Legislation

The **Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025** aims to strengthen federal oversight and accountability for institutions receiving federal student aid. It establishes new financial performance standards, expands student protections against deceptive practices and school closures, and mandates greater transparency regarding institutional spending and student outcomes. Ultimately, the bill seeks to ensure that federal aid supports quality education that leads to financial success for students while penalizing low-performing or fraudulent institutions.

This resolution is an official request from the House of Representatives demanding the President and the Secretary of Education immediately transmit all unredacted documents related to any plans for downsizing or closing the Department of Education. The required records must detail staff reduction measures, internal communications, and any determinations made regarding the sufficiency of remaining staff to enforce major federal education laws. The documents must be provided to the House within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The ROUTERS Act mandates a study by the Secretary of Commerce to assess the national security risks and cybersecurity weaknesses associated with consumer routers and modems supplied by companies connected to "covered countries." The resulting report, detailing these vulnerabilities, must be submitted to key Congressional committees within one year of enactment. This legislation aims to identify and address potential threats posed by insecure internet equipment.

This bill officially designates significant portions of the Gila River System in New Mexico as protected Wild and Scenic Rivers, classifying segments as wild, scenic, or recreational. The designation withdraws federal lands from entry, mining, and mineral leasing within the protected boundaries while explicitly preserving existing water rights and private property uses. Additionally, the Act adjusts the boundaries of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila National Forest by transferring approximately 440 acres from the Forest Service to the National Park Service.

The SERVICE Act mandates that federal agencies must undergo a thorough review process before implementing significant workforce reductions. Agencies planning to cut staff by more than 5% must first submit a detailed report to the GAO analyzing the financial and mission impacts of the proposed layoffs. The GAO then reviews this report to ensure the analysis is complete and credible before the agency can proceed with the cuts after a mandatory waiting period.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to significantly reform Medicare access to supplemental oxygen by removing it from the competitive bidding program and establishing new payment rates. The bill also mandates clearer documentation requirements for medical necessity using electronic templates and restores clinical judgment in claim audits. Finally, it establishes specific rights for oxygen beneficiaries and improves reimbursement for respiratory therapists.

The No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act aims to counter the growing presence and criminal activities of Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, in Latin America. The bill directs the Secretary of State to pressure foreign governments to stop enabling these networks and encourages regional allies to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, it establishes a process for designating "terrorist sanctuaries" in the hemisphere, which could lead to visa revocations for foreign officials from those areas. These sanctions will automatically expire five years after the Act's enactment unless renewed by Congress.

This resolution formally expresses the Senate's strong support for the goals of International Women's Day and reaffirms the importance of advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls globally. It highlights that the status of women is critical to international peace, security, and economic stability. The measure commits the U.S. to policies aimed at ending violence, discrimination, and health disparities affecting women worldwide.

The **Break Up Suspicious Transactions of Fentanyl Act (BUST FENTANYL Act)** mandates new reports detailing U.S. efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, particularly from China, and updates deadlines for international narcotics strategy reports. The bill significantly expands the President's authority to impose sanctions on individuals, financial institutions, and even foreign government agencies knowingly involved in opioid trafficking or money laundering. Furthermore, it requires prioritized identification of Chinese entities involved in shipping fentanyl precursors destined for Mexico and the U.S.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes new federal crimes for the intentional sharing of nonconsensual intimate images, including realistic AI-generated deepfakes, with enhanced penalties for content involving minors. It mandates that online platforms create clear reporting systems and remove reported nonconsensual intimate content within 48 hours. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these notice and removal requirements against covered platforms.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act mandates the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rapidly adopt key industry standards as federal safety rules for lithium-ion batteries in small electric vehicles and personal mobility devices. This legislation ensures these standards automatically update to the newest industry revisions unless the CPSC finds a revision compromises safety. Furthermore, the CPSC must report to Congress five years after enactment regarding battery hazards and compliance.

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act aims to reduce mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups through several key actions. It increases funding for existing grant programs and authorizes significant new funding for the NIH and NIMHD to support relevant research and community engagement. Furthermore, the bill mandates a comprehensive study on mental health research gaps and establishes a national strategy for culturally competent mental health outreach and education.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that all Executive agencies and military departments must adhere strictly to federal job classification standards when hiring personnel. If an agency cannot meet its required staffing levels under these new rules, the agency head must promptly notify relevant Congressional committees within seven days with a detailed explanation. This legislation aims to standardize and enforce federal employment structures across key government bodies.

The Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone (PACE) Act aims to significantly enhance childcare financial support for families. It restructures the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, potentially making it refundable and increasing its maximum rate, while also raising the tax-free exclusion limit for employer-provided dependent care assistance to \$7,500. These key provisions are scheduled to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, with future adjustments for inflation built into the new rules.

The EITC Lookback Act allows taxpayers whose earned income has decreased from the previous year to elect to use their higher prior-year income when calculating their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This provision is designed to help those with recent income drops potentially receive a larger credit. This new option will be available for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Safeguarding Charity Act clarifies that the federal income tax exemption granted to many tax-exempt organizations, such as charities and social welfare groups, will no longer be counted as "Federal financial assistance." This change specifically redefines federal aid for the purpose of applying various federal laws and regulations moving forward. The Act ensures that the value of existing tax breaks is excluded from future calculations of government assistance received by these entities.

This Act officially establishes the **Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Act**. It clarifies the appointment process for the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security provide the Officer with necessary permanent staff and resources. The changes ensure the Officer has the support required to fulfill their duties within the department.

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act withdraws approximately 4,288 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land near Placitas, New Mexico, from new mining claims and mineral/geothermal leasing. This action specifically protects Tracts A, B, C, and D as identified on the November 13, 2019 map. While the surface of these lands may still be sold, the United States will retain ownership of all subsurface mineral rights.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow disaster loans to be issued specifically for damages resulting from prolonged power outages. It defines a "prolonged power outage" based on the number of affected properties and the duration or severity of uninsured losses. Furthermore, the legislation permits loan funds to be used by small businesses for purchasing energy resilience systems, such as generators and solar power equipment.

The IRA Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act of 2025 removes the current restriction preventing individuals from making direct charitable rollovers from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). This change immediately allows IRA owners to transfer retirement assets directly to DAFs for charitable purposes. The bill simplifies and enhances charitable giving options for IRA holders.