Legislation

The Expanding Medical Education Act establishes a new federal grant program to fund the creation, upgrade, or expansion of medical and osteopathic schools, especially in medically underserved areas. Priority is given to institutions planning to open where no other medical school currently exists or that serve minority populations in unserved locations. Funds must be used to recruit and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and develop curricula focused on care in underserved communities. The Secretary must report to Congress every five years on the program's impact on the healthcare workforce and access to care.

This bill aims to prohibit the export of U.S.-produced or refined natural gas intended for re-export from foreign Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals. Congress asserts this action is necessary due to concerns over corruption in Mexico and potential violations of fair trade under the USMCA. The legislation specifically targets indirect exports that utilize foreign facilities as intermediaries.

The Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states fund local school districts in supporting students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Funds must primarily be used to train school staff on recognizing seizures and implementing individualized health and emergency care plans. The bill also mandates specific training for school nurses and bus drivers, ensuring comprehensive, good-faith preparedness for student seizures.

The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025 amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit states from receiving waivers to set new vehicle emission standards that restrict the sale or use of new cars with internal combustion engines. This legislation invalidates any existing or future state standards that directly or indirectly limit traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Furthermore, the bill mandates the revocation of any previously granted waivers that conflict with this new restriction.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, Congress is officially rejecting and nullifying the specific DOE rule published in the Federal Register. Consequently, the DOE's proposed energy efficiency requirements for these commercial cooling units will not take effect.

The HELPER Act of 2025 establishes a new FHA mortgage insurance program to help first responders, educators, and law enforcement officers purchase homes. This program offers qualifying first-time homebuyers the potential for a zero down payment mortgage. A key feature is the elimination of monthly mortgage insurance premiums, though an upfront premium will still be charged.

The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes the agency's funding for fiscal year 2025 and solidifies the strategic direction for human spaceflight, emphasizing the "Moon to Mars" program and the transition to commercial Low-Earth Orbit destinations. The bill directs significant investment into science missions, technology development, and aeronautics research, while also restructuring STEM education programs. Finally, it establishes new policy guidelines regarding commercial partnerships, cost oversight, and international collaboration.

This bill proposes a new tax incentive allowing sellers of qualified farmland to exclude capital gains from their gross income if the proceeds are reinvested into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). To qualify, the sale must be to an active farmer who agrees to a potential penalty tax if they stop farming the land within ten years. This provision also temporarily increases the annual IRA contribution limit based on the excluded gain amount.

The Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act aims to ensure pharmacies receive accurate payments under Medicaid by requiring government surveys to establish transparent national drug acquisition cost benchmarks. It also prohibits abusive "spread pricing" by requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pass through ingredient costs plus dispensing fees directly to pharmacies. This legislation mandates greater transparency in PBM contracts and establishes penalties for non-compliant pharmacies refusing to participate in cost surveys.

This Act officially redesignates the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishes an adjacent National Preserve, both managed by the Secretary of the Interior. The legislation authorizes the acquisition of necessary lands, without using eminent domain, to define the boundaries of these new units. It also mandates the creation of a joint management plan, establishes an Advisory Council with significant Tribal representation, and transfers specific federal acreage into trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

The Forest Service Accountability Act requires the President to nominate the Chief of the Forest Service, subject to Senate confirmation. Nominees must possess significant experience in forest and natural resource management. Furthermore, the nomination must be jointly referred to both the Senate Agriculture and Energy Committees for review.

The Suicide Prevention Act establishes two key initiatives to combat self-harm and suicide. First, it creates a national program for real-time syndromic surveillance and tracking of self-harm behaviors across public health departments. Second, it authorizes grants for hospital emergency departments to implement comprehensive screening, immediate care, and follow-up services for patients at risk of suicide upon discharge. Both programs aim to improve data collection for targeted prevention and enhance post-crisis care coordination.

This bill modifies U.S. requirements to streamline the transfer of defense articles and services among the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). It allows these nations to share U.S.-provided defense items directly with each other without requiring prior U.S. approval. Furthermore, the legislation mandates the creation of a shared key to facilitate the easy exchange of HIMARS ammunition between them.

The Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive new program to restructure forest conservation easements under existing farm law. This Act creates two primary easement types: Forest Land Easements for working forests and Forest Reserve Easements for species protection. The bill also repeals the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program but ensures all prior agreements under that program remain fully honored. Funding is authorized through 2029 to support sustainable forest management and habitat restoration across eligible private and tribal lands.

The Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act formally defines Career and Technical Education (CTE) within the Small Business Act. This legislation directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to actively assist small businesses in hiring recent CTE graduates. Furthermore, these centers are now required to support CTE graduates who wish to start their own small businesses.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains operational during a lapse in appropriations by automatically accessing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This mechanism allows essential FAA operations, research, and grants to continue at the previous year's funding level until a new budget is enacted. The bill prevents disruptions to aviation services by providing a stable, temporary funding source during government shutdowns.

The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act updates the process for redistributing Medicare residency slots when a teaching hospital closes. This bill simplifies the criteria for assigning these slots to remaining teaching hospitals. Crucially, it establishes strict deadlines, requiring receiving hospitals to begin using the slots within two years and fill them completely within five years.

The Improving Access to Addiction Medicine Providers Act updates the Minority Fellowship Program to specifically support training in addiction medicine. This amendment expands the program's focus areas to explicitly include the diagnosis of health issues and the field of addiction medicine alongside psychiatry. The goal is to increase the number of qualified professionals dedicated to addiction treatment.

This bill establishes the Southwestern Power Administration Fund (SWPA Fund) as a dedicated, non-expiring Treasury account for the Southwestern Power Administration. The Fund will consolidate all SWPA receipts and appropriated funds to cover the costs of power operations, maintenance, and construction. This structure grants the Administrator greater flexibility to commit funds for authorized expenses ahead of annual appropriations.