Legislation

The Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act ensures that essential U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who must work during a government shutdown in fiscal year 2026 will receive their salaries. This legislation appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury to cover these payments during the lapse in appropriations. The goal is to guarantee that critical border security personnel are paid even if the government temporarily closes.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire or build a new, cloud-based inventory management system for VHA medical facilities. Before implementation, a pilot program must be conducted, and a detailed modernization report must be submitted to Congress. Additionally, the Act extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until the end of 2032.

The Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act prohibits the knowing distribution of materially deceptive, AI-generated audio or visual media of federal candidates close to an election with the intent to influence the outcome. This ban includes exceptions for legitimate news reporting, satire, and parody, provided proper disclosures are made. Candidates whose likeness is used deceptively can sue for immediate removal of the content and damages.

The Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive review of the technical assistance the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides for clean water infrastructure projects. This review will examine what assistance is available, how partners are selected, and whether the aid effectively meets community needs without duplication. Following the report, the EPA Administrator must submit annual plans to Congress detailing steps taken to implement the GAO's recommendations.

The SAFE Ride Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program administered by NHTSA to enhance electric bike (e-bike) safety across the nation. To qualify for funding, states must demonstrate commitment to key safety measures, including enforcing shared system rules, promoting helmet use, and collecting comprehensive accident data. The Act also tasks the Secretary of Transportation with developing national recommendations for helmet use for minors and creating public safety education curricula.

The Thriving Community Gardens Act expands how schools can use existing health and wellness funds to support student well-being. This includes funding for nutrition education, structured physical education, and the creation and maintenance of school or community gardens. The bill also requires the Secretary of Education to collect data on these garden projects and share best practices publicly and regularly.

The DC CRIMES Act of 2025 significantly reforms the treatment of youth offenders by lowering the age eligibility for youth offender status to under 18. It also mandates the creation of a public website managed by the Attorney General to transparently report detailed, monthly juvenile crime statistics. This legislation streamlines facility planning for youth services and requires the sharing of previously protected juvenile records to populate the new data portal.

The Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act modernizes the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) by updating communication requirements and mandating a public transparency dashboard. Crucially, it authorizes the collection of registration fees from members based on transplant candidates to fund OPTN operations. The bill also requires quarterly public reporting on fee collection and usage, subject to a future GAO review.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule that extended compliance deadlines for pollution standards in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this measure immediately nullifies the EPA's rule, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is overturning the EPA's decision to delay stricter emissions requirements for oil and gas operations.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends crucial federal funding for programs supporting law enforcement officers in crisis. This bill specifically reauthorizes existing support and treatment initiatives for an additional five years, running from 2025 through 2029. It ensures continued resources are available for officers needing mental health and wellness assistance.

The SANDBOX Act establishes the Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Sandbox Program to encourage AI innovation by allowing companies to temporarily test new AI products under modified or waived government regulations. Participants must apply by detailing their testing plan, demonstrating consumer benefits, and outlining robust risk mitigation strategies for health, economic, and deceptive practices. The program aims to gather data on which regulations are necessary, allowing the Director of OSTP to recommend permanent rule changes to Congress after a two-year testing period.

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to report on the status of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia following the 2022 invasion. If the Secretary cannot certify the safe return and reintegration of these children within 60 days, the Russian Federation must automatically be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Rescinding this designation would require Russia to meet strict conditions, including the full return and reintegration of all abducted children.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 mandates U.S. sanctions against Nigerian officials who enforce blasphemy laws or fail to curb religiously motivated violence. It also requires the Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" due to serious religious freedom violations. Furthermore, the bill specifically names Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as "Entities of Particular Concern."

The Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act of 2025 modifies how states calculate Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments under Medicaid by updating eligibility and factoring in payments received from Medicare or private health plans. This legislation also allows states the option to use unspent federal DSH funds from recent years to increase payments to hospitals retroactively. These changes aim to ensure hospitals treating vulnerable populations receive appropriate support under the Medicaid program.

The Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act expresses strong U.S. support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan, citing concerns over military influence and recent election interference. This legislation directs the President to identify and impose sanctions on Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democratic processes or committing serious human rights abuses. The Act emphasizes the need for civilian control over the military and sets an expiration date for its provisions in September 2030.

The FAIR Trucking Act expands federal court jurisdiction for lawsuits arising from accidents involving interstate commercial motor vehicles. This allows federal district courts to hear these cases if the amount in dispute exceeds \$5,000,000 and there is diversity of citizenship between the parties. The Act clarifies the rules for determining citizenship in these complex trucking accident claims.

The Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act aims to strengthen democracy, promote economic growth, and enhance security across the seven nations of the Western Balkans. The bill codifies existing sanctions, establishes initiatives for anti-corruption and regional trade, and supports cultural and educational exchanges. It also mandates reports on Russian and Chinese malign influence and prioritizes support for the region's integration with European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The AI Sovereignty Act mandates the Secretary of Commerce to report on the extent of critical artificial intelligence development and research being moved overseas. This report must identify offshoring locations, foreign partnerships, and the acquisition of U.S. AI assets by foreign entities. Based on these findings, the Act requires the Secretary to recommend strategies to strengthen domestic AI capabilities and discourage further offshoring.

The Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2025 modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimburses veterans for emergency care received outside VA facilities when they have private insurance. This bill clarifies the definition of "copayment" for reimbursement purposes, explicitly excluding deductibles and coinsurance. It also broadens what counts as a reimbursement claim to include various out-of-pocket costs, applying these changes retroactively to claims filed since February 1, 2012.

The Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act aims to streamline the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure by modifying environmental and historic preservation reviews. Specifically, it exempts certain projects involving the placement or modification of telecom facilities on existing eligible support structures from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA and standard historic preservation reviews under NHPA. This change is intended to speed up the process for upgrading and expanding broadband services.