Legislation

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to clarify the definition of "employer." This bill explicitly includes Indian Tribes and their tribally owned enterprises operating on tribal lands under the scope of the NLRA for labor relations purposes. It also establishes clear definitions for "Indian Tribe," "Indian," and "Indian Lands" within this context.

This Act officially establishes the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and grants it the authority to be located on the National Mall. It mandates that the museum's exhibits and programs must accurately reflect the diverse cultures, histories, and political viewpoints of American women. Furthermore, the Smithsonian must report to Congress on its efforts to ensure this comprehensive representation.

This bill mandates the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reissue the final rule removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 60 days of enactment. The purpose is to finalize the gray wolf's delisting based on the previously published rule. Furthermore, this reissuance cannot be challenged or reviewed in federal court.

The Increasing Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act requires the FDA to confirm whether a generic drug's inactive ingredients match the brand-name version upon request. If differences exist, the FDA must specify which ingredients and amounts deviate from the original drug. This measure aims to streamline the generic drug approval process by providing clarity on formulation equivalence.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act clarifies the location flexibility for the museum, confirming it can be situated within the National Mall Reserve. This legislation also establishes a clear process for transferring administrative control of sites managed by other federal agencies to the Smithsonian Institution. Furthermore, it mandates that the Museum's Board of Trustees actively seek guidance from diverse sources to ensure exhibits accurately reflect the full spectrum of Latino cultures and viewpoints. The Secretary of the Smithsonian must report regularly to Congress on compliance with these diversity requirements.

The Housing Supply Frameworks Act aims to address the severe national housing shortage by encouraging states and localities to reform restrictive zoning and land-use regulations. It directs the federal government to develop and publish best-practice guidelines for updating state and local zoning frameworks to promote housing construction across all income levels. The bill also establishes reporting requirements to track the adoption of these new guidelines and authorizes funding for the Act's implementation.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to improve efficiency and fairness in immigration courts by significantly increasing access to legal representation for unaccompanied children. This bill mandates the government to provide counsel for these children at no cost through all stages of removal proceedings. Furthermore, it ensures noncitizens receive their case files promptly and establishes new standards for lawyer access to detention facilities and required annual reporting on legal representation outcomes.

The Religious Workforce Protection Act aims to support religious workers facing long delays in obtaining lawful permanent residence. It extends nonimmigrant status for those stuck in green card backlogs, even past the normal five-year limit for R-1 visas. Furthermore, the bill modifies job flexibility rules for certain long-waiting religious workers and exempts those who left the U.S. due to the R-1 visa time limit from the usual one-year foreign residence requirement before reapplying.

The Save Our Seafood Act exempts nonimmigrant aliens working as fish processors from the annual numerical cap on H-2B temporary work visas. This change specifically targets workers involved in handling, preparing, freezing, or packing seafood to ensure the industry has access to necessary labor. The bill provides clear definitions for "fish" and "processor" related to this exemption.

This bill officially establishes the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area, incorporating fourteen counties in New York State into the national system. The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance is designated as the local coordinating entity responsible for developing and submitting a management plan for the area. The Act authorizes federal financial assistance for the Heritage Area for a period of 15 years following its enactment.

The Artificial Intelligence and Critical Technology Workforce Framework Act of 2025 mandates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and maintain standardized workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. These frameworks must define necessary skills, incorporate support roles, and detail non-traditional career pathways. NIST is also required to regularly review and update these guides, including the existing cybersecurity framework, and report its progress to Congress.

The No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2025 requires the President to obtain explicit approval from Congress via a joint resolution before imposing any new import duties under existing trade laws. This legislation centralizes the power to levy new tariffs, ensuring legislative oversight for such economic actions. However, this requirement does not affect the President's authority to issue complete import embargoes.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act aims to restore certain federal tax deductions for employees. This bill makes union dues fully deductible "above-the-line," meaning they can be claimed without itemizing. Additionally, it temporarily allows employees to itemize specific work-related business expenses through the end of 2025.

The Driving Forward Act permanently extends an existing exemption allowing certain school bus drivers to bypass the "under-the-hood" portion of their skills test. This change codifies the rules previously established in a 2024 Federal Register notice. States utilizing this exemption must still report annually on the number of drivers who qualify under these permanent terms for the next six years.

This Act authorizes the minting and issuance of special commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins must be paid directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations.

The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act dramatically increases federal funding for state child care block grants, appropriating \$20 billion for FY 2026 and adjusting for inflation thereafter. It also establishes a new \$5 billion annual grant program to target improvements in child care workforce, supply, and quality in identified high-need areas. Recipients of these funds must submit detailed plans outlining how they will boost services, support providers, and increase staff compensation in underserved communities. All funds must supplement existing spending and adhere to strict reporting and evaluation requirements to ensure improved access and quality.

The Down East Remembrance Act officially designates six specific creeks in the region with new names, such as Noah Styron Creek and Hunter Parks Creek, based on their precise geographic coordinates. This legislation ensures that all federal laws, maps, and official records must use these newly assigned names for these waterways.

The Rural Development Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the Department of Agriculture to provide crucial technical assistance to eligible rural healthcare facilities. This program aims to ensure the financial stability and operational efficiency of these hospitals, ultimately strengthening rural healthcare delivery and preventing facility closures. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to appropriate up to $2 million annually through fiscal year 2029 to fund these targeted services.

The Innovate to De-Escalate Modernization Act exempts specific less-than-lethal projectile devices from certain federal restrictions under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. This exemption applies only to devices that cannot fire standard ammunition, are designed to minimize serious injury, and meet specific design criteria regarding ammunition feeding mechanisms. The bill also establishes a process for manufacturers to seek a ruling from the Attorney General on whether their device qualifies for this exemption.

The Restoring Industry Development in Entertainment Act (RIDE Act) establishes a new P4 nonimmigrant visa category for "mobile entertainment workers," such as those employed by traveling carnivals and circuses. This provision requires Department of Labor certification to ensure no qualified U.S. workers are displaced and that U.S. wages are protected. The bill also ensures that the spouses and children of these essential workers are eligible for derivative visas. Finally, it mandates that the relevant federal agencies publish proposed and final rules implementing these changes within 180 days and one year of enactment, respectively.