Legislation

The Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act addresses the danger of poppy seeds contaminated with high levels of opiates like morphine, which have led to accidental overdoses and deaths. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish mandatory safety limits for these contaminants in poppy seeds sold commercially. Seeds exceeding these limits will be deemed adulterated and banned from interstate commerce. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that contaminated poppy seeds are not exempt from regulation under the Controlled Substances Act.

The PEACE Act mandates comprehensive education and training for State Department personnel regarding the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements with Israel. It establishes an advisory board, composed of members selected by Congressional leadership, to guide curriculum development for these programs. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary of State to develop and report annually on a strategy for integrating this specialized training and implementing diplomatic fellowships with partner nations.

The Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act aims to provide tax relief and compliance clarity for the beauty service industry. It extends the employer Social Security tax credit for tips to beauty establishments and creates a new IRS audit "safe harbor" for employers who properly train staff and track tips. Additionally, the bill introduces new information reporting requirements for businesses that rent space to multiple beauty service providers.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning California's "Advanced Clean Cars II" pollution control standards. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, Congress is effectively vetoing this EPA regulation. This action prevents the EPA's rule regarding California's vehicle emission standards from taking effect.

The Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2025 requires federal agencies to prioritize the use of domestically sourced mass timber and innovative wood products in new government construction and leases. This preference applies when the materials are responsibly sourced from U.S. forestlands through certified or regulated practices. Furthermore, the bill mandates lifecycle assessments for new buildings utilizing these wood products to measure their environmental impact.

The IVF for Military Families Act mandates that TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select cover fertility-related care, including In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), for active-duty service members and their dependents starting October 1, 2027. This coverage includes up to three completed oocyte retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, following established medical guidelines. The bill also requires the establishment of a dedicated care coordination program to ensure timely access to these necessary reproductive services.

The IDEA Full Funding Act establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs through fiscal year 2035. This legislation sets specific appropriation targets based on student counts and national average spending to ensure greater financial support for special education services. Furthermore, the bill requires that these new IDEA appropriations adhere to "cut-as-you-go" budget offset rules.

The POWER Act of 2025 establishes a new, temporary tax credit of up to $500 for individuals who purchase an emergency generator for their primary residence. To qualify, homeowners must have experienced at least two major disasters in their area within the last five years and personally received federal assistance for one of those events. The credit amount is subject to phase-out based on the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.

The Restoring Law and Order Act of 2025 establishes the "Make America Safe Again Grant Program" to provide $500 million in federal funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. These grants are intended to combat violent crime, hire more officers, target vehicle theft and drug offenses, and improve criminal investigations. The bill mandates that funds previously allocated for diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives be redirected to support this new public safety grant program.

The Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act establishes new federal programs to advance pipeline safety, efficiency, and modernization through research, demonstration projects, and coordination across energy and transportation agencies. The bill creates an Advanced Pipeline Materials and Technologies Demonstration Initiative and a Joint Research and Development Program to fund innovative solutions for leak detection, material science, and smart pipeline systems. It also mandates the creation of a National Pipeline Modernization Center and a specialized measurement program at NIST, subject to appropriations.

The Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act establishes the private, nonprofit Foundation for Standards and Metrology. This Foundation will work with NIST to advance measurement science and technical standards to boost the U.S. economy and speed up technology commercialization. It will be governed by an independent Board of Directors and must develop a plan to become financially self-sustaining within five years.

The MERIT Act aims to provide recourse for probationary federal employees who were involuntarily separated due to mass layoffs between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment. This legislation mandates that affected employees must be offered reinstatement to a similar position with comparable benefits or receive appropriate back pay if they were already terminated. The Act also establishes timelines for notification, employee acceptance, and requires reports from the Comptroller General and OPM regarding the layoffs and subsequent reinstatements.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress in support of designating the week of April 7 through April 11, 2025, as "National Assistant Principals Week." It formally recognizes the vital and multifaceted contributions assistant principals make to school safety, operations, and student success. The bill encourages the public to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies to honor their essential role in education.

The Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2025 makes certain federal loan repayments received by dental school faculty tax-free. This change updates the Internal Revenue Code to exclude these specific loan repayment amounts from taxable income. The bill also requires the GAO to review participation in the relevant dental faculty development and loan repayment programs.

The Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and maintain a public list of medications deemed safe for pilots and air traffic controllers to use while maintaining their medical certification. This list must be developed in consultation with relevant industry and labor groups. The FAA is required to update this comprehensive list annually, ensuring airmen and their doctors have clear guidance on medication approval status and necessary waiting periods.

This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to remove several specific species, including the Arabian oryx and Grevy's zebra, from the lists of threatened and endangered species. Furthermore, it prohibits the Secretary from ever listing the Bukharan markhor as either a threatened or endangered species. The overall effect is to eliminate federal protection for these particular animals under the Act.

The Stop Importing Terrorism Act repeals a specific exception in immigration law that previously allowed certain individuals with terrorism-related connections to enter the United States. This change makes individuals admitted under that now-removed exception potentially subject to deportation. The bill aims to strengthen inadmissibility standards related to terrorism.

The Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act of 2025 establishes a five-year demonstration program under Medicare to test innovative, collaborative treatment models for patients with co-occurring mental and physical health conditions. This program specifically targets vulnerable populations by requiring participating hospitals to integrate care and address social determinants of health. The goal is to evaluate effective strategies for improving outcomes and reducing costs, with findings reported to Congress for future policy recommendations.

The Protecting American Taxpayers from Wasteful Spending Act aims to safeguard federal funds by permanently codifying Executive Order 14249 into law. This action establishes mandatory requirements across government agencies to actively combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the use of taxpayer money. Ultimately, the bill seeks to ensure greater accountability and protection for America's bank accounts.

The Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act (MARALAGO Act) prohibits the U.S. Secret Service from using federal funds to pay the sitting or former President, or any business they own, for expenses like lodging or office space incurred during protection details at a presidential residence. This means the government cannot reimburse the President for services related to their own security detail at their home. However, the Act explicitly allows the President or their businesses to provide these services to the Secret Service free of charge as a gift.