Legislation

The Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act mandates sanctions against senior Houthi leaders and officials operating in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The bill also requires several reports from the Executive Branch detailing Houthi indoctrination efforts, obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery, and specific human rights abuses. Congress affirms its opposition to Houthi extremism and support for a Yemeni-led peace process. This Act will terminate five years after its enactment.

The Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by drastically reducing visa backlogs and prioritizing family unity across various immigration categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying immediate relatives, and extending spousal immigration rights to permanent partners. Furthermore, the bill enhances diversity visa opportunities and establishes time-bound processes to ensure refugee families can reunite more quickly.

This bill establishes the **National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025**, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to develop a comprehensive national strategy for securing K-12 schools from terrorism. The strategy must detail federal security programs, identify and address specific school vulnerabilities, and outline necessary actions to improve security nationwide. The Department will be required to update and report on this strategy annually through 2033.

The Child Care Access and Affordability Act of 2025 mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study on the state of child care access and affordability. This study will examine barriers to meeting state standards, the extent of child care waitlists, current payment rates for providers, and the impact of inflation on the system. The findings will be reported to Congress to inform future policy decisions regarding the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.

The Replace Animal Tests Act of 2025 generally prohibits submitting data from animal testing to covered federal agencies if a non-animal testing method is available. This legislation mandates that agencies prioritize non-animal methods, minimize harm when animal testing is unavoidable, and issue annual reports detailing animal use. Covered agencies, including the FDA and EPA, must also update regulations to reflect the acceptability of these modern, non-animal testing alternatives.

The CFTC Charitable Organization Exemption Act of 2025 amends the Commodity Exchange Act to exempt qualified charitable organizations from the requirement to register as commodity pool operators or commodity trading advisors. This exemption applies when their advisory or pool activities are conducted solely for other qualifying charitable entities. The bill maintains existing exemptions while adding a specific disclosure requirement for these newly exempt charitable organizations.

The U.S. Vets of the FAS Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs furnish essential health services to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. This requires the VA Secretary to quickly establish agreements to provide telehealth services and mail-order pharmaceuticals to these veterans. The bill sets a one-year timeline for implementing these services and requires regular reporting on progress and costs.

This bill establishes a new refundable Monthly Childhood Education Tax Credit for families with young children aged 2 through 4. The credit provides up to $667 per month per qualifying child, with amounts subject to reduction for higher-income households. The legislation also creates a system for taxpayers to receive these benefits as advance monthly payments throughout the year, reconciled upon filing their annual tax return.

The Restaurant Meals Program Reform Act of 2025 updates the existing Restaurant Meals Program by revising eligibility standards for participating restaurants and specifying what types of prepared meals can be purchased with benefits. The bill also introduces new restrictions, such as excluding spouses of SNAP recipients, and mandates comprehensive reporting on program participation and costs. These changes aim to refine how benefits are used for immediate consumption meals at authorized retail food stores.

The Critical Minerals Trade Security Act establishes a Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator within the U.S. Trade Representative's office to address foreign trade practices impacting vital mineral supply chains. This position will conduct trade negotiations and enforce agreements related to these essential resources. The Negotiator is required to submit annual reports detailing foreign policies that create supply chain vulnerabilities or violate trade agreements, along with corresponding response plans.

The Staff Salary Schedule Improvement Act updates the payroll process for employees of the House of Representatives. While the standard pay date remains the last day of the month, this act grants the Chief Administrative Officer the authority to implement a twice-monthly or alternative pay schedule upon direction from the Committee on House Administration. This change will take effect when the House next upgrades its payroll system.

The Ban on Self-Interested Contracting Act (BASIC Act) establishes a new criminal prohibition preventing special Government employees from knowingly receiving large federal awards from their own agencies or related parties. The Act also mandates increased transparency by requiring the publication of certain position data and financial disclosure reports for these employees. Finally, it creates a public, searchable database detailing covered special Government employees.

This bill establishes a Biotechnology Management Office within the Department of Defense to oversee and coordinate the development and acquisition of biotechnology capabilities. It also explicitly authorizes the use of Department of Defense research and development funds for bioindustrial manufacturing processes. The goal is to foster strategic advancements in biotechnology for national defense purposes.

The REPAIR Infrastructure Act reauthorizes and amends an existing program to establish the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure (REPAIR) program, funding it with $3 billion annually from 2027 through 2031. This legislation adds new criteria focused on community access, economic mobility, and redressing historical barriers when selecting projects, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds to increase highway travel lanes. Furthermore, it expands eligibility for REPAIR-funded projects across several other major federal surface transportation grant programs.

The Temporary Family Visitation Act establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category specifically for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to visit the United States for family purposes. This visa limits stays to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and requires financial support, medical insurance, and a sworn declaration of intent to depart. Individuals admitted under this category are prohibited from changing their status while in the U.S.

The Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2025 establishes new federal regulations to control the discharge of harmful PFAS chemicals into U.S. waters. This bill mandates the EPA to set strict, industry-specific pollution limits and human health water quality criteria on aggressive timelines. It also immediately requires monitoring for PFAS discharges from several key industries and authorizes funding for local treatment works to address contamination.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to support the creation and operation of statewide senior legal hotlines. These grants, administered under the Older Americans Act, will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide free legal advice, counseling, and referrals to older individuals across an entire state. Grantees must meet specific operational requirements, including ensuring adequate staffing and coordinating services with existing legal and aging networks.

The Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Restriction Act of 2025 prohibits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from issuing new licenses for private interim storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste. This legislation voids any existing licenses for such facilities, mandating that storage only occur at the site of generation or at a federally owned facility. Congress asserts that private storage poses significant public health risks.

This bill reauthorizes critical research and development programs related to PFAS chemicals through fiscal year 2030. It amends existing law to extend the authorization period for these important initiatives.

The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act amends the Higher Education Act to eliminate specific annual and aggregate loan limits for Federal Direct PLUS Loans made to graduate and professional students. This action removes previous restrictions on the maximum amount graduate students can borrow through these federal loan programs.