Legislation

The TEACH Act, or Terminating Education Association Congressional Handouts Act, prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) from engaging in any lobbying activities. The NEA must annually certify compliance with this ban to the Secretary of Education and maintain corresponding records for potential audits. Violation of this prohibition results in the revocation of the NEA's status as a federally chartered corporation.

This Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act, enhances protections for servicemembers and recent veterans against abusive debt collection tactics. It specifically prohibits debt collectors from threatening adverse military actions, such as rank reduction or security clearance revocation, to coerce payment. Furthermore, the bill mandates a GAO study to assess the law's impact on military readiness and national security.

The Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025 immediately enacts the final rule from PHMSA regarding gas pipeline leak detection and repair standards upon the bill's signing. This ensures stricter safety measures for finding and fixing leaks take effect without delay. Furthermore, the Act preserves the Secretary of Transportation's authority to issue stronger, more protective regulations in the future.

The Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act empowers copyright owners to seek information from developers of generative AI models. This allows copyright holders to subpoena records if they have a good-faith belief their work was used in training the AI model. Developers must comply with the subpoena or face a rebuttable presumption that they copied the copyrighted material.

The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025 aims to reform how Medicare pays for emergency air ambulance services. It requires the Secretary of HHS to update the payment system using newly collected cost and usage data from providers. Furthermore, the bill mandates the timely finalization of data collection rules and directs the GAO to study the true costs of these essential emergency transports.

This bill establishes an annual U.S.-Belarus Strategic Dialogue to coordinate efforts aimed at restoring democratic rule in Belarus. The dialogue will focus on supporting free elections, aiding the democratic movement, and ensuring accountability for the current regime's abuses. It also mandates discussions on releasing political prisoners and addressing regional security concerns stemming from the situation in Belarus and Russia.

The Responsive Counterterrorism Policy Act mandates the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism to develop specific, forward-looking written strategies for combating terrorism in high-threat regions. These plans must detail threats, set goals, and outline coordinated actions with U.S. and international partners. The strategies require annual review and must be used to guide funding and diplomatic efforts, with regular briefings provided to Congress.

The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 significantly amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit credit reporting agencies from reporting negative information related to medical debt. Furthermore, the bill mandates that creditors are forbidden from using a consumer's past medical debt information when making credit decisions. This legislation aims to remove the burden of medical bills from consumer credit reports and lending evaluations.

The FBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for FBI employees who report wrongdoing, explicitly prohibiting retaliation for protected disclosures. It mandates the Attorney General to actively prevent prohibited personnel actions and ensure staff are fully informed of their rights. Furthermore, the Act establishes clearer standards and conflict-of-interest safeguards for handling whistleblower retaliation claims.

The BIKE Act of 2025 aims to enhance bicycle safety education for students across the country. It allows states to use federal highway safety funds to provide on-bicycle safety training in elementary and secondary schools. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary to update federal safety guidelines to emphasize comprehensive on-bicycle training, traffic rules, and helmet use for young riders. The Secretary must also consult with educators and report back to Congress on the implementation of these new safety standards.

The Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 mandates that all new washing machines sold in the U.S. starting in 2030 must include a microfiber filtration system effective at capturing particles no larger than 100 micrometers. The bill also requires clear consumer labeling regarding the filter's maintenance. Furthermore, the EPA Administrator is directed to conduct a comprehensive nationwide study on the sources, pathways, and health impacts of microfibers, reporting findings to Congress within one year of enactment.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for the federal death penalty. This factor applies when an illegal alien is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a U.S. citizen. This amendment aims to enhance penalties for specific violent crimes committed by undocumented individuals against American citizens.

The Employee Ownership Financing Act establishes a new Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to oversee initiatives supporting worker ownership. This bill creates a dedicated Employee Ownership Loan Program to help entities like ESOPs and worker cooperatives acquire or expand majority employee ownership. Furthermore, it grants employees a right of first refusal to purchase a facility facing closure under specific conditions. The Act also establishes an advisory council to guide the Secretary of Labor on implementing these employee ownership provisions.

The Facial Recognition Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive federal regulations governing law enforcement's use of facial recognition technology, primarily requiring court orders for most searches and mandating the purging of certain outdated arrest records. The bill enforces strict limits to protect civil liberties, prohibits using the technology as the sole basis for probable cause, and institutes rigorous annual testing for accuracy and bias. Furthermore, it mandates public reporting on usage and allows citizens to sue for violations of these new privacy and accountability standards.

The Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how Medicare pays for advanced skin substitute products used to treat chronic wounds. This bill establishes a new, standardized payment limit based on 2023 utilization data to curb rising costs and eliminate current payment inconsistencies. The goal is to ensure fair payment for clinically equivalent treatments while removing incentives that favor more expensive options.

The Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2025 updates eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness for adjunct and contingent faculty. This bill allows service as an adjunct instructor at colleges or vocational schools to qualify for loan forgiveness, provided specific minimum teaching hour requirements are met. It grants the Secretary of Education flexibility in defining qualifying teaching service under these new parameters.

The Appalachian Communities Health Equity (ACHE) Act of 2025 addresses health concerns linked to mountaintop removal coal mining by immediately halting new federal permits for these operations. The bill mandates a comprehensive health study led by the NIEHS to investigate potential risks to nearby communities. Furthermore, it requires enhanced, publicly accessible pollution monitoring at active sites until the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines the practice poses no health risk.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act allows states to authorize highly qualified, accredited conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This grants states flexibility in ensuring the long-term protection of forest lands by utilizing experienced external partners. The bill establishes strict criteria for these organizations and includes a clear reversion process if they fail to uphold their monitoring or enforcement responsibilities.

The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes a framework for financial entities to test new Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects under regulatory supervision. This allows firms to apply for temporary waivers from specific rules by proposing an alternative compliance strategy that demonstrates public benefit and manages risk. Regulatory agencies must create "AI Innovation Labs" to review these applications, generally requiring approval within 120 days unless an immediate threat is identified. The goal is to foster responsible innovation in financial services while maintaining systemic stability and consumer protection.

The Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act of 2025 mandates a significant increase in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staffing, requiring the hiring of at least 1,000 new officers annually until staffing needs are met. The bill also requires CBP to report on necessary infrastructure upgrades to combat illegal narcotics and enhance security technology at ports of entry. Furthermore, it establishes strict new quarterly and annual reporting requirements for Congress regarding temporary staff assignments and progress toward full staffing goals.