Legislation

The Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA) modernizes copyright registration for visual artists by shifting deposit requirements to electronic copies and establishing third-party registries for photographs. The bill also introduces new options for group registration and deferred registration to ease the filing burden. Finally, VACRA mandates the development of modern application systems and creates reduced, subscription-based fee structures for visual creators.

The Payer State Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the annual calculation of how much each state contributes to federal taxes and how much it receives in federal spending. These figures, detailing each state's federal tax burden and outlays, must be compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Management and Budget. The resulting joint report must then be submitted to Congress and made publicly available online.

The Electric Supply Chain Act mandates the Secretary of Energy to conduct periodic assessments of the nation's electricity generation and transmission supply chain. This process requires consultation with relevant stakeholders to identify risks and vulnerabilities. The Secretary must then report these findings, including recommendations for strengthening the supply chain and reducing reliance on foreign entities of concern, to Congress.

This bill establishes a pilot program for testing emerging technologies to control moisture and prevent mold in military family housing. It also mandates the standardization of mold remediation guidelines across all military departments. The goal is to improve living conditions by proactively addressing moisture-related issues in covered housing.

The UPLIFT Act establishes a new, refundable residential energy tax credit for taxpayers facing significant increases in electricity, natural gas, or propane costs. This credit, capped at \$1,200 or \$2,400 for joint filers, is only available when energy price inflation exceeds 2% year-over-year. The benefit is subject to an income-based phase-out for higher-earning households.

The Quantum Leaders Education and Advancement Program Act (QLEAP) reauthorizes and extends the National Science Foundation's Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program. This extension continues support for developing the next generation of quantum science and technology leaders.

The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 seeks to significantly reform and strengthen benefits for coal miners suffering from black lung disease by clarifying eligibility rules, improving access to medical evidence, and increasing financial support. The bill also permanently establishes the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor and modernizes various technical and definitional aspects of the Black Lung Benefits Act. Overall, this legislation aims to make securing benefits easier and faster for disabled miners and their families while increasing accountability for coal operators.

The Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act mandates that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) submit annual reports to Congress detailing the status of specific, long-pending hydropower license applications. These reports will cover new, subsequent, and original license applications where intent to file was declared at least three years prior. The goal is to increase oversight and provide clarity on the timeline and progress of these complex licensing processes.

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to strengthen survivor benefit presumptions for miners who died from black lung disease. It establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical expenses for claimants with long-pending cases. Finally, the bill mandates the GAO to conduct several studies on benefit payment sufficiency and the impact of interim payment recoupment.

This act reauthorizes and updates the Wildlife Road Crossing Program, ensuring continued federal funding through 2031. It removes the "pilot" designation and makes key changes to support tribal participation, including 100% federal cost-sharing for tribal grants. The legislation also allocates funds for technical assistance to tribes and covers administrative costs for program management.

The Timeshare Transparency Act establishes new federal requirements to protect consumers during timeshare purchases. It mandates that sales agreements clearly itemize all costs, outline fee change procedures, list exit options, and include a 14-day penalty-free cancellation period. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these new transparency standards.

This bill establishes the Calumet National Heritage Area across parts of Indiana and Illinois, recognizing its unique blend of industrial history, cultural diversity, and significant natural resources. It designates the Calumet Heritage Partnership as the local entity responsible for managing the area. The legislation requires the submission of a management plan within three years, while federal funding authority is set to terminate 15 years after enactment.

The EQIP Improvement Act of 2025 reforms the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by adjusting payment limits for conservation practices and establishing a new, lower overall payment cap of $150,000 per entity. This legislation also mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit an annual report to Congress detailing funding obligations by state, practice category, and producer operation size.

The No Red Tape For Addiction Treatment Act aims to improve access to care for opioid use disorder by requiring state Medicaid programs to cover essential medication-assisted treatments without imposing prior authorization or dosage limits. This legislation ensures that necessary treatments are readily available to patients. Additionally, the bill mandates a report from MACPAC to study current utilization management controls and administrative burdens affecting treatment access under Medicaid.

The Strong Ports, Strong Communities Act establishes a new grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to modernize U.S. land ports of entry and improve essential community infrastructure near them. This funding is available to state, tribal, and local governments, as well as certain utilities and nonprofits, for projects supporting cross-border trade, security, and local resilience. The Act allocates a total authorization of $3 billion and prioritizes rural areas, while generally requiring a 30% non-federal match for recipients.

The Accountable Leadership for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to enhance leadership accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It increases the percentage of Senior Executive Service positions that can be filled by noncareer appointees. Additionally, the bill establishes two new Senate-confirmed positions: the Under Secretary for Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits.

The Medicare Investment and Gun Violence Prevention Act reinstates federal taxes on the transfer and manufacture of certain firearms, setting the tax at $200 per firearm. This legislation also provides $1.7 billion in additional funding for the Medicare Part A Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026.

This bill proposes to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) 240 days after enactment. Congress finds that the current interpretation of the 2001 AUMF grants overly broad, open-ended military authority. The legislation aims to restore Congress's constitutional role in authorizing military action.

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 strengthens survivor benefits for miners who died from black lung disease by creating stronger legal presumptions and restoring older disability definitions. The bill also establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical costs for protracted claims, paid initially by the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Finally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office review of interim benefit recoupment, payment sufficiency, and survivor claim regulations.

This bill mandates that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) exempt Members of the House of Representatives and Senators from standard federal passenger and baggage screening when traveling between their home airport and any other location. It specifically removes a previous exemption related to leadership roles. The goal is to provide this screening exemption for all members of Congress during their travel.