Legislation

The SECURE American Telecommunications Act centralizes the licensing authority for submarine and cross-border terrestrial telecommunications cables under the FCC, shifting power away from the President. This legislation establishes strict security and reporting requirements for cable licensees, including mandatory consultation with national security agencies. Furthermore, it streamlines federal permitting while significantly increasing penalties for intentional damage to undersea cables.

The Green Energy for Federal Buildings Act mandates increasing renewable energy procurement targets for all federal buildings, starting at 7.5% and escalating to 100% by the year 2050. This legislation amends existing law to establish clear, phased buying goals for the government over the coming decades. The Act also prioritizes sourcing this renewable energy from on-site federal facilities or federal and Indian lands when feasible.

The Saving Students with Software Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Secretary of Education to help states purchase specialized suicide prevention software for elementary and secondary schools. This software is designed to monitor student typing on school devices and alert staff to potential self-harm or suicidal ideation. The goal is to provide schools with tools to proactively intervene and support students in crisis.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to eliminate the requirement that recipients of certain construction contracts must award subcontracts to businesses located within the county or state of performance. By repealing this outdated rule, the legislation removes a geographic restriction on subcontracting for small businesses awarded these contracts. This change aims to provide greater flexibility in awarding construction subcontracts.

The State Border Security Assistance Act establishes two new federal grant programs to support state and local efforts along the southern border. The first fund provides billions for physical barriers, surveillance technology, and border reinforcement activities. The second fund allocates resources for the investigation, prosecution, and detention of criminal non-citizens. Both programs offer reimbursement for eligible expenses dating back to January 20, 2021, and are scheduled to sunset in January 2029.

The Empty Lots to Housing Act streamlines the process for transferring federally funded, unneeded real property to local entities or qualified private developers. This transfer is contingent upon the recipient agreeing to long-term affordability requirements for the resulting housing. Specifically, at least 40% of new units must be affordable for low-income families, with a portion reserved for extremely low-income households.

The Chip Security Act mandates the installation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported from the United States. These requirements aim to verify chip location, prevent diversion, and protect U.S. technological leadership. The Secretary of Commerce must also study and implement additional security features to enhance export control enforcement and national security.

The Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Defense prioritize competition, security, and interoperability when procuring Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing services. It establishes strict rules to prevent vendors from using government data to improve their commercial AI products without explicit authorization. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on market competition, innovation barriers, and the use of any granted security exemptions.

The Manned Aircraft Clarification Act updates federal criminal statutes to explicitly limit penalties for aircraft destruction and piracy to **manned aircraft**. This ensures that existing severe penalties specifically target actions against aircraft with people on board. The bill revises language in Title 18 and Title 49 of the U.S. Code to reflect this focus on manned operations.

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

The Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act extends the life of the Historic Preservation Fund through the year 2035. This legislation also increases the maximum annual funding available for the program from \$150 million to \$250 million. Essentially, this bill ensures continued and increased financial support for preserving historic sites across the nation.

The Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act of 2025 establishes new, additional payments for eligible livestock producers who suffer losses of unborn animals due to covered disaster conditions exceeding normal rates. These supplemental payments will be calculated based on a rate set by the Secretary, not exceeding 85% of the lowest weight class payment for that livestock type. This change aims to provide further financial relief for producers facing significant losses during gestation.

The Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a Federal Cyber Workforce Development Institute to centralize and standardize cybersecurity training for federal employees. Led by the National Cyber Director, this Institute will develop modular, hands-on training aligned with the NICE framework for current and incoming cyber staff, including HR personnel. The resulting plan must detail curriculum, delivery methods, and necessary resources, though the Act itself does not authorize new appropriations.

The Certified Nursing Assistant Workforce Improvement Act updates federal regulations to enhance the quality of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training. This bill mandates that Registered Nurses supervising CNA training must possess a minimum of two years of general nursing experience. This change aims to strengthen the qualifications of those overseeing the training of essential long-term care staff.

The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025 overhauls residential job training facilities for underserved youth run by the Interior and Agriculture Departments. It mandates specialized training programs focused on conservation and wildland firefighting, and sets annual hiring goals for program graduates into federal roles. The bill also establishes pilot programs to boost the wildland firefighting workforce and improve related federal housing using student labor.

The Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Families Act requires heads of major federal agencies to certify to Congress that significant operational changes will not harm beneficiaries' access to or amount of benefits. If an agency plans major staffing cuts or reorganizations, it must detail how core services will be maintained. Should an Inspector General later find that these changes caused harm, the agency head is mandated to reverse those detrimental actions.

The Confronting CCP Human Rights Abusers Act mandates the addition of the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science of China to the U.S. trade entity list within 60 days of enactment. This action restricts the institute's access to U.S. goods and technology. The President may waive this designation only if they certify to Congress that the institute is not acting against U.S. interests or aiding in human rights abuses against minorities in Xinjiang.

The Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act establishes a new, centralized IT system for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to schedule appointments with non-VA community providers. This system will standardize scheduling, allow schedulers to view all available appointments in one place, and require the VA to conduct outreach to encourage provider participation. The goal is to streamline the process for veterans accessing community care, with the new program set to sunset seven years after enactment.

The Shawnee TRAILS Act mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture must designate and maintain at least 20 percent of trails in the Shawnee National Forest specifically for recreational use by covered vehicles, including e-bikes and off-highway vehicles (OHVs). This legislation ensures continuous access to these designated trails for trail riding while requiring active management to maintain trail quality and minimize natural resource impacts. Furthermore, the Act prohibits restricting covered vehicles from using existing paved roads within the forest.

The School Resource Officer Funding Protection Act of 2025 requires states to maintain a baseline level of state funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) to receive their full share of federal education funds. States must annually report their SRO spending to certify compliance with this maintenance rule. Failure to maintain the required spending level will result in a proportional reduction of the state's federal funding in the following fiscal year, though waivers are available for documented extraordinary financial hardship.