Legislation

This bill establishes the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act to foster scientific partnerships between the two nations. It creates a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Defense, to fund joint research projects between U.S. academic or non-profit entities and Israeli institutions specializing in PTSD treatment. The goal is to advance new and improved methods for diagnosing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 directs the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) to create a joint agreement to coordinate environmental reviews for housing projects they jointly fund. This aims to eliminate redundant processes by establishing a lead agency and allowing for the mutual acceptance of environmental documentation. The bill also mandates the creation of an advisory group composed of various housing stakeholders to ensure efficient implementation without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The LIONs Act of 2025 significantly boosts capital access for small businesses by doubling the maximum loan amount available through the SBA's flagship 7(a) loan program, raising the cap from $\$3.75$ million to $\$7.5$ million. Additionally, it doubles the maximum loan amount available to development companies under the Small Business Investment Act, increasing their cap from $\$5$ million to $\$10$ million. This legislation aims to provide substantially larger financing options for neighborhood economic growth.

The Extreme Heat Emergency Act of 2025 amends federal law to officially recognize extreme temperature events, such as severe heat waves and deep freezes, as qualifying conditions for a "major disaster" declaration. This change aims to make areas affected by extreme weather eligible for federal disaster relief funding. The Act specifies that no new appropriations or additional funds are authorized to carry out its provisions.

The Citizen-Only Police Act of 2025 (COP Act of 2025) prohibits federal funding for any local law enforcement agency that employs non-citizens as police officers. This act ensures that federal resources are only allocated to departments where all sworn officers are legal residents or citizens.

The SAFE HIRE Act requires top executives of publicly traded companies to personally certify the accuracy of their annual reports regarding employment eligibility compliance. This certification must confirm the effectiveness of internal controls designed to prevent illegal hiring practices. Executives who knowingly make false certifications or fail to disclose significant hiring violations face severe civil and criminal penalties.

The RESTART SUNSET Act of 2025 modernizes federal agency rule review by establishing a new ten-year cycle for evaluating existing and future regulations. This legislation requires agencies to annually report on rules that do not significantly impact small businesses. Crucially, the bill mandates that courts immediately halt the enforcement of any rule that an agency has failed to review according to the new periodic schedule.

The Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to fund local and state governments in purchasing food directly from local producers. These governments will then distribute the food to local schools and organizations serving hungry populations, prioritizing underserved communities. The program mandates specific funding allocations for Tribal governments and requires that at least 51% of purchased food comes from small, mid-sized, or underserved producers within a 400-mile radius. Funding is provided through mandatory appropriations and Commodity Credit Corporation funds to supplement, not replace, existing local food relief efforts.

The Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025 establishes the Eviction Right to Counsel Fund with $100 million annually to support tenants facing eviction. This fund provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments that enact legislation guaranteeing full legal representation for low-income tenants in eviction proceedings. Priority for funding goes to entities that implement strong tenant protections and commit to using the money primarily for hiring and training legal counsel.

This resolution formally honors the life and heroic sacrifice of Mr. Anderson "Chase" Childers, a former Georgia police officer who died saving swimmers from a deadly rip current in South Carolina. It recognizes his selfless act of bravery, which reflected his lifelong commitment to service and duty. The resolution also expresses condolences to his family and supports public education efforts regarding rip current dangers.

The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act significantly increases financial penalties for group health plans and insurers that violate surprise billing protections. It establishes much harsher penalties, including triple the owed amount plus interest, for late payments following independent dispute resolution determinations. Furthermore, the bill mandates more frequent and detailed transparency reports to Congress regarding enforcement activities and violations found.

The Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees (ADAPT) Act expands Medicare coverage for mental health services provided by advanced psychology trainees under the general supervision of a licensed psychologist. This allows doctoral interns and postdoctoral residents to bill for services, improving access to care. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on covering these trainee services under Medicaid and CHIP.

The Next Generation Farmer Act significantly lowers the experience requirement for certain farm loan applicants from three years to just one year. Furthermore, it allows the Secretary to waive this new one-year requirement for qualified beginning farmers who have relevant management experience as hired labor or who have secured a commitment from an approved mentor. This legislation aims to make federal farm loans more accessible to new agricultural producers.

The She DRIVES Act mandates immediate updates to federal motor vehicle safety standards by requiring the use of new crash test dummies, specifically incorporating both male and female dummies in front and side impact tests. This legislation aims to improve vehicle crashworthiness by basing new injury criteria on real-world data that better reflects diverse body types. Furthermore, the bill establishes a roadmap for the Department of Transportation to continuously review and adopt more advanced testing devices used internationally.

The Freights First Act revises federal law regarding track-sharing priority between Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains. This bill removes the automatic preference for Amtrak when sharing tracks within 50 miles of a port or major rail yard. Consequently, freight trains may now take precedence over Amtrak in these busy, localized areas unless a genuine emergency exists.

The Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025 (RESCUE Act) streamlines the permitting process for projects recovering critical materials from sources like mine waste and coal byproducts. This amendment expands eligibility under the FAST Act's expedited review to include the extraction of rare earth elements and specific forms of carbon from these secondary sources. The goal is to accelerate the development of domestic supplies of these vital resources.

The Safe Baby Formula Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the health effects of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in infant formula. Following the study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish clear limits for these toxic heavy metals within 90 days. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of the nation's baby formula supply.

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help law enforcement officers secure childcare during non-traditional work hours. Grants will be awarded to state agencies to fund local programs that support police families, with a focus on smaller departments. The program aims to cover startup costs, operational expenses, and direct family subsidies for off-hours care. This initiative is authorized through fiscal year 2030 and includes requirements for local financial matching and mandatory program evaluations.

This resolution commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and recognizes its vital role in American space exploration. It highlights MSFC's historical achievements, including the development of the Saturn V rocket. Furthermore, the resolution commends the Center's current leadership in developing the Space Launch System (SLS) as the backbone of the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars. This action formally honors the dedication and expertise of the MSFC workforce.

The LEO K9 Protection Act enhances penalties for intentionally harming law enforcement animals, especially when a weapon is used. It also mandates the development of federal guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel on treating injured police dogs. Finally, the bill establishes regulations allowing EMS to transport and provide emergency care to injured police dogs when human patients are not in immediate need.