Legislation

The Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2025 amends existing law to prioritize and fund the creation and support of farmer-to-farmer networks for technical assistance. This initiative aims to connect farmers with peer mentorship and learning sessions focused on adopting science-based conservation methods. The Secretary of Agriculture can award funds to various eligible groups, with a focus on those serving historically underserved farmers.

The Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025 temporarily halts the government's ability to garnish wages for certain student loans until new systems for error correction and tracking are certified by the Secretary of Education. If the required fixes are not implemented, the garnishment program will cease entirely. Furthermore, the bill establishes strict rules for employers and mandates double repayment for any wrongfully garnished funds. Finally, it prohibits garnishment for loans outstanding for more than 10 years.

The Nuclear Ecosystem Drone Defense (NEDD) Act of 2025 grants the Secretary of Energy new authority to procure and operate certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems otherwise restricted by law. This allows the Department of Energy (DOE) to acquire necessary drones from flagged foreign entities under specific exemptions. Additionally, the bill expands the Secretary's authority to protect sensitive nuclear assets from drone threats.

The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act directs the FAA to establish new rules within one year to allow civil supersonic flight over U.S. airspace. This authorization is strictly conditioned on the aircraft being operated in a manner that prevents any sonic boom from reaching the ground. The goal is to safely reintroduce faster-than-sound commercial travel domestically.

The ASSIST Act of 2025 clarifies that medically necessary automobile adaptations for veterans, such as ramps and specialized seating, must be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs' definition of medical services. This ensures veterans receive necessary support for safe transportation related to service-connected disabilities. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veteran pension payments from late 2031 to September 30, 2032.

The Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements Act prohibits U.S. colleges and universities from accepting gifts or entering into contracts with entities from designated "foreign countries of concern." This legislation establishes a clear ban on such funding, while also modifying existing disclosure requirements for other foreign government gifts. The definition of a "foreign country of concern" includes nations already flagged for national security risks and those later identified by the Secretary of Education in consultation with other key officials.

The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for healthcare entities and individuals who object to participating in specific medical procedures, such as abortion, based on moral or religious beliefs. It prohibits discrimination against providers who refuse such services and significantly bolsters enforcement mechanisms within the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly grants individuals and affected parties the right to file private lawsuits seeking damages when these conscience protections are violated.

This Act prohibits U.S. entities receiving federal funding from collaborating on sensitive technology research with specific Chinese organizations tied to the People's Liberation Army's military-civil fusion strategy. The law mandates the creation of a public list detailing restricted research areas and identified Chinese entities of concern. Covered entities must annually report all current and past collaborations with these prohibited entities or face immediate termination of all future federal funding.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act aims to ensure that individuals held in custody awaiting the disposition of their charges maintain access to Medicaid coverage. This legislation removes the current automatic ban on Medicaid payments for pre-trial detainees. Furthermore, the bill establishes federal planning grants to help states prepare their systems for this change, focusing on assessing needs and building provider networks.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for training programs for local school food service personnel. This bill mandates that required training must occur during paid work hours and be provided at no cost to the employee. It also ensures that staff are fairly compensated, including overtime, for any training conducted outside of regular hours, and prohibits retaliation against employees who cannot attend.

The National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025 grants the National Taxpayer Advocate the explicit authority to hire and appoint legal counsel who will report directly to their office. This change strengthens the independence and capabilities of the Taxpayer Advocate Service. The provisions are effective retroactively to 1998.

The Employee Ownership Fairness Act of 2025 seeks to modernize rules governing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) by addressing current contribution limits that hinder employee ownership growth. This bill separates ESOP contribution calculations from other defined contribution plans, ensuring that successful ESOPs do not inadvertently penalize employees or restrict employer matching contributions. Ultimately, the Act aims to remove unnecessary tax roadblocks so that more workers can benefit from owning a stake in their companies.

The Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act mandates a review of the federal government's "lowest price technically acceptable" sourcing method. This review will determine if this common purchasing practice creates any risks to national security. The findings of this assessment must be reported to key Congressional committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The Chip Security Act mandates the implementation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported to protect U.S. national security interests. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure chips include features verifying location and reporting unauthorized use or tampering. Furthermore, the Act calls for an assessment and potential rollout of secondary security features to enhance export control compliance and prevent misuse by adversaries. The goal is to maintain the U.S. competitive edge by securing sensitive hardware sent to allies and partners.

The Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2025 aims to establish coverage and payment mechanisms for FDA-approved Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs) under Medicare Part B, beginning in 2026. This legislation mandates the Secretary to develop payment methodologies based on manufacturer pricing and private insurer rates, while also requiring manufacturers to report detailed payment data. Furthermore, the bill extends coverage for these software-based treatments to beneficiaries under the Medicaid program.

The Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program designed to increase the number of mental health professionals working in schools. This program creates matching grants where the government helps cover graduate students' educational costs if their institutions agree to match the funding dollar-for-dollar. The goal is to incentivize graduate schools to support students who commit to careers in school-based mental health services, with specific outreach targeting low-income students.

The PELL Act of 2025 establishes the new Workforce Pell Grant to provide federal aid for short-term, high-demand workforce training programs. To qualify, these programs must be approved by the Governor and meet strict criteria regarding length, employer alignment, credentialing, and performance metrics. This new grant aims to support students pursuing credentials that lead directly to employment while ensuring credits are transferable to further education.

This Act restricts federal funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or designated "Chinese entities of concern." Specifically, institutions with such ties become ineligible for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. Eligibility can be restored only if the institution terminates its relationship with the restricted entity.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the successful restoration program through 2034 and significantly expands its scope and capacity. This bill increases the number of projects funded annually, allows projects to address forest pathogens, and encourages innovative funding and implementation methods. Furthermore, it strengthens support for local collaboratives and prioritizes projects focused on wildfire risk reduction and watershed health across all land types.

The Countering Russian Innovation and Safeguarding Individual Scientists Act of 2025 (CRISIS Act) establishes a new special immigrant pathway for highly educated Russian nationals holding doctoral degrees in critical STEM fields. This program allows up to 3,000 eligible scientists and their families annually to immigrate to the U.S. to work in their expertise, bypassing standard visa caps. The Act mandates expedited processing and rigorous security vetting for all applicants.