Legislation

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend certain leave benefits currently available to commissioned officers in the Army to commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and their beneficiaries. It directly incorporates leave provisions from Title 10 of the U.S. Code into the PHS framework. The legislation also repeals an outdated section of the Public Health Service Act.

This bill establishes a federal grant program to help states implement tuition-free community college for eligible students. States receiving funds must create comprehensive plans to align education with workforce needs, prioritize credential attainment, and provide robust student support services. The legislation also mandates subgrants for institutions to offer wraparound services and emergency aid to ensure student persistence and completion. Finally, the bill requires extensive annual reporting and public data dashboards to track the program's impact on enrollment, completion, and employment outcomes.

The Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act ensures that veterans' disability compensation or pension payments are excluded when determining income eligibility for low-income housing tax credits and related rental project bonds. This change prevents veterans from being penalized for their service-related benefits when applying for affordable housing assistance. The Act takes effect immediately upon passage.

The Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act establishes an Advisory Committee on Falls Prevention within the Administration on Aging to coordinate federal efforts and develop a national plan to reduce falls among older adults. This committee will evaluate existing programs and recommend priority actions, including pilot programs for Medicare coverage of home modifications to prevent falls. The Assistant Secretary will also submit regular reports to Congress on national progress and recommendations for reducing the financial burden of falls.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the regulatory pathway for biosimilar biological products by making technical and structural updates to existing law. This legislation clarifies when a biosimilar is automatically deemed "interchangeable" with its reference product, protecting existing exclusivity periods. Furthermore, it updates conforming language across federal drug laws and clarifies pediatric testing requirements for biosimilar applications.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025 establishes a competitive federal grant program to help states create or expand high-quality, full-day prekindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Federal funding will cover up to 80% of program costs, requiring states to use the money to supplement, not supplant, existing early childhood education funding. Programs must be housed in public schools and taught by qualified educators.

The Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2025 updates federal disaster preparedness by clarifying which building codes apply to mitigation plans. It also streamlines the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program through technical amendments. Crucially, the Act establishes a new pilot program to provide grants to homeowners for retrofitting their residences against local natural hazards, with a required evaluation of its effectiveness.

The Indian Trust Asset Reform Amendment Act updates existing law to clarify participation in the Indian Trust Asset Management Project for federally recognized tribes and their organizations. This legislation grants tribes with approved management plans greater authority to manage their trust assets, such as leasing or forest management, without prior secretarial approval. The amendments also ensure that participation in the management project does not negatively impact a tribe's eligibility for federal funding.

The Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement Operations Expansion Act encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance joint law enforcement operations with Canada across land, air, and sea borders. This legislation also grants authority to establish agreements that provide legal protections to designated foreign law enforcement officers working alongside U.S. Customs officials. Furthermore, it allows for the stationing of U.S. law enforcement personnel overseas and the acceptance of foreign personnel in the U.S. for cooperative security missions.

The Peace Through Strength Act of 2025 officially renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This change, which also renames the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War, aims to better reflect the nation's resolve and willingness to fight to protect its interests. The Act mandates that all references to the former name throughout the U.S. Code and official documents be updated to reflect the new title.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

The Tax Court Improvement Act modifies the Internal Revenue Code to enhance the efficiency and fairness of U.S. Tax Court proceedings. Key changes include granting judges expanded subpoena power to facilitate pre-hearing settlements and allowing Special Trial Judges to hear more cases with party consent. Furthermore, the Act applies federal conflict-of-interest standards to Tax Court judges and clarifies the court's authority to extend filing deadlines in deficiency cases based on equitable principles.

This Act co-designates the Arlington Memorial Bridge as the United States-Mexican War Memorial to honor the historical significance of the war. The designation is honorary and does not change the bridge's operational name or function. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to install limited, non-structural commemorative elements, which must be funded entirely through private donations.

The Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act allows private operators of contract postal units to temporarily continue service after a non-fault-based contract termination. If the operator chooses this option, the existing agreement generally remains in effect without further Postal Service payments until the contractor terminates, breaches the agreement, or closes the location. The Postmaster General retains discretion to establish payment terms for this continued operation.

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2017 rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population within 180 days. This reissuance must occur without regard to other applicable laws governing final rules. Furthermore, the reissued 2017 rule is explicitly shielded from judicial review.

The Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act of 2025 significantly increases mandatory minimum prison sentences for several serious violent crimes in the District of Columbia. This legislation raises the minimum penalties for offenses including first-degree murder, rape, carjacking, and first-degree burglary. The changes will only apply to criminal acts committed on or after the date the bill is officially enacted into law.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2025 raises the mandatory retirement age for pilots in certain commercial operations, generally known as Part 121 flights, from 65 to 67. This change allows experienced pilots to continue flying in covered operations until they reach the new age limit. The bill also includes provisions protecting pilots and carriers who acted under previous regulations and requires the FAA to report on potentially raising the age further.