Legislation

The Stop CCP VISAs Act of 2025 prohibits nationals of the People's Republic of China from receiving visas or status as nonimmigrant students for research or study purposes. This amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act affects F, J, and M visas.

The "RIFLE Act" repeals the existing tax on firearm transfers outlined in Section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code, and makes corresponding technical corrections. This change removes the tax burden on the transfer of firearms. Additionally, the act clarifies that the Consumer Product Safety Commission does not have authority over firearms regulated by the Internal Revenue Code.

The "Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025" increases the standard mileage rate that volunteer drivers can deduct for charitable contributions. The new rate will be determined by the Secretary but will not be less than the standard mileage rate used for business and medical expenses. This change aims to provide greater tax relief for individuals who use their personal vehicles for charitable purposes, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025" amends Department of Energy (DOE) Tribal energy programs, allowing the Secretary of Energy to use appropriated funds for financial and technical assessments, and related activities, for Tribal loan and loan guarantee applications. The Act removes double benefit restrictions related to loan guarantees and modifies requirements for states and introduces new requirements for Indian Tribes applying for grants to prevent outages and enhance electric grid resilience. Additionally, the Act exempts Indian Tribes and Tribal-owned entities from matching requirements for grants related to grid resilience and includes additional exemptions to cost-sharing.

The "Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025" protects students' rights to join single-sex organizations at colleges and universities. It prevents institutions receiving federal funds from discriminating against students or organizations based solely on their single-sex status, while allowing institutions to address misconduct or safety concerns. This act ensures fair treatment and equal opportunities for students participating in single-sex social groups.

The GAZA Act would prohibit individuals with passports issued by the Palestinian Authority from receiving visas, being admitted to the United States, or being paroled into the United States. It would also prevent them from receiving any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act amends Title 46 of the United States Code to improve the geographic distribution of port infrastructure projects. This will be achieved when selecting projects for the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program. It will also improve the distribution of assistance for small inland river and coastal ports and terminals.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 seeks to improve support and resources for veterans and former service members, particularly those affected by military sexual trauma (MST). The bill mandates a comprehensive review of VA policies related to MST, especially concerning online or technological communications, and aims to improve the disability claims process for veterans who have experienced MST by ensuring sensitive communication, enhancing training for VA personnel, and allowing veterans more control over their medical examinations. Additionally, it expands access to healthcare and support services for veterans and former service members who have experienced MST, including those who leave service academies before completion.

This bill supports the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to recognize her lifelong commitment to activism, including co-founding the United Farm Workers Union and advocating for civil rights. It celebrates her achievements in improving Latino voting access, ensuring safer working conditions, and promoting feminism and women's equality. The bill also acknowledges her numerous awards and ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

The "Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2025" aims to protect immigrants' Fifth Amendment right to effective counsel. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish procedures and standards for evaluating ineffective assistance of counsel claims in immigration matters, ensuring a fair immigration proceeding for all. This applies retroactively to all immigration cases, regardless of their current status.

This resolution expresses support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide, recognizing their role in connecting communities with information, resources, and social services. It emphasizes the need for adequate funding to support libraries and protect the rights of library workers. The resolution also reaffirms the public's right to access information and the importance of libraries as vital infrastructure for the future.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

The Public Safety Free Speech Act protects the free speech rights of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service providers. It allows these employees to sue their employers if they face retaliation for expressing personal opinions on matters of public concern, with certain exceptions for comments made while on duty or those that incite violence or discrimination. This act ensures that public safety employees can voice their opinions without fear of reprisal, while also respecting the need for professional conduct and confidentiality. The bill does not override existing federal or state laws that protect against the deprivation of rights under the law.

The Restoring Fort Leonard Wood Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of the Army to conduct military construction projects to replace 1,142 military family housing units at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It also authorizes an appropriation of $700,000,000 to carry out this project.

The "Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2025" establishes criminal penalties for Supreme Court employees or officers who leak confidential information, including internal notes, draft opinions, and justices' personal information. Unauthorized disclosure can result in up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine. The bill aims to protect the integrity of the Supreme Court's deliberative process by preventing leaks.

The BOLIVAR Act prohibits U.S. executive agencies from contracting with entities that have significant business operations with the Venezuelan government under Nicolás Maduro, which is not recognized by the U.S. government. Exceptions are provided for humanitarian aid, national security interests, supporting U.S. government activities in Venezuela, entities with valid licenses, and operation of U.S. diplomatic missions. The Secretary of State may waive the prohibition if it is in the U.S. national interest. This prohibition is set to last for three years after the enactment of the Act.

Ethan's Law aims to reduce gun violence by promoting responsible firearm storage. It establishes new requirements for securing firearms in homes to prevent access by minors and individuals prohibited from possessing them, with penalties for improper storage. The law also creates a grant program to support states and Indian Tribes in implementing similar safe storage laws and expresses that failure to safely store firearms constitutes negligence. Finally, the law states that if any part of the law is found to be invalid, the remaining parts will still be considered valid and remain in effect.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The "Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing private-sector employees to choose compensatory time off instead of overtime pay, under certain conditions like a pre-work agreement and a cap of 160 hours accrued. The Act requires employers to compensate employees for unused time and prohibits coercion regarding the choice of compensatory time. The Secretary of Labor must update employee notices, and the Comptroller General will report to Congress on the use and impact of compensatory time. This act will automatically terminate 5 years after it becomes law.

The SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 aims to improve poverty measurement by collecting more detailed data and refining the valuation of government benefits. Additionally, the bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by tightening eligibility requirements, increasing state financial contributions, enhancing fraud prevention measures, and improving program oversight. These changes include raising the upper age limit for work requirements, limiting eligibility to families meeting specific financial need criteria, and mandating cooperation with fraud investigations. The bill also empowers states to combat fraud and misuse of SNAP benefits at the retail level.