Legislation

The "Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025" aims to ease restrictions on smaller meat packers by allowing them to have ownership interests in market agencies, under certain conditions. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to revise regulations to exempt packers slaughtering below specified daily/annual livestock numbers. Market agencies must disclose relationships with packers to ensure transparency. The Act does not reduce the Secretary's broader regulatory authority under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 ensures that surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) receive increased dependency and indemnity compensation. This benefit is provided regardless of how long the veteran had ALS before passing away. The Act applies retroactively to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022.

The HELD Act aims to ensure cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. It withholds federal funding from states and local governments that prevent their law enforcement agencies from sharing information with or honoring detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security regarding immigrants in custody. The goal is to facilitate the transfer of custody of these immigrants to federal authorities for potential detention or removal proceedings. The Act also allows subdivisions of a state to apply for direct funding if the state is not eligible.

The "Upholding a Secure Postal System Act" mandates the Comptroller General to produce annual reports for five years on mail theft, delays, employee misconduct, and property crimes within the Postal Service. These reports will assess the Postal Service's strategies to combat these issues and provide recommendations for enhancements from both the Postal Service and Congress. The goal of the act is to improve the security and reliability of the postal system.

The "United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act" aims to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere by developing a comprehensive strategy to disrupt connections between illegal actors and artisanal mining, counter illicit financing, and build law enforcement capacity. It requires the Secretary of State to create a multi-year plan, brief Congress on Venezuelan illicit gold activities, and conduct international financial investigations. The act also promotes responsible gold mining practices through public-private partnerships and authorizes appropriations to support the implementation of the strategy.

The African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act facilitates the establishment of a museum at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. This museum will serve as a memorial and educational center dedicated to those enslaved and buried at the site, as well as other enslaved Africans and African Americans. The Act outlines the acquisition of property, the planning, design, and construction of the museum, and its operation in collaboration with the National Park Service and other entities. It also establishes an Advisory Council to guide the museum's development and administration.

The "End Congressional Stock Trading Act" prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks, bonds, commodities, futures, and other securities, with certain exceptions like diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Current and new members, along with their families, must divest prohibited assets within specified timeframes, with extended periods for complex investments. Violators may face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation, and the bill allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required asset sales reinvested in permissible assets.

This bill redesignates the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the "Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center" in honor of Barbara L. Cubin. It amends existing law to reflect this change, ensuring all references to the center will now bear her name.

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act focuses on land conservation and management in Colorado. It expands wilderness areas, protects wildlife corridors, and addresses land use issues within the White River National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the San Juan Mountains region. The bill also withdraws the Thompson Divide area from mineral and geothermal leasing while establishing the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This legislation aims to balance wilderness preservation, recreational use, wildlife protection, and responsible energy development, while also safeguarding existing land uses and tribal rights.

The "Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025" postpones tax deadlines and waives penalties for U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, including their spouses, by disregarding the period of detention when determining tax liabilities. It requires the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to identify affected individuals and inform the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury will establish a program for eligible individuals to apply for a refund or abatement of penalties and fines related to the "applicable period" from January 1, 2021, to the date this law is enacted. This ensures that those who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained are not penalized for their inability to meet tax obligations during their captivity.

This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a pilot program aimed at preventing vehicle-based terrorism by developing standards for suspicious activity reporting in the auto rental and sales industries, providing threat assessments, and offering guidance and technical assistance to improve reporting. It also mandates regular reports to Congress on the program's impact and a study on collaborating with rental car and ride-sharing companies to identify terrorism risks. The bill includes liability exemptions for dealers and rental companies participating in the pilot program.

The Checkpoint Modernization Act aims to improve U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints by funding renovations that enhance law enforcement safety, detect illegal activities, and reduce traffic congestion. It mandates annual reports to Congress on renovation costs, statuses, and justifications. The Act allocates at least $150 million per year from 2025 to 2028 for these upgrades, repurposing funds previously allocated to the EPA under the Clean Air Act.

The "Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025" ensures that U.S. Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers are paid during any government shutdown in fiscal year 2025. The bill appropriates the necessary funds to cover the salaries and expenses of these essential employees, guaranteeing they continue to receive paychecks even when the government is shut down.

This bill grants permanent resident status to Vichai Sae Tung (also known as Chai Chaowasaree). It requires Mr. Tung to pay all required visa fees. The Secretary of State must then reduce the number of available immigrant visas by one.

The "RESTORE Patent Rights Act of 2025" aims to strengthen patent protection by restoring the presumption that patent holders are entitled to an injunction against those who infringe on their patents. This bill seeks to reverse recent court decisions that have made it more difficult for patent owners to stop infringement, particularly benefiting individual inventors, universities, startups, and small businesses. By making it easier for patent holders to obtain injunctions, the act intends to discourage patent infringement and promote innovation.

The "Kids Access to Primary Care Act of 2025" extends and expands a provision requiring Medicaid to pay primary care providers at least the same rate as Medicare, ensuring more healthcare professionals are adequately compensated for their services. It broadens the types of providers covered and mandates that managed care entities meet these payment standards. Additionally, the Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study comparing the number of children enrolled in Medicaid before and after the change, the number of healthcare providers receiving Medicaid payments for primary care before and after the same change in the law, and healthcare provider payment rates for primary care services under Medicaid across states after the change.

The "Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act" enhances watershed protection measures, mandates a national study on agricultural flood vulnerability, and increases federal cost share to 90% for rehabilitation projects, improving long-term watershed health and reducing flood risks to agriculture.

The "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act" amends the Social Security Act to revise eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It ensures these individuals are eligible for SSI regardless of their spouse's income and resources. This change allows eligible individuals to receive the standard individual SSI rate, reduced only by their own income.

The "Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act" prevents the implementation of the May 10, 2024 final rule mandating minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities and Medicaid payment transparency reporting and establishes an advisory panel to assess and provide recommendations on strengthening the nursing home workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The panel will analyze workforce shortages, evaluate related regulations, and propose solutions to reduce burdens and enhance training, submitting annual reports to Congress and the public.

The Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to ensure that Native American patients are not liable for payment for authorized purchased/referred care, regardless of any prior agreements. It mandates the Secretary to notify providers and patients about non-liability, establish reimbursement procedures for patients who paid out-of-pocket, and update relevant manuals and contracts to reflect these changes. The Act also updates terminology within the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, replacing "contract health service(s)" with "purchased/referred care" to modernize and clarify the language used. These amendments apply retroactively, covering care authorized both before and after the Act's enactment.