Legislation

The Stop Foreign Propaganda Act codifies existing sanctions against Iran and establishes new penalties for U.S. persons who knowingly provide paid media services to sanctioned foreign media entities. These sanctions include asset freezes and visa denials for violators. The bill also mandates an annual Treasury Department report detailing enforcement actions and foreign government payments to media outlets spreading propaganda.

The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 aims to shield consumers from the negative impact of medical bills on their financial standing. This legislation prohibits the reporting of any adverse information related to medical debt on consumer credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Furthermore, it bans lenders from using a consumer's medical debt history when making decisions about granting credit.

The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to expand partnerships for ecosystem restoration activities. This allows the Forest Service to fund a broader range of groups, including universities and tribal organizations, for crucial work. The bill specifically enables the use of funds for collecting native seeds and growing seedlings necessary for habitat replanting efforts.

This bill requires states to reimburse the federal government for the costs of deploying military forces, such as the National Guard, when state or local obstruction of federal immigration enforcement leads to civil unrest. If a state fails to pay the resulting invoice from the Department of Defense within 180 days, the President is authorized to withhold federal discretionary grant funds to cover the debt. This legislation establishes financial accountability for local interference with federal immigration operations.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of human rights activist Father Stan, who died in Indian custody in 2021 after being imprisoned on charges later linked to fabricated digital evidence. It details his tireless work defending the rights of marginalized Adivasi communities in Jharkhand. Furthermore, the resolution strongly encourages the Indian government to conduct an independent investigation into Father Stan's arrest, incarceration, and death. It also sends a global message against the mistreatment of human rights defenders.

The Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act mandates that private health insurance plans covering obstetrical services must also cover a broad range of fertility treatments, ensuring cost-sharing rules are comparable to other medical services. This legislation also extends mandatory fertility coverage to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE plans if they cover maternity care. Furthermore, the bill establishes new benefits for veterans and their families through the VA, requires State Medicaid plans to cover fertility treatment, and adds fertility care to Medicare coverage with a 100% payment rate and no deductible for patients starting in 2026.

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025 updates federal law to broaden protections against intimate partner violence by expanding the definition of an "intimate partner" to explicitly include dating relationships. This bill also introduces a new federal prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. These changes aim to close loopholes and ensure comprehensive safety measures for survivors of abuse and harassment.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act aims to eliminate "disparate-impact liability" across major federal laws. This bill prohibits lawsuits claiming discrimination based solely on the unintended, disproportionate negative effect of a rule or practice. Consequently, it removes the ability to challenge employment and housing practices unless discriminatory intent can be proven. The Act also nullifies specific prior regulatory approvals related to civil rights enforcement.

The SPARC Act establishes a new federal loan repayment program to incentivize specialty medical providers to practice in underserved rural communities. This program offers to repay up to $250,000 of eligible education loans in exchange for a six-year service commitment in a designated rural shortage area. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will administer the program through HRSA, prioritizing loan repayment for both physicians and non-physician specialists.

The Global Fragility Reauthorization Act updates the existing strategy for addressing global instability by strengthening interagency coordination and policy alignment. It reauthorizes crucial funding mechanisms, including the Prevention and Stabilization Fund and the Complex Crises Fund, extending their authorization through 2030. The bill also refines the process for selecting priority countries and mandates enhanced reporting and evaluation of U.S. stabilization efforts abroad.

The Keep Seniors Fed Act makes technical amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 regarding how income is calculated for food assistance eligibility. Specifically, it mandates that income received under Title II of the Social Security Act must now be counted when determining eligibility for benefits. These changes will take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

The Fairness for Khobar Act of 2025 ensures that certain victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing receive overdue lump sum payments. This legislation corrects past injustices where victims were denied payments due to relying on incorrect guidance from the Department of Justice. The Act mandates the Special Master to authorize these catch-up payments using designated reserve funds.

This Act codifies existing U.S. sanctions targeting individuals undermining peace and stability in the West Bank, making them permanent law unless lifted by the President. It immediately reinstates any previously terminated sanctions under the relevant Executive Order. The President can only lift these sanctions after certifying to Congress that the targeted person has ceased harmful activities and provided assurances against future non-compliance.

This bill provides an emergency increase in federal Medicaid funding for states that commit to improving their Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). States will receive a 10 percentage point boost in their Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for HCBS expenditures during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This additional funding must be used to expand workforce capacity, raise worker compensation, and increase access to services for eligible individuals. States must submit a plan detailing how they will use the funds to ensure the money supplements, rather than replaces, existing state spending.

The Grocery Reform And Safety Act (GRAS Act) overhauls the regulation of food ingredients by removing the automatic exemption for "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) substances from the definition of a food additive. This legislation mandates formal GRAS notifications to the FDA, requiring companies to submit detailed safety data for review before new ingredients or uses can enter the market. Furthermore, the Act establishes a mandatory, recurring safety reassessment program for existing food ingredients to ensure ongoing public safety.

The 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to boost small businesses by updating the 504 loan program goals to prioritize workforce training, energy efficiency, and disaster recovery. The bill significantly increases the maximum loan amount available for manufacturing projects from $\$5.5$ million to $\$10$ million. Furthermore, it streamlines loan closing procedures for accredited lenders and eases several contribution and collateral requirements specifically for small manufacturers.

The Cloud LAB Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program to create a national network of high-tech, remotely accessible "cloud laboratories" focused on biotechnology research. This network, coordinated by the NSF Director, will generate high-quality biological data using automated experiments to train AI models and provide researchers access to advanced experimental tools. The Act mandates the creation of an advisory board to guide priorities, ensure equitable access, and establish security protocols for the data and infrastructure.

The Gender-Affirming Child Abuse Prevention Act establishes a federal civil right of action allowing individuals to sue medical providers for gender-related medical treatments received while under the age of 18. Successful plaintiffs can recover actual damages plus $250,000 in statutory damages for each instance of treatment. The bill provides a detailed definition of "gender-related medical treatment" while explicitly excluding certain medical care for individuals with disorders of sex development.

The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to strengthen the Social Security system through two main avenues. Title I mandates the creation of a new Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to be used for calculating future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Title II modifies contribution rules by counting a small portion of wages and self-employment income earned above the current base limit after 2025, and it adjusts the benefit formula to potentially increase benefits based on these surplus earnings. These changes are designed to ensure COLAs more accurately reflect senior spending and to increase revenue for the system.

The HARPOON Act, or Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence Act, enhances U.S. efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. It modifies existing law to allow the Department of Defense to train and equip foreign security forces specifically to counter IUU fishing operations. Furthermore, the Act mandates the establishment of joint patrols with foreign partners and requires annual reporting to Congress on these counter-IUU fishing programs.