intends to ensure consistent access to vital food assistance. All provisions of the Act will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

The Countering Corrupt Political (CCP) Influence Act requires foreign missions from designated adversarial nations to report advance notice of meetings with U.S. state and local officials, as well as visits to educational or research institutions. This measure aims to increase transparency regarding diplomatic activities within the United States. The Secretary of State must compile and report this information monthly to Congress. The requirements are set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 significantly updates the McKinney-Vento Act to broaden the definition of homelessness, ensuring individuals identified as homeless under any federal program are eligible for services. It mandates that funding decisions prioritize local needs and cost-effectiveness while prohibiting national preference for specific subpopulations or housing models. Furthermore, the bill requires communities to collect and publicly report comprehensive, unified data on all homeless individuals identified across various federal programs.

The RETAIN Act establishes a new, refundable tax credit to reward and retain educators and essential school staff in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. The credit amount increases based on an educator's years of continuous service, peaking at ten years, to combat critical national shortages. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of detailed, annual federal data series tracking the base salaries of teachers and early childhood educators.

The Fair Accounting for Condominium Construction Act updates tax code definitions related to construction accounting methods. Specifically, it replaces the term "home construction contract" with "residential construction contract" for certain exceptions to the percentage-of-completion method. These changes only apply to construction contracts signed after the date the Act is enacted.

This Act establishes a "single point of contact" within the Social Security Administration (SSA) to assist victims of Social Security number misuse or lost cards. This dedicated contact will manage the entire resolution process, ensuring continuity and coordination across SSA departments. The goal is to streamline service and reduce the burden on individuals affected by identity theft involving their SSN.

The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025 aims to address the severe mental health disparities facing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This bill establishes a national outreach and education strategy to reduce stigma and improve culturally appropriate care. Furthermore, it mandates comprehensive reviews of the AANHPI youth mental health crisis and the shortage of AANHPI behavioral health professionals. The goal is to increase access to services through better data collection, targeted education, and workforce development.

The Growing America’s Small Businesses and Manufacturing Act aims to support businesses through significant tax code changes. This bill permanently extends a specific method for calculating business interest expense limitations. Additionally, it substantially increases the immediate expensing limits (Section 179) for purchasing new depreciable business assets. These provisions are designed to encourage investment and growth for small businesses and manufacturers starting in tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap for building and rehabilitating homes in distressed, low-income communities. This credit incentivizes developers to construct or substantially rehabilitate qualified residences in "qualified census tracts" and sell them affordably to low-to-moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will oversee allocations, ensure affordability standards are met, and enforce repayment rules if the home is sold too quickly.

The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025 extends critical Medicare payment provisions for ambulance services. This bill delays the expiration of special payment rules for "super rural" areas until January 1, 2028, while also implementing temporary payment increases for both super rural and standard ground ambulance services during that transition period. The goal is to ensure continued financial stability and access to essential ground ambulance care.

The Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 551.14 acres of land to expand the boundaries of Mammoth Cave National Park. This land acquisition will be made in Edmonson and Barren Counties, Kentucky, as detailed on a specific map dated May 2025. The Act amends the existing law governing the park's boundaries.