Legislation

The DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act directs the Department of Energy and NASA to formally collaborate on research and development projects that benefit both agencies. This collaboration focuses on key areas such as advanced propulsion, quantum information sciences, and Arctic resilience. The bill also establishes new mechanisms for transferring research funds between federal agencies to support NASA's science and engineering missions.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning adherence to the text of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this resolution immediately nullifies the proposed HHS policy. Consequently, the new rule regarding APA adherence will have no legal effect.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of October 20 to October 24, 2025, as "Careers in Energy Week." It aims to recognize the vital contributions of the energy workforce and highlight the growing career opportunities across the sector. The bill encourages promoting energy education and fostering partnerships to develop a skilled pipeline for future energy needs.

The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees and contractors deemed essential are automatically paid for the work they perform during a lapse in appropriations, starting in fiscal year 2026. This automatic funding mechanism from the Treasury covers standard pay and benefits for excepted employees until Congress passes a full-year budget. Once regular funding is enacted, these payments are charged against the agency's final appropriation.

The Border Lands Conservation Act focuses on enhancing border security and managing federal lands adjacent to the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. It mandates infrastructure improvements, allows for increased access to wilderness areas for security operations, and establishes a new initiative to manage hazardous fuels near the border. Furthermore, the Act requires extensive reporting on environmental damage caused by illegal immigration and prohibits using federal funds to house undocumented immigrants on most federal lands.

The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 ensures that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption, even if Congress fails to pass the Department of Agriculture's budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain payments and cover any retroactive benefits missed due to the delay. This temporary funding mechanism remains active until the regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are officially enacted.

The American Workforce Act establishes a new Division within the Commerce Department to administer a program offering paid, on-the-job training contracts between employers and prospective trainees. This program provides employers with education subsidies and hiring bonuses for training U.S. citizens who lack a bachelor's degree for high-wage jobs. The Act mandates rigorous reporting, compliance checks, and sets an automatic sunset date for the program after ten years, contingent upon evaluation reports to Congress.

The 21st Century Dyslexia Act formally recognizes dyslexia under federal education law by updating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) definition of specific learning disabilities. This legislation provides a clear definition of dyslexia, emphasizing unexpected reading difficulty due to phonological processing challenges. Furthermore, the Act ensures equitable access to necessary accommodations and services for all eligible children, specifically addressing disparities for low-income and English language learner students.

The HOME Reform Act of 2025 updates the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act by redefining eligibility for low-income assistance and expanding local flexibility in using housing funds. It allows certain infrastructure spending adjacent to affordable housing and streamlines environmental review processes for smaller projects. Furthermore, the bill removes expiration dates on certain trust funds and adjusts affordability standards for homeownership and rental units.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to issue guidance encouraging banks and lenders to support consumers and businesses impacted by a government shutdown. This guidance must promote flexible loan modifications and prevent negative credit reporting for those experiencing lost income. Furthermore, regulators must quickly inform the public when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The SAFE Drivers Act mandates that all applicants for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or learner's permit must pass a standardized English proficiency test approved by the FMCSA. This requirement applies immediately upon the bill's enactment for all new and renewing applicants. States are responsible for administering the test, and failure to comply with these new federal oversight rules may result in the withholding of federal highway funding.

The Non-Essential Workers Transparency Act mandates that federal agencies must report detailed data regarding staffing levels and salary expenditures before and during any lapse in appropriations, or government shutdown. These individual agency reports must be submitted to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and relevant congressional committees within 30 days of the shutdown's end. Furthermore, congressional committees are required to publicly post these reports online, and OPM must issue a consolidated report summarizing the impact across all affected agencies.

Connor's Law establishes a mandatory English language proficiency requirement for all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators. Drivers must be able to read traffic signs, communicate with the public and officials, and complete necessary paperwork in English. Failure to meet this standard will result in the driver being immediately placed out of service.

The Fight Hunger Act introduces a new, elective tax credit for individuals who make qualified charitable donations of cash or wholesome food to organizations dedicated to feeding the ill, needy, or infants. This credit equals the donation amount, but taxpayers cannot claim a standard deduction for the same contribution. Any unused credit can be carried forward for up to five years, with the provisions taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution recognizes the accomplishments of former President Donald J. Trump, specifically commending his leadership in launching Operation Warp Speed. It highlights the success of this public-private partnership in rapidly developing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Consequently, the resolution recommends that President Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026 for these life-saving efforts.

The Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025 mandates that federal and state prisons use an inmate's biological sex for housing assignments to ensure separation between sexes. This law requires the Bureau of Prisons to adhere to biological sex standards and conditions federal funding for states on their compliance with similar housing restrictions. The goal is to prevent violence by ensuring inmates are housed according to their biological sex, with limited exceptions for temporary situations.

This Act prohibits health plans offered through the American Health Benefits Exchanges from covering abortion or gender-transition procedures for minors. Coverage for abortion is only permitted in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. The legislation broadly defines gender-transition procedures, with limited exceptions for individuals born with ambiguous biological characteristics. These changes will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Youth Prevention and Recovery Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and extends the existing Youth Prevention and Recovery program through Fiscal Year 2030. This bill expands eligibility for grants to include consortia of local educational agencies and refines the focus to target youth at increased risk for substance misuse. It also adds a requirement for grantees to submit sustainability plans for post-grant activities.

The Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2025 aims to prevent brand-name manufacturers from using procedural tactics to delay the approval of generic drugs. This bill tightens FDA guidelines to identify and address citizen petitions filed primarily for the purpose of delay. Furthermore, it establishes a mandatory administrative process that litigants must complete before filing a lawsuit challenging a generic drug approval.

The Main Street Depositor Protection Act significantly boosts federal deposit insurance for specific business accounts by adding up to an extra \$10 million in coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts at most banks and credit unions. This enhanced coverage is designed to protect essential operating funds for businesses, excluding those at globally systemically important banks. The bill also mandates a 10-year phase-in period for how these newly insured deposits affect insurance assessments for smaller institutions.