Legislation

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It celebrates the significance of him being the first American-born Pope in the Church's history. The measure also commends his lifelong service, missionary spirit, and dedication to truth and mercy. Finally, it offers prayers for his leadership as he begins his papacy.

This resolution strongly condemns Hamas for its premeditated and brutal terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. It details the resulting casualties and the ongoing hostage crisis, emphasizing the severe mistreatment of those held captive. The bill demands that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and allow them safe return.

This bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to install a permanent honorific plaque on the western front of the U.S. Capitol. The plaque will list the names of all law enforcement officers who responded to the violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This honors officers from the U.S. Capitol Police, D.C. Metropolitan Police, and other responding Federal, State, and local agencies.

This resolution formally recognizes the historical event of the Palestinian Nakba and the ongoing displacement of Palestinian refugees. It calls for the U.S. to remember this history, uphold the rights of refugees as established in UN Resolution 194, and cease complicity in actions that deny these rights. Ultimately, the bill demands that U.S. policy support the implementation of refugee rights as essential for lasting peace.

This resolution expresses the strong sense of the House of Representatives affirming the enduring U.S.-Israel alliance based on shared democratic values. It emphasizes the necessity of expanding defense cooperation to address evolving regional threats and maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. The bill calls for continued joint efforts in missile defense, technology sharing, and intelligence to ensure the security of both nations.

The Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act aims to accelerate the commercialization of federally funded small business research. It enhances the SBIR/STTR programs by requiring commercialization expertise in proposal reviews and speeding up review timelines. The bill also establishes Technology Commercialization Officials within agencies and mandates detailed reporting on the market success of award recipients. Finally, it increases flexibility for technical assistance funding and provides prioritized patent examination services through the USPTO for awardees.

The American Music Tourism Act of 2025 directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to actively promote domestic and international travel focused on U.S. music destinations and events. This legislation mandates the identification and promotion of key music tourism sites to boost both domestic visitation and international competitiveness. The Assistant Secretary must also report on the progress of these music tourism initiatives to Congress.

The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" for federal retirement purposes under both the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). This change adds specific IRS, Postal Inspection Service, and VA police roles to those eligible for enhanced retirement benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for current officers to elect to have their prior service counted under these new definitions, which may require a payment from the employee and their employing agency.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 declares that practices attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity for payment constitute an unfair and deceptive business practice. Citing professional consensus on the ineffectiveness and harm of such "conversion therapy," the bill prohibits its provision and advertising. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the law allows both the U.S. Attorney General and State Attorneys General to file civil actions against violators.

The MOMS Act aims to support expecting and new mothers through three main initiatives. It establishes a centralized federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect mothers with local support services and adoption agencies. The bill also creates grant programs to fund organizations offering positive alternatives to abortion and expanding access to at-home prenatal and postnatal telehealth care in underserved areas. Finally, it allows states to establish and enforce child support obligations against biological fathers for unborn children upon the mother's request.

The Universal Savings Account Act of 2025 establishes a new tax-advantaged savings vehicle called a Universal Savings Account (USA). These accounts allow for annual contributions, which are subject to an indexed limit starting at \$10,000 for 2025, with distributions generally being tax-free. The bill outlines specific rules for trustees, asset management, rollovers, and penalties for excess contributions.

The Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act establishes a new grant program to provide emergency assistance to farm workers following covered disasters, such as severe weather or health crises. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Secretary must award grants to eligible farm worker organizations to deliver direct relief and build community resilience. These funds are specifically designated to help workers who lose income or are unable to work due to a qualifying event.

The Mental Health Improvement Act extends the availability of federal grants dedicated to mental and behavioral health education and training. This legislation shifts the funding period for these crucial training grants from fiscal years 2023–2027 to 2026–2030. The bill ensures continued support for developing the mental health workforce for an additional three years.

The Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act establishes a federal grant program to help eligible local educational agencies hire more full-time registered nurses in public schools. These competitive demonstration grants prioritize high-need districts that currently lack adequate nursing staff. The goal is to address significant student health needs, including chronic conditions and mental health support, by increasing on-site nursing presence. Recipients must show a plan for long-term funding, as the federal share of costs decreases over the grant period.

This bill mandates the Treasury Secretary to determine if Hong Kong should be designated as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern. Furthermore, it requires the State Department to report on Hong Kong's role in facilitating violations of U.S. export controls and sanctions against adversaries like Russia and Iran. The report must also assess the impact of Hong Kong's National Security Law on financial compliance.

The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025 updates federal assistance programs to specifically promote the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing. This legislation introduces competitive grants for pilot and demonstration-scale biorefineries while streamlining loan guarantee processes. The bill establishes detailed scoring criteria for grant applicants, prioritizing innovation, private investment, and environmental impact, and sets annual funding levels through fiscal year 2030.

The PATCH Act, or Protecting Access To Care in Hawaii Act, ensures that physicians in Hawaii receive fair compensation for their services. Starting in 2026, this bill mandates a minimum work geographic index of 1.5 for calculating Medicare payments for physicians' services furnished in the state. This adjustment is a direct increase to the payment formula and will not be offset by budget neutrality requirements.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

The International Financial Institution Improvements Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability in U.S. engagement with the World Bank, IMF, and other multilateral development banks. It mandates clearer public reporting, requires consultation with civil society organizations on lending decisions, and directs U.S. representatives to advocate for stronger human rights, anti-corruption, and climate-related policies. The bill also authorizes increased U.S. financial commitments to development funds focused on Africa and Europe, contingent upon future Congressional appropriations.

The Constitutional Hearing Protection Act aims to treat firearm silencers equally under federal tax law by updating definitions and removing certain registration requirements if existing firearm laws are followed. The bill also preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration burdens on silencers. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners within one year of enactment.