Legislation

The Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2025 establishes new transparency and public participation requirements for lawsuits that seek to compel or challenge federal agency regulatory actions. It mandates extensive public notice, comment periods, and high-level internal approval for significant settlement agreements and consent decrees. Furthermore, the Act creates easier intervention standards for affected parties and requires courts to ensure agreements allow agencies time to follow proper rulemaking procedures.

The Build Now Act aims to streamline infrastructure development by establishing a strict one-year deadline for completing environmental reviews required for federal permits related to Central Valley Project enhancement projects. If the deadline is missed, the permit applicant must approve an extension or the permit will be denied. This legislation seeks to accelerate crucial water infrastructure projects, including groundwater recharge and aquifer storage initiatives.

The Working Families Disaster Tax Relief Act allows taxpayers affected by a federally declared major disaster to elect to use their preceding year's earned income when calculating eligibility for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. This provision aims to provide financial relief by ensuring that recent job loss or reduced income due to a disaster does not disqualify families from these essential tax credits. The election applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act directs federal agencies to swiftly identify and address regulatory hurdles impeding major water-supply and storage projects in California. It mandates the designation of compliance officials to review and propose plans for suspending or revising regulations that unduly burden these critical water infrastructure projects. This process aims to streamline permitting and accelerate water delivery while ensuring compliance with necessary environmental and public interest standards.

The Responsible Opportunity for Under-21 Trucking Engagement (ROUTE) Act creates a limited exception allowing eligible drivers aged 18 to 20, who already hold an intrastate CDL, to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. This operation is strictly confined to a 150 air-mile radius of their normal reporting location. The bill mandates specific rest and duty hour requirements for these younger drivers.

This bill, the American Border Story Memorial Act, authorizes The American Border Story (TABS) to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial will honor U.S. citizens and legal residents killed in crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the United States. The establishment must adhere to federal regulations for commemorative works, but crucially, no federal funds can be used for its creation or maintenance.

The PROSPER in the Pacific Act aims to strengthen U.S. economic and strategic ties with Pacific Islands nations by establishing a preferential trade program for eligible countries. This legislation outlines specific eligibility criteria based on governance, human rights, and labor standards for receiving duty-free treatment. Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of a plan for negotiating future free trade agreements and establishes a trade facilitation and capacity building program to support regional economic growth.

The Central Valley Water Solution Act establishes a program to provide over \$4.5 billion in financial and technical assistance for 22 specific water infrastructure projects within California's Central Valley Project. This funding targets critical needs such as groundwater storage, water quality treatment, and major canal capacity corrections. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with implementing these projects in coordination with California and affected Indian Tribes. Importantly, the authorized funds are non-reimbursable, except for certain planning studies.

This bill, the Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act, establishes new rules for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employees. It mandates specific reimbursement rates for pharmacies and prohibits PBMs from engaging in anti-competitive practices like steering patients to affiliated pharmacies. The legislation also institutes civil monetary penalties and potential debarment for PBMs that fail to comply with these new requirements.

The Opportunities for Success Act of 2025 significantly reforms federal student aid by increasing funding authorizations for existing grant programs and expanding eligible activities to include early learning and work-based learning. The bill establishes a new formula for allocating funds based on student financial need, while also creating a reservation for high-performing institutions. Furthermore, it mandates substantial changes to the Federal Work-Study program, requiring specific allocations for work-based learning and community service, and introducing new data collection requirements.

This Act temporarily freezes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to revise or replace the existing "Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act, Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention" rule. This restriction on EPA action remains in effect until January 20, 2029.

The Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025 establishes new requirements for transparency and community involvement during nuclear facility decommissioning, mandating consultation with affected states and tribes before the NRC approves decommissioning plans or license transfers. The bill also creates several grant programs to financially support local advisory boards and aid communities impacted by stranded waste and economic disruption from plant closures. Finally, it requires plant operators to fund dedicated economic recovery accounts for host communities based on the size of their decommissioning trusts.

This bill establishes new federal requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans, effective in 2027. It mandates specific payment standards for pharmacies, requires PBMs to pass manufacturer rebates directly to patients and plan sponsors, and strictly prohibits steering patients toward specific pharmacies. Additionally, the legislation enhances transparency by expanding drug price reporting requirements for all types of pharmacies within the Medicaid program.

The Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025 aims to safeguard sensitive U.S. biotechnology by controlling the export of synthetic DNA and RNA sequences. This bill establishes a license requirement for transferring these digital sequences to foreign entities of concern, particularly those linked to adversaries like the People's Republic of China. Congress finds this action necessary to prevent intellectual property theft that supports foreign military modernization and strategic technology development.

This bill mandates a joint report from NASA and the Department of Commerce studying the merits and options for establishing a new institute focused on space resources. The institute would aim to advance U.S. preeminence by developing technology and reducing risks associated with identifying and utilizing resources in space. The report must assess the best structure, such as a virtual or physical entity, and potential partnerships to achieve these goals.

This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of United States Army Sergeants William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, who were killed in action in Syria on December 13, 2025. It recognizes their distinguished service in the Iowa Army National Guard and condemns the terrorist assault that took their lives. The resolution extends profound gratitude and sympathy to their families and all those affected by the attack.

The Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act (RISE from Trauma Act) establishes new federal grant programs to fund local coordination efforts and hospital-based interventions aimed at addressing community trauma. It also strengthens the national network for child trauma support and expands workforce development initiatives. The bill seeks to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families by increasing trauma-informed training for professionals in healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Ultimately, this legislation aims to build more resilient communities through coordinated prevention, intervention, and healing strategies.

This act authorizes and appropriates necessary federal funding to replace the outdated air traffic control tower at El Paso International Airport. The legislation ensures the modernization of critical air traffic infrastructure in El Paso, Texas.

The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act mandates that new fixed-route buses purchased with federal funds, meeting specific size and lifespan criteria, must be equipped with a protective barrier around the operator's workstation. This barrier must fully enclose the area without obstructing the driver's line of sight. This requirement can be waived if the relevant labor union agrees to the waiver for the specific bus purchase.

The Flight Risk Reduction Act amends federal law to establish a new presumption against pretrial release for non-citizens who are not lawful permanent residents. This legislation mandates a detention hearing for such individuals and shifts the burden to them to prove, with clear and convincing evidence, that release conditions will ensure their court appearance and community safety. Notably, the bill prohibits using a non-citizen defendant's U.S. family or employment ties as evidence to overcome this detention presumption.