Legislation

The "No CBDC Act" prohibits the Federal Reserve and related entities from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly to individuals. It also restricts these entities from offering related services or maintaining accounts for individuals related to a CBDC. Additionally, Federal Reserve banks are barred from holding U.S. government-issued digital currencies as assets or using them to meet reserve requirements.

The RESTORE Patent Rights Act of 2025 aims to strengthen patent protection for inventors by making it easier to obtain injunctions against patent infringers. The act establishes a legal presumption that patent holders are entitled to a permanent injunction when their patents are infringed upon. This reverses a recent trend of court decisions that have made it more difficult for patent owners to stop ongoing infringement. The bill seeks to encourage innovation, especially among individual inventors, universities, startups, and small businesses.

The "Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act" ensures parents are informed about school activities that involve surveys or evaluations concerning personal beliefs, sexual behavior, or illegal behaviors. Schools must notify parents 14 days in advance of such activities. Written consent from parents is required before students can participate.

The "Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025" establishes a trust account and authorizes the payment of $137.5 million to the Quapaw Nation and associated parties to settle claims in the case Bear, et al. v. United States. The funds will be distributed according to a plan developed by the Claimants, with a process for Secretarial allocation if mediation fails. The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for ensuring the funds are distributed within specified timeframes following the final distribution plan.

The "Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act" directs the Small Business Administration to enhance outreach efforts in rural communities for the SBIR and STTR programs. This will be done by instructing federal agencies to conduct specific outreach to small businesses in rural areas, with the goal of increasing their participation in these programs.

The "Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act" amends the Social Security Act's definition of "qualifying single source drug" to include advanced drugs using genetically targeted technology. This update applies to drugs that can modify gene function, potentially impacting drug pricing and access regulations under the Act.

The Criminal Illegal Alien Report Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to deliver a report to Congress within 60 days, detailing the number of individuals in the United States who were granted parole under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, or any other parole program under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and who have committed crimes in the United States. This report must include the nationalities of the criminals and any ties to terrorist or transnational criminal organizations.

The REDUCE Act mandates executive branch agencies to identify and eliminate redundant positions, limiting new hires to one for every four departures until staffing reaches 80% of the agency's size at the time of the Act's enactment. Agencies must also develop plans for workforce reduction or reorganization, with exemptions for critical national security and public safety roles.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by promoting the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through research, development, and incentives. It sets a national goal for aviation to achieve a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Act establishes a low-carbon aviation fuel standard, provides funding for SAF projects, encourages the Department of Defense to purchase SAF, and extends tax credits for SAF production. It also directs research on SAF feedstocks and the climate impacts of aviation, including non-carbon dioxide emissions.

The Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African-American astronaut candidate, in recognition of his pioneering achievements and contributions to art and Black history. The Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal and allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to the public. It also designates the medals as national and numismatic items and outlines the use of funds for medal production and sales.

The "IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act" mandates the Social Security Administration to issue free federal identification cards to U.S. residents who apply within 3 years, functioning similarly to a state-issued ID or driver's license. A task force will be established to determine the requirements for producing and providing the identification. The United States Postal Service, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, will develop a process, modeled after the passport application process, allowing individuals to apply for the ID through the Postal Service. The Act also authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to implement the Act.

The "Public Safety Free Speech Act" protects the free speech rights of public safety officers, including law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel, allowing them to express personal opinions on public safety, working conditions, and other related matters without fear of retaliation, while also outlining exceptions for speech that incites violence, discrimination, or discloses confidential information. This bill enables officers to sue their employers for adverse actions taken against them for exercising these rights and specifies the damages that can be awarded. This act does not preempt existing federal or state laws.

This bill amends title 39 of the United States Code to require that all mailed solicitations include a clear and conspicuous notice that the mailing is a solicitation. The notice must state "This is a solicitation" or similar language approved by the Postal Service. Certain types of mail are exempt from this requirement.

The "Equal and Uniform Treatment in the Military Act" seeks to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation within the Department of Defense. It ensures that all members of the Armed Forces have the right to serve and advance based on merit, fitness, capability, and performance. The bill defines key terms such as "gender identity" and "sex" to provide clarity and protect individuals from discriminatory practices. This act aims to promote equality and inclusion in the military, ensuring that service members are judged solely on their ability to meet occupational standards.

The College Thriving Act aims to improve first-year college student success by providing grants to higher education institutions to develop and implement "skills-for-success" courses. These courses will focus on essential skills such as time management, stress management, and building relationships, with priority given to institutions serving a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients. The Act allocates \$50 million for these grants, which will support institutions over a five-year period to develop, pilot, and fully implement these courses. Institutions will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and report their findings to the Secretary of Education.

The "Kids Access to Primary Care Act of 2025" aims to improve children's healthcare access by increasing Medicaid payments for primary care services to match Medicare rates, expanding the types of providers eligible for these payments, and mandating compliance from Medicaid managed care plans. It also requires a study on the impact of these changes on enrollment and provider payment rates. Additionally, the Act encourages healthcare providers to utilize the Bright Futures guidelines for pediatric care.

The NIH Reform Act divides the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases into three separate entities: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. It requires the President to appoint directors for each new institute. The act outlines the research focus of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. It directs the NIH Director to manage the transition and makes necessary amendments to reflect these changes.

The "ALERT Communities Act" aims to combat the opioid crisis by increasing access to and training on fentanyl and xylazine test strips for first responders and community members. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish research and marketing guidelines for test strip technology and to study the impact of drug checking supplies on overdose rates and treatment participation. The Act defines "test strip" as a tool to detect dangerous substances in drugs, helping to prevent overdoses and reduce the risk of harm.

The Military and Educational Data Integration Act mandates a process for State educational agencies to access certain Armed Forces data of individuals who graduated high school in their state, including education level, test scores, and military service details. This data sharing initiative aims to integrate military data into state education systems while adhering to strict confidentiality and data security standards to protect individual privacy. The goal is to provide states with comprehensive data to better understand and support the educational and career pathways of their graduates.

The "Defending Ukraine's Territorial Integrity Act" codifies U.S. policy to reject Russia's claims over occupied regions of Ukraine. It prohibits U.S. funds from going to central governments that recognize the independence of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories or support their annexation by Russia. The Secretary of State is required to publish a list of countries in violation of this act, but can waive the prohibition if it is in the U.S. national interest.