Legislation

The UNLOCK Housing Act officially designates the development of affordable housing for low-income families as a recognized public purpose under existing federal land laws. It establishes a Joint Task Force, led by HUD and the Interior, to identify underutilized federal lands suitable for housing development. This Task Force is charged with streamlining the process for transferring this land and reporting annually to Congress on its progress.

The Medicaid Improvement for Insular Areas Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost healthcare funding in U.S. territories. This bill eliminates the existing federal spending caps on Medicaid for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Effective in fiscal year 2025, this change ensures these territories receive full federal Medicaid support without current funding restrictions.

The Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 aims to provide tax relief for healthcare professionals participating in the Nurse Corps program. This bill clarifies that certain loan repayments and scholarship benefits received through the program will be excluded from taxable income. Essentially, it updates the Internal Revenue Code to ensure these specific Nurse Corps payments are treated favorably for tax purposes.

This bill officially establishes "Workers Memorial Day" as a recognized federal holiday. It amends the U.S. Code to formally insert this new observance into the list of federal holidays.

The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act establishes and protects the right of tenants receiving federal rental assistance, including Section 8 voucher holders and those in LIHTC projects, to form and participate in tenant organizations without fear of retaliation. The bill mandates that Public Housing Agencies and property owners must recognize these legitimate groups, consider their concerns, and respond to their feedback. Furthermore, it creates new enforcement mechanisms, allows tenants to sue for violations, and establishes funding for technical assistance and training for tenant groups.

The Veterans Opportunity Act of 2025 establishes the new Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This Administration will centralize and manage key programs related to veteran employment, education, and housing loans. The bill also creates a new Senate-confirmed position, the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, to lead this new entity. All transfers of services must be certified to Congress as not negatively impacting veteran service quality before they can take effect.

The Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act prohibits federal agencies from awarding contracts over \$100,000 to companies that boycott Israel. Companies seeking these contracts must certify they are not currently boycotting Israel and agree not to start one during the contract period. Agencies must terminate contracts if a violation is found, unless the company ceases the boycott.

The Financial Integrity for National Security (FINS) Act aims to close loopholes exploited by international criminal organizations using non-bank money transfer services. This legislation specifically defines and regulates wire transfer service providers, such as Western Union and Ria, under existing anti-money laundering laws. By bringing these services in line with stricter financial oversight, the bill seeks to curb illicit activities like drug trafficking and terrorism financing.

This bill amends the Arms Export Control Act to streamline defense trade cooperation rules specifically for AUKUS partners. It removes automatic denial presumptions for exporting certain sensitive technology to trusted allies, including NATO, Major Non-NATO Allies, and Five Eyes nations. The legislation also clarifies numbering within the Act and explicitly excludes Missile Technology Control Regime matters from certain trade provisions.

The Foreign Military Sales Reform Act of 2025 modifies dollar thresholds under the Arms Export Control Act, raising the value limits that trigger specific reporting and review requirements for U.S. defense transfers overseas. It also mandates that the State Department Inspector General investigate and report on any attempts to structure sales to evade these notification rules. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal employees from intentionally structuring sales to avoid congressional oversight and imposes severe penalties, including termination and a $100,000 fine, on State Department employees who violate this provision.

The Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act significantly strengthens federal enforcement against oil spills. This legislation revises the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish much higher minimum and maximum civil fines for polluters. Furthermore, it substantially increases the criminal penalties, doubling the maximum jail time and fines associated with various levels of oil spill violations.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The PREVAIL Act aims to strengthen the U.S. patent system to better protect American innovation and national security against foreign competition. It introduces significant procedural reforms to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and patent review processes, including stricter conduct rules and limitations on duplicative legal challenges. Furthermore, the bill ensures that all fees collected by the USPTO are dedicated solely to its operations and expands fee reductions for academic and small business innovators.

The BRIDGE Production Act of 2025 mandates an aggressive schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of America and Cook Inlet, requiring at least 26 new sales over the next decade. It streamlines environmental reviews and judicial processes to accelerate lease issuance and speed up production approvals. Furthermore, the bill establishes automatic backup leasing schedules if future five-year plans fail to meet minimum sale requirements.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to provide financial assistance to qualifying rural hospitals. These grants can be used for facility upgrades or to cover essential operational costs, ensuring continued local access to care. Hospitals must demonstrate a plan for long-term sustainability to receive funding, which is capped at $5 million per facility over five years.

The Building Ships in America Act of 2025 introduces significant tax incentives to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, including a new investment tax credit for building qualifying vessels in American shipyards. The bill also establishes a 25% credit for constructing shipyard facilities and provides tax exemptions for certain maritime security payments and student incentive agreements. Furthermore, it treats designated "maritime prosperity zones" as Opportunity Zones to encourage related economic development.

The Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program managed by the National Science Foundation. This program is designed to increase the participation and retention of women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Funds will support activities such as mentoring, internships, and outreach aimed at addressing documented gaps in STEM education and the workforce. Congress has authorized $15 million annually for this initiative from 2026 through 2030.

The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated Office of Falls Prevention within the VA to centralize and standardize all efforts to reduce falls among veterans. This office will set care standards, oversee national education campaigns, and promote research into evidence-based prevention programs. The Act also mandates specific falls risk assessments and prevention services for veterans in VA nursing homes and updates requirements for extended care services.

The Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 mandates a complete overhaul of how colleges present financial aid offers through a new, standardized "Financial Aid Offer" form. This form will require clear separation of total costs, grants/scholarships, and loans to help families easily compare offers and understand their net price. All institutions accepting federal aid must use this standardized format and official terminology developed by the Secretary of Education. The goal is to increase transparency and simplify the financial decision-making process for students.

The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal efforts to combat poverty by updating the core goals and operational rules of the Community Services Block Grant program. The bill revises definitions, sets a specific annual funding authorization through Fiscal Year 2032, and tightens requirements for state plans and local agency governance, including mandating tripartite boards. Ultimately, these changes seek to ensure grant funds are effectively used by local entities to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals and families.