Legislation

The Value Over Cost Act of 2025 updates federal procurement rules for the Multiple Award Schedule program. This legislation grants both civilian and defense agencies the flexibility to award contracts based on achieving the "best value" rather than being strictly limited to the lowest cost option. This change allows the government to select vendors whose offerings provide superior overall benefit to the United States.

The Jury ACCESS Act of 2025 explicitly prohibits the exclusion of citizens from serving on federal juries based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This amendment updates existing federal law to ensure equality in jury service selection. The bill ensures that all capable citizens have the right to serve, regardless of their identity.

This Act establishes a comprehensive U.S. strategy to support Ukraine in recovering children abducted by Russia. It authorizes federal agencies to provide technical assistance for investigations, fund rehabilitation and reintegration services for returned children, and support accountability efforts through prosecution training. Furthermore, the bill allows the President to use seized Russian sovereign assets to fund these recovery and justice initiatives.

The American Students First Act of 2025 establishes a new limit on the enrollment of foreign students on F or M visas at U.S. universities. This legislation generally caps international student enrollment at 10% of a university's total student body. Exceptions to this cap may be granted by the President or Secretary of Homeland Security for national security reasons, up to a maximum of 15% of the student population.

This bill authorizes the planning and design for an addition to the Child Development Center (CDC) at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The total project cost is capped at \$6.5 million, with design costs limited to nine percent of that total. The design must ensure seamless integration with existing systems and allow the center to remain operational during future construction.

The Basis Shifting is a Rip-off Act tightens tax rules concerning property distributions and transfers within partnerships involving related parties. It forces immediate gain recognition on certain distributions that would otherwise allow partners to shift tax basis to avoid current taxation. These new rules apply to "applicable partnerships" and include increased penalties for non-compliance.

The Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act creates a new pathway for certain immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) history to apply for permanent residency within the U.S. This legislation also establishes strict confidentiality protections for applicants against immigration enforcement actions based on their application information. Furthermore, the bill mandates detailed reporting to Congress regarding the conditions in countries whose TPS designations are terminated. Finally, it ensures that eligibility for this new status does not preclude applicants from seeking other immigration benefits.

The Reliable Rail Service Act of 2025 strengthens service requirements for rail carriers, mandating they meet the reasonable, timely, and efficient service needs of shippers upon request. When evaluating service failure complaints, the governing Board must now consider factors like staffing levels, equipment maintenance, and local operational needs. Furthermore, the Act speeds up the resolution process for service disputes and allows the Board to order specific transit times if a carrier is found to be in violation.

The Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency Savings (MORE Savings) Act aims to increase access to evidence-based opioid treatments by testing the elimination of Medicare cost-sharing for these services in select states. It also mandates that private health plans eliminate cost-sharing for essential opioid medications, behavioral health services, and recovery support. Finally, the bill enhances federal Medicaid matching funds for medication-assisted treatment and allows states to cover related recovery support services.

The Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act establishes a pilot program to test the use of predictive risk-scoring algorithms to enhance oversight of Medicare payments for durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. This voluntary program will use smart technology to flag suspicious transactions *after* they occur, requiring human review before any payment suspension. The goal is to proactively identify and stop fraud and abuse within these specific Medicare service areas.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program managed by the Secretary of HUD to revitalize severely distressed neighborhoods marked by extreme poverty. Grantees must submit comprehensive transformation plans focused on improving housing, fostering economic self-sufficiency, and coordinating community services. A core requirement of the Act is the one-for-one replacement of any public or assisted housing units demolished as part of the revitalization effort. The law also mandates robust resident involvement and guarantees displaced residents the right to return to the newly developed housing.

The Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act mandates that Medicaid and CHIP programs comprehensively cover counseling and prescription drugs for tobacco cessation, aligning with established clinical guidelines. This coverage must be provided without any patient cost-sharing, such as copayments or deductibles. To encourage immediate adoption, the federal government will temporarily boost funding to 90% for these services and related state outreach campaigns for five years. Furthermore, the bill prohibits requiring prior authorization for tobacco cessation medications under both programs.

The Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act aims to streamline health insurance enrollment by allowing individuals to consent to use their federal tax return information for automatic enrollment into zero-net-premium affordability programs. It strengthens data sharing between the IRS and Health Insurance Exchanges to simplify eligibility checks for programs like Medicaid and CHIP. Furthermore, the bill modernizes verification processes and establishes an advisory committee to guide the implementation of these new streamlined enrollment systems.

The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 amends immigration law to address driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI/DUI) offenses. This legislation establishes that a conviction for, or admission to the underlying acts of, a DWI/DUI offense makes a non-citizen inadmissible to the United States or deportable if already present. This applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under local law.

The CHECKPOINT Act establishes a new Checkpoint Program Management Office (CPMO) within the U.S. Border Patrol to standardize and improve the oversight of all permanent and temporary checkpoints nationwide. This legislation mandates rigorous, standardized data collection on checkpoint activities, including apprehensions and seizures, and requires the development of a data improvement plan. Furthermore, the Act mandates annual reporting to Congress on checkpoint operations and detailed surveillance technology usage by CBP. Finally, all provisions of the Act are set to automatically expire five years after enactment without new funding.

The Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) publish monthly public reports detailing the number and nationalities of "special interest aliens" encountered. These reports must break down encounters by geographic region and location (e.g., port of entry vs. interior). The initial report must also retroactively cover this data from January 20, 2021, through January 19, 2025.

This bill mandates regular, targeted audits by the Secretary of Education to ensure colleges properly disclose gifts and contracts from foreign sources. It also imposes severe excise taxes on institutions receiving funds from "foreign countries of concern" or failing to report required foreign funding. These measures aim to increase transparency and accountability regarding foreign influence in higher education.

This bill prohibits males from participating in any athletic program or activity at the U.S. military service academies that is designated for women or girls. It mandates that sex in this context is defined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth. While males may practice with women's teams, they cannot displace female athletes from rosters, competition opportunities, or scholarships.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for required training programs for school food service personnel. This bill mandates that all required training must be paid for by the employer, conducted during regular work hours whenever possible, and offered at no cost to the employee. Furthermore, the Act strictly prohibits employers from penalizing staff who are unable to attend training sessions.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.