Legislation

The "Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government Act" or "SWAG Act" prohibits federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars for publicity or propaganda purposes. Specifically, it restricts the use of federal funds for swag and mascots, with limited exceptions for recruitment, census activities, and items that generate a positive return on investment. The Act also mandates agencies to report their public relations and advertising spending to Congress annually, including an estimate of the return on investment.

The "America First Act" seeks to limit eligibility for federal benefits for certain immigrants by modifying existing laws related to public benefits, healthcare, housing, and financial aid. It restricts access to programs like Head Start, Medicaid, and housing assistance based on immigration status, and it requires stricter verification of citizenship for programs like WIC and school meals. The bill also reduces funding for sanctuary jurisdictions and places limitations on refugee resettlement and FEMA programs. Additionally, it modifies the child tax credit and earned income tax credit, requiring social security numbers for both the taxpayer and qualifying children.

This resolution expresses support for designating February 28, 2025, as Community Arts Education Day. It recognizes the importance of community arts education in fostering creativity, cultural expression, and community engagement. The resolution also acknowledges the role of community arts education in activism, self-expression, and healing.

The "Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act" or the "HITS Act" allows taxpayers to elect to treat qualified sound recording production costs as expenses rather than capital expenditures, up to $150,000 per production or in the aggregate for all productions in a taxable year. It also classifies these productions as qualified property for bonus depreciation purposes and defines a qualified sound recording production as one produced and recorded in the United States. This applies to productions starting in taxable years ending after the enactment of this Act.

The PASTURES Act limits the ability of the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to penalize livestock owners for grazing on specific federal lands where grazing was previously allowed but is now prohibited, unless a fence is present to prevent such grazing. The relevant Secretary will be responsible for all costs associated with building and maintaining the fence. This applies to National Forest System lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands, and public lands bordering private property.

The "All Aboard Act" ensures Amtrak passengers receive refunds for significant delays or cancellations caused by Amtrak's failures. It requires the Department of Transportation to set refund regulations, mandates Amtrak to shift away from a "run-to-fail" maintenance model, and threatens the loss of federal funding for non-compliance. This act aims to hold Amtrak accountable for service disruptions and improve its maintenance practices.

The "Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restrict the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Archer MSAs, health flexible spending arrangements, health reimbursement arrangements, and retiree health accounts for abortion expenses. Exceptions are made only in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman's life is in danger, as certified by a physician. These provisions generally take effect for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025, with some provisions also applying to expenses incurred after this date.

The "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding to colleges and universities that host or are affiliated with school-based service sites that provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. To remain eligible for federal funds, these institutions must annually certify that their school-based service sites do not offer these services. Compliance with this law protects institutions from penalties under state law.

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Foreign Relations to spend money from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027, to cover expenses, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government entities. It sets specific spending limits for different periods, including allocations for consultants and staff training. The resolution also outlines the procedures for covering the committee's expenses and agency contributions, primarily through the Senate's contingent fund.

The "Rural Health Care Access Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to allow states to designate rural facilities as critical access hospitals without mileage limitations. This change broadens access to essential healthcare services in rural areas by removing previous mileage restrictions for hospital designation. The amendments apply to hospital designations or redesignations made on or after the enactment of this act, including any redesignations made before the enactment.

The "Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025" allows individuals who underwent gender-transition procedures as minors to sue medical practitioners for damages resulting from those procedures up to 30 years after turning 18. It also protects medical practitioners' freedom to not perform gender-transition procedures and prohibits federal funding to states that require them. The bill defines "gender-transition procedure" and "biological sex," and specifies that the Act will take effect immediately upon enactment.

The "Pregnancy Is Not an Illness Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from classifying pregnancy as an illness when approving abortion drugs or setting risk management strategies for these drugs. It invalidates any prior abortion drug approvals that were based on classifying pregnancy as an illness, including the approval of mifepristone.

The "Defund Planned Parenthood Act" prohibits the federal government from providing any funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates. This bill aims to eliminate all federal financial support for the organization and its related entities.

The "FLASH Act of 2025" amends the Public Health Service Act to enhance the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority's (BARDA) ability to rapidly acquire critical medical supplies and countermeasures. It broadens the scope of permissible tests and prototypes, allows follow-on production contracts, permits purchases for experimental purposes, and authorizes the acquisition of innovative commercial products and services. The Act also introduces requirements for fixed-price contracts, congressional notification for large contracts, and defines "innovative" technologies.

This bill amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand eligibility and increase compensation for individuals affected by radiation exposure from Manhattan Project waste and uranium mining. It extends the claim filing period, allows for the use of affidavits as evidence, and establishes a grant program for studying the health impacts of uranium mining. The bill also addresses compensation for those present downwind of atmospheric nuclear testing, and directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a cooperative agreement to protect human and ecological health at the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.

The "MAKERS Act" directs the National Science Foundation to award grants supporting research and development in makerspaces, with the goal of enhancing STEM education, workforce skills, and community engagement. Priority is given to applicants that partner with workforce development organizations, serve high-need areas, or are minority-serving institutions or community colleges, especially those in rural communities. These grants will fund research on makerspace effectiveness, equipment purchases, and other related activities to foster a skilled STEM workforce.

This bill allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart after 9/11 to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to eligible family members. It outlines the terms of benefit usage, including age limits for children, and what happens to the benefits in the event of the veteran's or dependent's death. The Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Defense, will create regulations for this program.

The Accountability for Veterans Act mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deliver a report to Congress. This report will address the backlog of disability claims appeals, ways to improve resources for service members and their spouses in the Transition Assistance Program, and management issues impacting the VA's lowest-rated health care systems. The report is due within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act" allows state, tribal, and local governments in North Carolina to be reimbursed for repairing or replacing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, even with pre-existing damage, if they are the sole access to homes or essential services. Reimbursement requires government inspection, maintaining access during repairs, cost documentation, and adherence to regulations. Individuals who already received disaster assistance for road or bridge repairs can choose to continue with that assistance or return the funds to be eligible for reimbursement under this act.

The "James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell Congressional Gold Medal Act" posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, the only civilian members of Andrews' Raiders, for their extraordinary bravery and service to the Union during the Civil War. The medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display, with the hope that it will be prominently featured at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum. The Act also authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to offset production costs.