Legislation

The Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide direct financial assistance to producers who suffer qualified losses due to natural disasters like drought, fire, or floods. To receive payments, producers must agree to purchase Federal Crop Insurance or enroll in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the next two succeeding crop years. Payment calculations vary based on whether the producer already has existing crop insurance coverage, and strict payment limits are set based on the producer's average adjusted gross farm income.

The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act comprehensively reforms unemployment benefits by increasing federal funding for extended aid and establishing national minimum standards for regular state programs. Title I modernizes extended benefits by lowering triggers and increasing duration during recessions, while Title II mandates stronger state-level protections, including a 26-week minimum benefit and eliminating the initial waiting week. Finally, Title III establishes a new, federally funded Jobseeker Allowance to support active job searchers, creating a more robust and accessible safety net overall.

The HOMES Act targets large-scale single-family rental property owners who own 50 or more such homes. This legislation disallows these "disqualified owners" from deducting interest expenses paid on loans related to these rental properties. Furthermore, the Act prohibits these large landlords from claiming depreciation deductions on their single-family rental properties. Exceptions to these penalties exist primarily if the property is sold to an individual owner-occupant or a qualified affordable housing nonprofit.

The Securing Help for Involuntary Employment Loss and Displacement Act (SHIELD Act) revises federal requirements for state unemployment programs regarding labor disputes. This bill mandates that states deny regular unemployment benefits to individuals unemployed due to a strike or labor dispute in which they actively participated or had a direct stake. The new federal conditions take effect in two years, though states may adopt them sooner.

The Stop GAPS Act of 2025 aims to reform the process for caring for unaccompanied immigrant children. This bill removes a specific regulatory requirement for sponsors of these minors. Furthermore, it mandates that the Office of Refugee Resettlement actively track all released children until their immigration cases conclude and coordinate suitable placements with state agencies.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to lower the eligibility requirements for spouses of active duty service members. It reduces the required length of employment from 12 months to just 90 days for these military spouses to qualify for job-protected leave. This change ensures military families can access necessary leave more quickly during active duty periods.

The Power of the Mint Act asserts Congress's constitutional authority over the nation's money supply. This bill strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) unless explicitly authorized by Congress. It ensures that any digital dollar remains a direct liability of the Federal Reserve, subject to legislative approval.

The Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025 ensures current and former federal employees have a right to easily access their official personnel records. The bill mandates that agencies must provide electronic and physical copies of these files within seven days upon request for current employees. Furthermore, separating employees will automatically receive their file within seven days of their departure.

The Patient Access to Innovative New Technologies Act of 2025 aims to accelerate patient access to cutting-edge medical tools by streamlining payment for hospitals using FDA-designated breakthrough devices. This bill allows hospitals to receive conditional New Technology Add-On Payments (NTAP) sooner, provided the device receives final FDA approval before July 1st of the relevant fiscal year. This change applies to breakthrough devices designated for priority review that receive final clearance or approval on or after July 1, 2023.

This bill, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, mandates the Secretary of Commerce to submit an annual, detailed report to Congress regarding specific export license applications and end-use checks involving high-risk foreign entities. The report must detail company names, item descriptions, final destinations, and the outcomes of compliance checks. While most of this information will remain confidential to protect ongoing investigations, the legislation aims to increase congressional oversight of sensitive technology transfers.

The SMART for TBI Act directs the Department of Defense to establish a Digital Health Technologies Working Group to develop a comprehensive strategy for integrating digital health technologies, including AI, into the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). This group will assess current gaps, review existing research, and recommend necessary advancements and investments. The final strategy must be reported to Congress by September 30, 2026.

The Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act of 2025 mandates changes to how the Secretary of Agriculture calculates the market value for livestock when issuing indemnity payments. This update requires closer collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Service and establishes a new requirement for quarterly market value determinations. The goal is to ensure a more accurate and current valuation for livestock loss claims.

This measure formally confirms the recent committee assignments for members of the House of Representatives. Specifically, it announces that Mr. Fine will serve on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Mr. Garbarino has been elected as the Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security.

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Public Safety Improvement Act of 2025 mandates the inclusion of positive hair drug test results for certain commercial drivers into the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. This requires motor carriers to report these results from FDA-cleared testing devices, provided the testing laboratory meets specific accreditation and guideline standards. The Secretary of Transportation has one year to implement the necessary regulations to enforce this update.

The One Subject at a Time Act mandates that all introduced legislation must focus on a single, clearly described subject. This law ensures bills have accurate titles and prevents unrelated provisions from being attached to spending measures. Violations of these focus and title requirements can lead to parts, or even the entirety, of a law being voided upon legal challenge.

The Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color and Professional Salon Workers Act of 2025 aims to enhance cosmetic safety through targeted research into health disparities affecting communities of color and salon workers. The bill mandates improved access to safety data sheets in multiple languages for professional products and establishes two new National Resource Centers to empower these communities and workers. Finally, it brings synthetic hair braids under FDA cosmetic regulation, requiring new safety standards and labeling.

This resolution calls upon the Senate to provide its advice and consent for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It argues that joining this widely accepted international treaty is crucial for securing U.S. economic and security interests globally. Ratification would grant the U.S. a stronger voice in resolving maritime disputes and governing critical seabed resources. Ultimately, the resolution urges the Senate to make ratifying UNCLOS a top priority.

This resolution officially designates June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Appreciation Day." It serves to recognize the vital and growing contributions of women who have served in the U.S. military throughout history. The day encourages the nation to honor the sacrifices and service of the approximately 2.1 million women veterans.

The United States Research Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen national security by clarifying restrictions on malign foreign talent recruitment. This bill updates the definition of a "foreign country of concern" within existing research and innovation laws. It also broadens the scope of prohibited involvement in restricted programs to include both direct and indirect participation.

The Rural Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the Department of Agriculture to provide essential technical assistance for disaster recovery in eligible rural communities. This assistance will help affected areas navigate federal and state aid applications, appeal denials, and manage recovery funds for critical infrastructure. The program is authorized to spend up to $50 million annually and offers support to communities for up to three years following a Presidential disaster declaration.