Legislation

The Critical Materials Future Act of 2025 aims to bolster the domestic processing of critical materials by establishing a pilot program that utilizes innovative financial tools to support at least three domestic projects. This program seeks to stabilize financial aspects, attract private investment, and secure U.S. supply chains, while also studying the impact of these financial tools on the critical materials market. The Act prioritizes projects that enhance U.S. security, economic competitiveness, and sustainability, with a focus on mitigating risks from foreign entities and promoting domestic feedstock and offtake agreements. It also establishes a Critical Materials Revolving Fund to reinvest revenues and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress and recommendations.

The POWER Act mandates that electric utilities must notify consumers at least 30 days before any rate increase. These notifications must include the increase's percentage, reasons, and impact on consumers, as well as avenues for feedback. Utilities must also notify the Department of Energy of increases of 5% or more, which will then be reviewed and assessed for consumer impact. Non-compliant utilities may face civil penalties.

The Northwest Energy Security Act mandates that the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) be operated as outlined in the 2020 Supplemental Opinion, with limited exceptions for public safety, grid reliability, or removal of unnecessary requirements. It also prevents restrictions on electrical generation at FCRPS dams and navigation on the Snake River without explicit Congressional authorization. This act preserves the ability of the Secretaries to conduct operation, maintenance, and capital improvements.

The "Growing and Preserving Innovation in America Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate a scheduled decrease in the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income. This change maintains the deduction at a higher level, supporting companies that generate income from intellectual property developed and used abroad. The act is effective immediately upon enactment.

The "Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act" establishes a "Ski Area Fee Retention Account" within the Treasury, directing ski area permit fees collected by the Secretary of Agriculture into this account. These funds will be used to support the administration, maintenance, and improvement of ski areas and related visitor services within the National Forest System. A majority of the fees collected at a specific unit will be reinvested into that unit, with a smaller portion available for use across other National Forest System units. The funds cannot be used for wildfire suppression or land acquisition.

The "Right to Contraception Act" establishes a statutory right for individuals to access and for health care providers to offer contraception, free from governmental restrictions or bans. It overrides any conflicting federal or state laws, ensuring access to contraception and related services, and allows legal recourse for violations of these rights. The Act aims to protect individual autonomy in making decisions about contraception and reproductive health.

The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 amends the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to increase funding for dairy business innovation initiatives. It raises the allocated amount from $20,000,000 to $36,000,000, supporting further development and innovation in the dairy industry.

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, modifying the 180-day exclusivity period for generic drug approvals. It allows the FDA to approve subsequent generic drug applications if the initial applicant fails to begin commercial marketing within a specified timeframe, ensuring timely market entry of generic drugs. The bill establishes conditions under which the FDA can approve these subsequent applications and introduces penalties for applicants who fail to meet the marketing deadline, promoting market competition and access to affordable medications. These changes apply to drug applications filed after the bill's enactment.

This bill aims to reform mining practices on federal lands by setting royalties on mineral extraction, introducing stricter permitting and environmental regulations, and establishing a fund for reclaiming abandoned mines. It requires mining operators to pay annual fees and royalties, obtain permits for mineral activities, and provide financial assurances for land reclamation. The bill also prioritizes the protection of sensitive lands and mandates tribal consultation before mineral activities begin. These changes are intended to balance resource extraction with environmental protection and ensure fair compensation for the use of public lands.

The "Flight 293 Remembrance Act" directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to create a database of Armed Forces members who died in non-combat military plane crashes since 1984, and to proactively provide their families with comprehensive support, resources, and personalized guidance to navigate benefits and services. This includes connecting families with community support networks and establishing a dedicated point of contact within the Department of Defense to assist them. The Act also ensures that all programs and activities funded under it adhere to non-discrimination policies and requires a report to Congress on the progress and effectiveness of these efforts.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025 exempts from immigrant visa limits individuals eligible for visas under the Immigration and Nationality Act, provided they have a parent who naturalized under specific sections of law related to Filipino veterans who served during World War II. This exemption aims to facilitate the reunification of families of Filipino veterans who served with the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

The "Embassy Construction Integrity Act of 2025" restricts the State Department from acquiring or leasing buildings for diplomatic posts abroad if a Chinese government-controlled entity was involved in its construction or has an ownership stake. It also restricts agreements with these entities for construction work on such buildings. The Secretary of State must notify Congress of any exceptions made in the interest of national security, along with justifications and risk mitigation plans.

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" increases consumer protection in the household goods shipping industry by allowing the Secretary to enforce penalties for violations, enabling states to use grant money for enforcement and retain penalties, and setting requirements for registration. This includes defining "principal place of business," requiring disclosure of relationships within the transportation industry, and allowing the Secretary to withhold or revoke registration for non-compliance.

The "Tax Relief Unleashed for Seniors by Trump Act" aims to provide tax relief to seniors by increasing the income thresholds for excluding Social Security benefits from gross income. For single individuals, the threshold is raised from $25,000 to $50,000, and for married couples filing jointly, it increases from $32,000 to $64,000. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation beginning after 2026. The changes apply to taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The "Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025" aims to bolster U.S. agricultural exports by increasing funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program. It amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend and significantly increase financial support for these programs through 2029. These changes seek to address the competitive disadvantage faced by U.S. producers due to increased foreign competition and the impact of inflation on static funding levels. By increasing funding, the Act strives to enhance access to foreign markets, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs within the agricultural sector.

The Direct Medical Care Freedom Act of 2025 clarifies that direct medical care arrangements, where individuals pay a fixed periodic fee for medical services from practitioners, are not considered health plans under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows fees paid for these arrangements to be treated as medical expenses and mandates that fees for arrangements provided through employment are reported on employee W2 forms. This applies to primary care, specialty care, or other subsets of medical services, and will take effect for months beginning after December 31, 2024.

The SMARTER Act repeals a section of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. It prohibits electric utilities from recovering smart grid system deployment costs from ratepayers. State regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities must consider this standard within one year and make a determination within two years, with exemptions for states that have recently addressed the standard.

This bill renames the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Dallas, Texas, to the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center" in honor of Congresswoman Johnson's service to veterans as a nurse and legislator. All references to the medical center will reflect this new designation.

The "No More Funding for NPR Act of 2025" prohibits any direct or indirect federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR), including through public broadcast stations, with exceptions only for FEMA disaster response and urgent public safety information dissemination. It also rescinds any unspent federal funds allocated to NPR for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

The LITTLE Act of 2025 aims to lower infant and toddler tuition costs by providing tax credits to both childcare providers and families. It establishes a tax credit for childcare providers to cover 30% of qualified startup expenses, capped at $10,000. The act also increases and makes refundable the household and dependent care tax credit for eligible families, with the amount of expenses that can be claimed for the credit set at $7,500 for one qualifying individual and $15,000 for two or more.