Legislation

The Securing Migration, Addressing Reform, and Talent Retention (SMART) Act overhauls the U.S. immigration system by eliminating the Diversity Visa Program and establishing a new points-based system for employment-based immigration. The bill also reforms family-sponsored immigration by redefining "immediate relatives" and creating a new non-working visa category for parents of adult citizens. Furthermore, it sets new annual caps for refugee admissions and reforms the allocation and release of H-1B specialty visas.

The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act amends Social Security rules to support survivors of domestic violence. This bill lowers the required marriage duration from 10 years to 5 years for divorced spouses seeking benefits based on an abuser's record. To qualify for this reduced requirement, applicants must provide a court finding confirming they were a victim of domestic violence during the marriage. These changes will take effect 18 months after the Act is enacted.

The Rural Homeownership Continuity Act of 2025 allows current homeowners with Section 502 guaranteed loans to transfer their existing mortgage to a qualified new buyer upon selling their property. This provision releases the original borrower from all future liability for the loan upon successful assumption by the new owner. The Secretary is authorized to establish rules for these transfers, including potential fees for loan servicing.

The DOD Entrepreneurial Innovation Act establishes a formal process for designating promising technology projects within the Department of Defense as "Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects." This designation grants selected projects special visibility and integration into the annual defense planning and budgeting process. To facilitate this, each military department must create an advisory panel, including private-sector experts, to review and recommend projects that significantly boost national security capabilities.

The Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the reliability and utility of U.S. fisheries data. It mandates reforms to the recreational data collection program (MRIP) by establishing an independent review process when data accuracy falls below set standards. The bill also empowers states to develop and implement their own data collection programs, shifting the federal reliance away from the MRIP baseline. Finally, it requires the establishment of a regular schedule for updating crucial fish stock assessments and promotes the use of independent, external scientific surveys in federal management decisions.

The OPT Fair Tax Act amends tax law to specifically subject income earned by F-1 visa holders during Optional Practical Training (OPT) to Social Security and Medicare taxes. This change removes the current exemption for OPT employment, treating those earnings as standard employment for federal tax purposes.

The District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act grants the D.C. government the authority to establish its own process for granting clemency, such as pardons or sentence commutations, for crimes committed under D.C. law. This legislation allows the District to determine which local official or body will hold these powers. The Act preserves existing clemency authority held by the President or the Mayor until D.C. enacts its own specific law on the matter.

The Safe Transit Accountability Act clarifies the chain of command for public transit safety decisions by designating the agency's "accountable executive" as the final decision-maker. This executive will resolve disagreements within the Safety Committee and has ultimate responsibility for implementing safety and asset management plans. This ensures a single, clearly identified leader is accountable for transit safety outcomes.

The SNAP Back Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand exemptions from SNAP work requirements. This bill adds individuals who are currently homeless, all veterans, and former foster youth (aged 24 or younger) to the list of those considered "disabled individuals" for SNAP purposes. This change aims to make these specific vulnerable populations eligible for SNAP benefits without meeting standard work activity rules.

The STREAMLINE Act modernizes federal regulations to empower Indian Tribes by requiring the Department of the Interior to accept tribal property appraisals for land transactions. This change applies when Tribes manage realty functions under self-governance agreements, aiming to streamline the fee-to-trust acquisition process. The law mandates tracking processing times to evaluate the impact of relying on Tribal valuations. Importantly, this Act does not alter existing environmental review or land title requirements.

The Visa Cap Enforcement Act aims to tighten the rules surrounding the annual numerical limit for H-1B nonimmigrant visas. This bill mandates that H-1B visa holders be recounted against the annual cap upon reaching their third anniversary in status. Furthermore, it eliminates existing exemptions for H-1B workers employed by colleges and research institutions. The legislation ensures that every approved H-1B job change is counted toward the annual visa limit.

The October 7 Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the American hostages and victims of the brutal October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. This medal honors their suffering, sacrifice, and the resilience shown by their families. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs. The official gold medal will ultimately be displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

This bill repeals the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and significantly restricts the domestic distribution of U.S. government-produced international information materials. It mandates that materials created for foreign audiences must be archived and generally withheld from the U.S. public for a period of 20 years. Furthermore, the legislation explicitly bans the use of appropriated funds by the State Department or USAGM to influence domestic public opinion.

The Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act of 2025 modifies the effective date for scheduled adjustments to the liability cap for passenger rail services. Specifically, any liability cap change set to occur during calendar year 2026 will be delayed. The new cap amount will only take effect 90 days after the required public notice of the adjustment is officially issued.

The Dismantling Double Dippers Act of 2025 prohibits federal employees from simultaneously holding two civil service jobs or receiving payment from a government contract while employed by the government, unless explicitly authorized. Violators face mandatory repayment of illegal earnings, potential criminal investigation by the Department of Justice, and agency disciplinary action. The OPM Inspector General is required to conduct annual audits across federal agencies to detect and report on these violations.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential federal employees required to work during a government shutdown can receive unemployment benefits for those weeks. This legislation requires states to allow these "excepted employees" to claim benefits even while working without pay. The federal government will reimburse states for these unemployment payments and associated administrative costs, with mechanisms in place to prevent employees from receiving duplicate compensation once back pay is issued.

The Small Communities Transit Improvement Act increases the dedicated federal transit funding share for small cities with high transit usage from 3% to 5%. This change adjusts the formula for distributing public transportation grants to better support these transit-dependent communities.

The No Shame at School Act of 2025 mandates that schools must retroactively certify eligible students for free or reduced-price meals and prohibits any form of shaming or stigmatization based on unpaid meal debt. This bill prevents schools from singling out students who owe money for lunch or breakfast, ensuring they receive their meals without embarrassment. Furthermore, it restricts how schools can attempt to collect these outstanding fees from families.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal government shutdown to make penalty-free withdrawals of up to $30,000 from their retirement plans. These "Federal Government shutdown distributions" allow affected contractors, grantees, and D.C. employees to access funds during a lapse in appropriations lasting at least two weeks. Withdrawals are spread out over three tax years for income tax purposes, and individuals have three years to repay the withdrawn amount.

The Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act establishes a new federal crime for knowingly forcing an abortion on a woman using drugs, carrying penalties up to 25 years in prison. This legislation also allows victims to file civil lawsuits seeking substantial damages, including compensation for physical and psychological injuries. The bill strictly defines terms like "abortion-inducing drug" and "informed consent" to ensure clear enforcement of these protections.