Legislation

This bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2026 across procurement, research, operations, and personnel. It imposes significant new oversight, reporting, and planning requirements on major weapon systems and military readiness, while also addressing healthcare expansions, acquisition modernization, and strategic competition with foreign adversaries. Additionally, the legislation includes authorizations for military construction, intelligence activities, Coast Guard operations, and reforms to federal housing and State Department functions.

The Quantum Leadership in Emerging Applications and Policy Act of 2025 establishes the Commission on American Quantum Information Science and Technology Dominance. This 12-member commission will review the nation's position in quantum science and technology to ensure U.S. global leadership. The group is tasked with developing recommendations for investment, workforce development, and national security strategies related to quantum advancements. The Commission will issue an interim report after one year and a final report two years after its establishment.

The Small Business Investor Tax Parity Act of 2025 updates the tax code to allow certain dividends from Business Development Companies (BDCs) to qualify for the existing qualified business income deduction. This change specifically targets dividends derived from a BDC's net interest income, provided the BDC has elected to be treated as a Regulated Investment Company. The provisions are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

The Veterans' Infrastructure and Transformation Act of 2025 (VITAL Act) comprehensively reforms how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages its physical assets and construction. This bill streamlines facility management by consolidating construction, leasing, and acquisition functions under centralized leadership and modernizes building standards. It also establishes pilot programs to test non-cash property leases and requires a long-term strategic plan for VA infrastructure modernization. Crucially, all new obligations under this Act remain strictly contingent upon available Congressional appropriations.

The Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025 expands the federal authority for qualified current and retired prosecutors and Federal judges to carry concealed firearms across state lines. This authority mirrors that currently granted to law enforcement officers. To qualify, individuals must meet specific identification and ongoing firearms training certification requirements set by their former agency, state, or a certified instructor. The bill also provides definitions for who qualifies as a "qualified prosecutor" or "qualified Federal judge" under these new provisions.

The Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act establishes a grant program to fund organizations that train and certify community mental wellness workers. These workers will be equipped to provide culturally competent screening and basic evidence-based interventions for common mental health and substance use issues. The bill prioritizes funding for entities serving medically underserved communities and includes malpractice liability protections for participating workers.

The Reducing Unnecessary Slowdowns in Handling Act establishes strict new processing deadlines for the ATF regarding general and firearm license applications. It mandates quarterly public reporting to Congress detailing application status, processing times, and reasons for delays or denials. Furthermore, the bill requires the ATF to implement internal appeal processes and streamline existing procedures to meet these new timelines without requiring additional funding.

The Official Time Reporting Act establishes a new annual reporting requirement for federal agencies regarding the time their employees spend on union business while on the clock. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must compile and publicly release a detailed report analyzing this "official time" usage, costs, and impact across the government. This legislation mandates transparency by requiring agencies to submit detailed data, including explanations for any increases in time usage, to OPM for inclusion in the public report.

The Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans Act (ACE Veterans Act) allows enrolled veterans to receive a full year's supply of FDA-approved contraceptive products at one time. This change applies to birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, and similar items prescribed by a VA doctor. The VA provider must inform the veteran of this option when writing the prescription.

The New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025 establishes a new program to coordinate the restoration and protection of fish and wildlife habitats across the New York-New Jersey Watershed. This legislation creates a competitive grant program to fund local restoration projects, with special consideration for communities facing environmental injustice. The Act authorizes $20 million annually through fiscal year 2031 to support these science-based conservation efforts.

The American Workforce Act establishes a new federally supported program managed by the Commerce Department to create formal, on-the-job training contracts between businesses and qualified U.S. citizens without a bachelor's degree. These contracts require employers to provide paid work, structured education, and aim for specific wage outcomes, supported by government education subsidies and hiring bonuses. The Act mandates rigorous reporting on program success, compliance monitoring, and includes a sunset provision, causing the program to automatically expire after ten years unless reauthorized.

The Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help local governments create health-centered alternatives for responding to mental health emergencies. These funds will support initiatives like integrating mental health professionals into 911 dispatch and streamlining transfers to crisis hotlines. Grantees must report annually on response times, use of force, and diversion to treatment, while the law explicitly preserves existing law enforcement roles.

The Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a national framework to guarantee universal access to high-quality, regulated child care and early learning programs for every young child. It mandates federal standards for quality, ensures child care staff receive pay comparable to K-12 employees, and requires local coordination with school systems. Furthermore, the bill protects existing state funding levels and caps family fees based on income.

The Fair Access to Swift and Timely Justice Act, or FAST Justice Act, allows federal employees or job applicants to file a civil lawsuit in federal district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) fails to issue a decision on their appeal within 120 days. This provision provides an alternative remedy when the MSPB's review process causes undue delay. Filing a lawsuit pauses the MSPB appeal, but the original appeal rights remain intact if the lawsuit is dismissed.

The Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act of 2025 establishes new federal requirements for tracking the transfer of highly pathogenic biological agents by requiring distributors to maintain detailed sales logs. It also mandates a comprehensive, ongoing evaluation of all high-containment laboratories (BSL-3 and above) to assess national biosafety and biosecurity readiness. The bill further directs the creation of a centralized team to coordinate oversight and provide resources to state and local agencies regarding lab safety. Finally, it requires a study on establishing a national database of these high-containment facilities.

The Living Wage for Musicians Act of 2025 establishes the Artist Compensation Royalty Fund, financed by a mandatory new "living wage royalty fee" charged to streaming subscribers and a percentage of service providers' non-subscription revenue. This fund will distribute 90% of its proceeds quarterly to eligible featured artists based on their stream share, with the remaining 10% going to non-featured artists via established unions. The Act also mandates that streaming platforms clearly itemize this new fee and subjects them to audits by the designated Fund Administrator.

The Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the online sale and trafficking of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine. This study will examine supply chains, financial transactions, current federal enforcement strategies, and the role of technology platforms in combating these illegal sales. The GAO is required to submit a full report detailing its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2025 comprehensively bans racial profiling by law enforcement nationwide, establishing clear legal recourse for victims of profiling. It mandates that federal, state, and local agencies adopt anti-profiling policies, tying state and local funding to compliance. Furthermore, the Act establishes a strict national system for collecting and publicly reporting detailed, anonymized data on police stops to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Fair Warning Act of 2025 significantly updates the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to strengthen advance notice requirements for employers facing site closings or mass layoffs. It clarifies key definitions, establishes a mandatory 90-day notice period, and mandates the creation of a public database for all layoff notices. Furthermore, the bill clarifies enforcement mechanisms, increases potential penalties for violations, and ensures employees cannot easily waive their WARN Act rights.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the White House Medical Unit (WHMU) as it approaches its 80th anniversary in 2025. It commends the unit's dedicated service in providing immediate, high-quality medical care to the President, Vice President, and executive leadership worldwide. The bill specifically thanks the military personnel who staff the WHMU for their critical role in national security and the continuity of government operations.