Legislation

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding waste emissions charges for petroleum and natural gas systems. The rule outlined compliance procedures, netting, and exemptions, but will no longer be implemented.

The Period PROUD Act of 2025 increases funding for the Social Services Block Grant Program, earmarking $200 million annually from 2026-2029 for providing menstrual products to low-income individuals. States will distribute these funds to eligible entities, who will then provide free products, conduct community outreach, and improve access to menstrual products. The Department of Health and Human Services will evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to Congress. This act ensures that access to menstrual products does not affect eligibility for other federal needs-based programs.

The "United States Trade Leadership in the Indo-Pacific Act" aims to bolster U.S. trade competitiveness and economic leadership in the Indo-Pacific region. It directs the International Trade Commission to investigate the impact of Indo-Pacific trade agreements on U.S. competitiveness and establishes an independent commission to develop a comprehensive trade strategy for the region. The goal is to counter China's growing influence, promote American values, strengthen the U.S. economy, and enhance supply chain resilience. The commission will develop a comprehensive trade strategy for the region to ensure continued U.S. economic and geopolitical leadership.

The EITC Modernization Act expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include all taxpayers with dependents and qualifying students, setting a minimum credit of \$1,200 for these groups. It allows taxpayers eligible for refunds exceeding \$240 to receive the EITC in monthly payments and lowers the minimum age for eligible individuals without dependents to 18. The act also establishes a grant program to support volunteer tax assistance programs for low-income taxpayers, prioritizing programs that reach underserved populations and educate people about income supports like the EITC.

The "PATROL Act" prevents the Department of Justice from suing states for building barriers along their borders to prevent illegal immigration and protect their territory. This bill specifically applies to civil actions under Section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899, concerning unauthorized obstruction of navigable waters. The term "barrier" includes physical structures like walls, fences, or floating buoys.

The "Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve the calculation and reduce taxpayer costs of payment errors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It sets the tolerance level for excluding small errors at $0 and increases the error threshold from 10% to 25%. The bill also introduces a payment error rate reduction based on the percentage of overpayments recouped and requires state agencies to recoup overpayments made to benefit recipients.

The "Modern GI Bill Act" allows veterans to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to repay federal student loans, with a maximum annual payment of $15,900 in 2026, adjusted annually thereafter. Payments are limited to a total of 36 months and are made directly to the loan lender. This benefit is non-transferable and applies to educational assistance paid for months beginning on or after the enactment of this Act.

The Higher Education Accountability Tax Act modifies the excise tax on investment income of private colleges and universities. It raises the excise tax rate from 1.4 percent to 10 percent and adds an additional tax increase for institutions with net prices that rise faster than the Consumer Price Index. The bill also expands the number of institutions subject to the tax by decreasing the asset threshold from $500,000 to $250,000. These modifications will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2024.

The "Student Empowerment Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 savings accounts to cover a broader range of K-12 educational expenses, including homeschooling costs. Qualified expenses include tuition, curriculum, books, online resources, tutoring, standardized tests, dual enrollment fees, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. These changes aim to give parents more flexibility in funding their children's education.

The "Defending Veterans Second Amendment Rights Act" prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from sending veterans' personal information to the national criminal background check system when the determination is solely based on the veteran having a service-connected disability. This ensures veterans' Second Amendment rights are not infringed upon due to a disability determination.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act of 2025 allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart after September 11, 2001, to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to eligible family members. It defines eligible dependents, sets conditions for benefit use, and allows veterans to modify or revoke transfers. The bill also addresses scenarios involving the death of the veteran and sets age limits for child transferees, ensuring dependents receive the same educational assistance as the veteran.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from requiring individuals to endorse certain ideologies or share personal information related to race, ethnicity, or related concepts. It prevents institutions from compelling statements about diversity, equity, and inclusion, or giving preferential treatment based on unsolicited statements supporting such ideologies. The bill does not restrict academic research or prevent individuals from voluntarily providing information.

The "Protecting Taxpayers from Student Loan Bailouts Act" limits the Secretary of Education's authority to propose regulations or executive actions related to student loans under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Specifically, the Secretary cannot proceed with any regulation or action if it is deemed economically significant (an economic impact of $100,000,000 or more) and would increase subsidy costs. This limitation is in addition to other cost analysis requirements.

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" aims to protect consumers by enhancing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's authority over household goods shipping. It allows for civil penalties for violations, enables states to use grant funds for enforcement and retain penalties, and mandates specific registration requirements, including the designation of a principal place of business for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. This will help ensure better oversight and accountability in the household goods transportation industry.

This bill aims to block the export of certain Boeing-made weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) variants and Small Diameter Bombs, to Israel's Ministry of Defense by preventing the issuance of a license amendment. It specifically targets the transfer of 15,500 JDAM tail kits and 615 Small Diameter Bombs.

The "Small Business Technological Act of 2025" amends the Small Business Act, enabling the Small Business Administration to provide loans to small businesses for the adoption of modern business software and cloud computing technologies. These loans can be used for software that improves business operations, product delivery, payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. The Act clarifies that it does not authorize loans for research and development.

This bill establishes a Commission on Federal Natural Disaster Resilience and Recovery to examine and recommend reforms to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and budget funding of federal programs supporting natural disaster resilience and recovery. The commission will consist of 15 members appointed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, representing various levels of government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. The Commission is required to submit a final report to Congress with recommendations within 2 years of its first meeting, with interim reports every 180 days after the bill's enactment. Funding for the commission will come from existing appropriations to the Office of Management and Budget.

This bill expresses condolences for the 67 lives lost in the American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. It recognizes the impact on Wichita, Kansas, and acknowledges the cooperation of officials in responding to the tragedy and assisting the families. The bill also commends the heroic actions of first responders and emergency services personnel.

The American Values Act seeks to permanently enact provisions that prevent foreign aid from being used to fund abortions, involuntary sterilizations, or related biomedical research as methods of family planning. It also prohibits lobbying for or against abortion with foreign aid funds and ensures that the Peace Corps Act aligns with these restrictions.

The WALL Act of 2025 allocates $25 billion for constructing a physical barrier on the southern border. It offsets this spending by tightening eligibility requirements for tax credits like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, requiring E-Verify for federal benefits and housing programs, and increasing fines for illegal entry and visa overstays.