Legislation

The "More Homes on the Market Act" increases the tax exclusion for profit from the sale of a primary residence, raising it to $500,000 for single filers and $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2025. This change encourages homeowners to sell their properties, thereby increasing the availability of homes on the market.

The "Safeguarding Social Security and Medicare Act" orders a study to assess the effects of inflation and cost of living increases on Social Security and Medicare. The goal is to provide Congress with recommendations on legislative actions needed to maintain full benefits under these programs. This is important because millions of Americans rely on these benefits, and increased cost of living and inflation are putting a financial strain on them.

This bill aims to improve federal programs for the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It updates the Public Health Service Act to enhance TBI prevention and surveillance, extends grant programs to include high-risk populations and Tribal entities, and requires the CDC to make aggregated TBI data publicly available. Additionally, the bill mandates studies and reports on TBI's long-term effects and high-risk populations, ensuring continued support and research in this critical area through 2030.

The LIVE Beneficiaries Act aims to prevent improper payments in state medical assistance programs by requiring states to cross-reference their enrollee lists against the Social Security Death Master File quarterly, starting in 2027. States must disenroll deceased individuals and stop payments, but also reinstate coverage retroactively for anyone incorrectly disenrolled. States can use other data sources to identify deceased beneficiaries, but must still comply with the Death Master File requirements.

The Family Income Supplemental Credit Act (FISC Act) establishes a program providing monthly payments to pregnant women and caregivers of eligible children, with payment amounts varying based on the recipient's status and the child's age, subject to income-based phase-outs and limitations. It also repeals the existing child tax credit, replacing it with this new family income supplement program. The program will be managed by the Commissioner of Social Security, who will establish regulations and reporting systems, and it is set to take effect one year after enactment.

The "Protect Medicaid Act" prohibits federal Medicaid funding for state administrative costs associated with providing healthcare benefits to unauthorized immigrants. It requires a report from the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services on how states that offer health benefits to non-lawfully admitted noncitizens handle Medicaid program administration costs separately. The report will also cover how these states fund programs for non-lawfully admitted noncitizens and analyze the impact of these non-lawfully admitted noncitizens receiving outpatient drugs purchased under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or the 340B drug discount program.

The "Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025" aims to safeguard U.S. agricultural land by prohibiting its purchase or lease by individuals or entities associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia, while also preventing their participation in USDA programs. The bill expands reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, increases penalties for violations, and mandates public online databases of foreign ownership. Additionally, it requires regular reports from the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Government Accountability Office on foreign ownership and its potential risks.

This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate a portion of United States Route 74 in North Carolina as a high-priority corridor, paving the way for its future designation as an interstate highway. The specific section of Route 74 affected runs from Columbus, North Carolina, to Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The bill also updates references to high-priority corridors within the Act.

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, eliminating the requirements for the President to report to Congress on decisions to withhold or delay spending of appropriated funds. This removes the process by which Congress can approve or disapprove of these presidential actions.

The Mudslide Recovery Act establishes a pilot grant program to aid communities recovering from mudslides that occur after wildland fires. The Secretaries of Interior and Homeland Security will administer the competitive grant program, awarding funds to eligible recipients such as states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations. The program is authorized to receive $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2032.

The ENABLE Act permanently extends provisions that allow for increased contributions to ABLE accounts, which are savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. It also allows penalty-free rollovers from 529 education savings accounts to ABLE accounts, providing greater flexibility in financial planning for families and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the act includes contributions made to an ABLE account when calculating retirement savings contributions.

The Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, recognizing their dedicated service to the United States. Following the award ceremony, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. The Secretary of the Treasury is permitted to create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. Funds from the sales will be deposited back into the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2025 amends the eligibility requirements for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This act increases the maximum age for eligible children to receive medical care under the program to 26 years old, regardless of their marital status. This change does not affect benefits for children incapable of self-support and takes effect for medical care provided on or after the enactment of this act.

The Wildfire Response Improvement Act aims to improve wildfire recovery and mitigation efforts by directing FEMA to update its policies and guidance. These updates include expanding eligibility for fire management assistance, providing specific guidance on wildfire recovery in FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, and updating the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of wildfire mitigation projects. The Act focuses on addressing challenges like debris removal, protecting water infrastructure, and reducing the impact of wildfire smoke.

This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. This ensures the area will not receive the specific protections and management guidelines associated with wilderness areas.

The Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II amends permitting requirements for the Point Loma Plant in San Diego, setting new limits for discharge of total suspended solids into marine waters. The bill requires the plant to maintain its deep-ocean outfall system and meet specific reduction targets for pollutants by certain dates. It also mandates the production of at least 83,000,000 gallons per day of water suitable for potable reuse by December 31, 2039, and continued ocean monitoring to ensure compliance. Alternatively, the plant can submit an application that complies with standard secondary treatment requirements.

The "Future in Logging Careers Act" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, defining "timber harvesting employer" and "mechanized timber harvesting employer". It modifies child labor provisions for 16 and 17-year-olds in hazardous logging occupations, except when employed by their parent or guardian. These provisions are applicable based on the type of timber harvesting activities performed by the employer.

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 aims to provide legal relief to victims of trafficking by allowing them to vacate convictions or expunge arrests for certain federal offenses committed as a direct result of their trafficking. It also allows for reduced sentences for covered prisoners and enables the use of grant funds for legal representation in post-conviction relief cases. The act further establishes a "human trafficking defense," and mandates reports to Congress on the implementation and impact of these provisions. This bill seeks to address the exploitation of forced criminal activity by human traffickers and provide support and protection to survivors.

The Susan Muffley Act of 2025 ensures that eligible participants and beneficiaries under specific pension plans, like the Delphi and PHI retirement programs, receive their full vested benefits. It directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate benefits, provide lump-sum payments for past-due amounts with interest, and establishes a trust fund within the Treasury to cover these increased payments. The act also includes provisions for the tax treatment of lump-sum payments, allowing recipients to spread the income over three years unless they elect otherwise.

The Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot "Food is Medicine" program. This program will provide eligible veterans with medically-tailored meals and groceries, nutrition education, and cooking classes. The goal is to improve health outcomes for veterans with chronic conditions or maternal health needs, while also evaluating cost savings and program effectiveness. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2025-2028 and will terminate three years after enactment.