Legislation

The Transit Bus Affordability Act directs the Comptroller General to investigate the high costs associated with procuring new public transit buses in the United States. This review will compare U.S. costs against international benchmarks, analyze supply chain impacts, and examine current cost-reduction efforts. The goal is to provide recommendations to ensure federal, state, and local funds are used more efficiently for transit agency bus purchases.

This bill amends federal law to officially include Parkinson's disease in the list of illnesses presumed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities. This addition aims to simplify the process for federal firefighters and emergency responders to qualify for related benefits when diagnosed with Parkinson's.

This Act, the Commission of Fine Arts District of Columbia Home Rule Act, significantly limits the authority of the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). Specifically, it restricts the CFA's oversight regarding the location of statues, fountains, and monuments to only those properties owned by the Federal Government within the District of Columbia. Consequently, the CFA loses its approval power over art and structures on D.C. government or privately owned property.

The Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act updates existing state law regarding revenue generated from public lands set aside for education. This legislation revises statutory language to consistently refer to the income from these lands as "earnings" instead of "interest" or "income thereof." The goal is to modernize terminology within the original 1890 Act governing these educational trust funds.

The STEM RESTART Act establishes a new federal grant program to help unemployed or underemployed skilled workers re-enter or transition into high-demand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. These competitive grants fund small and medium-sized businesses to create structured, above-entry-level "returnships" that include on-the-job training and clear paths to full-time employment. The goal is to bridge the gap for experienced workers, particularly those in rural areas, by incentivizing companies to provide meaningful career opportunities.

The Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act strictly prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using any federal funds for civil immigration enforcement activities involving U.S. citizens. Specifically, this bill bans ICE from spending money to detain or transport any citizen of the United States. This measure ensures federal funds are not used to wrongfully target or remove American citizens.

The COUNTER Act of 2025 addresses concerns over the People's Republic of China's (PRC) efforts to establish overseas military and strategic bases globally. This legislation mandates the Executive Branch to urgently develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to counter these PRC basing ambitions. Key requirements include an intelligence assessment of risks and the creation of an interagency task force to coordinate mitigation efforts against China's expansion. The law emphasizes proactive engagement with partner nations and regular reviews of the U.S. counter-strategy.

This bill reauthorizes key programs under the Kay Hagan Tick Act to combat vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease through 2030. It extends funding for the national strategy and regional centers focused on these illnesses. Additionally, the legislation continues enhanced support for local health departments to improve disease surveillance and response capabilities.

This bill reauthorizes the Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Program through fiscal year 2030. It ensures continued support for professionals working in public health and bio-preparedness by extending their eligibility for loan repayment. This action secures the program for five additional years.

The Equality in Laws Act mandates that the U.S. Code be revised to use gender-neutral language throughout. This process, overseen by the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives, involves replacing gendered pronouns and terms with neutral alternatives. The goal is to update the language without altering the original legal meaning or intent of existing statutes.

The National Education Association Charter Repeal Act aims to revoke the federal charter granted to the National Education Association (NEA). This legislation specifically repeals the section of U.S. Code that provides the NEA with its official federal recognition status. In essence, the bill removes the legal standing previously conferred upon the NEA by Congress.

The Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2025 significantly updates cosmetic regulation by mandating comprehensive ingredient disclosure, especially for fragrances and flavors, on both product labels and brand owner websites. This law requires detailed, machine-readable online ingredient lists and specific hazard warnings on packaging if certain harmful chemicals are present. Importantly, this federal act preserves the authority of states to enact stricter ingredient bans or transparency requirements.

This bill mandates increased transparency and verification for all federal government spending by requiring agencies to report detailed payment information to the Treasury. It enhances program integrity by granting the Treasury access to new hire and tax data to prevent and recover improper payments. Agencies must also verify recipient bank accounts before disbursement, with exceptions allowed only for sensitive national security or law enforcement operations.

The Student Loan Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2025 aims to reform the bankruptcy process for student loan borrowers. This bill seeks to lower the current, overly difficult standard required to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy proceedings. By making these changes, Congress intends to provide struggling borrowers with a genuine opportunity for a financial fresh start.

This bill establishes a new Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers within the State Department to investigate serious incidents involving U.S.-supported aid workers abroad. It mandates the suspension of security assistance to foreign countries that unlawfully kill or injure aid workers and refuse to cooperate with investigations. Furthermore, the bill creates an interagency group, led by the Envoy, to conduct detailed inquiries into every death or detention of an aid worker during an active mission.

This resolution expresses Congressional approval for the 72nd anniversary celebration of the Small Business Administration (SBA). It formally recognizes American entrepreneurs and small business owners for their vital contributions to the U.S. economy, innovation, and job creation. The bill highlights the essential role of small businesses, which comprise nearly all U.S. firms and employ almost half of all American workers.

This resolution affirms the federal government's duty to lead the world in biomedical research, primarily through robust funding of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It argues that this foundational research yields massive economic and health returns, which the previous administration actively undermined. The bill calls for doubling federal investment over the next decade to tackle major health crises and ensure scientific independence guides policy.

The Great Lakes Icebreaker Act of 2025 directs the Coast Guard to develop a strategy for designing and building a new, highly capable Great Lakes icebreaker. It also mandates a five-year pilot program to test the current fleet's ability to keep critical shipping lanes open during winter. Furthermore, the bill updates requirements for public reporting and Congressional briefings on the operational costs of icebreaking missions.

This resolution reaffirms the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It stresses Congress's exclusive authority over federal spending and condemns any efforts by public officials to undermine the rule of law or the independence of the other branches. Ultimately, the bill serves as a strong statement against the consolidation of power and for upholding constitutional checks and balances.

This bill appropriates funding for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2026, covering land management, environmental cleanup, and tribal services. It sets specific spending levels while imposing numerous restrictions that prohibit agencies from implementing or enforcing several key environmental regulations and rules. The legislation also provides substantial emergency funding for wildfire suppression and directs significant resources toward water infrastructure grants and Indian Health Service operations.