Legislation

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Environment and Public Works to spend money, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government entities to support its mandated duties. It sets specific expense limits for the committee from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027, and outlines the procedures for handling these expenses, including exceptions for certain payments that do not require vouchers. Additionally, it authorizes payments from the Senate's Inquiries and Investigations expense account for agency contributions related to committee employee compensation during the specified periods.

This bill expresses support for the people of Puerto Rico and urges the federal government to expedite the rebuilding of its electrical grid. It highlights the frequent power outages, unreliable service, and high energy costs impacting over 3 million American citizens. The bill calls for swift action from the President and federal agencies to address the electric grid crisis and build a stronger, more resilient system. It also acknowledges the slow progress of recovery efforts despite billions of dollars allocated by Congress.

The "Skills Investment Act of 2025" renames and expands Coverdell education savings accounts into "Coverdell lifelong learning accounts" to cover a broader range of skill development and educational expenses. It modifies age restrictions and contribution rules, introduces a new tax credit for employers contributing to employee accounts, and allows beneficiaries to deduct contributions made to their accounts. These changes aim to promote lifelong learning and workforce development.

The "Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act" aims to ensure more veterans can access housing assistance by excluding certain disability benefits from income calculations for specific housing programs. This exclusion applies to the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and when determining eligibility to rent residential housing on Department of Veteran Affairs property constructed after the enactment of this act. This exclusion does not apply to the definition of adjusted income. By excluding these benefits, the bill seeks to make housing more affordable and accessible for disabled veterans.

The Justice for Jocelyn Act aims to limit participation in Alternatives to Detention programs, mandating GPS tracking and curfew requirements for aliens in the program. It requires that all detention beds are full and no other detention options are available before an alien can participate in alternative programs. The Act also mandates the removal of aliens who fail to comply with release orders and ensures that if any part of the Act is found unconstitutional, the remaining parts will still be valid.

The "Complete COVID Collections Act" aims to enhance oversight and recovery of funds allocated for COVID-19 relief programs. It expands the authority and extends the term of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, harmonizes fraud enforcement timelines, and mandates the Department of Justice and Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to increase transparency in reporting fraud and recovered funds. The Act also prohibits the Small Business Administration from suspending collection efforts on COVID-19 related loans and requires regular reporting to Congress on collection progress and improper payments.

This bill requires the Department of Defense to share best practices and offer training to state and local first responders. The training would focus on effectively aiding victims of trauma-related injuries.

The "Return to Work Act" mandates that all Executive agencies must reinstate their telework policies as they existed on December 31, 2019, within 60 days of the Act's enactment. These reinstated policies will supersede any conflicting telework provisions currently in place.

This concurrent resolution outlines the procedures for the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2025, to count the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States. It specifies the time, location, presiding officer, and roles of tellers from both the House and Senate. The resolution also describes the process of reading, tallying, and officially declaring the electoral votes, ensuring the results are recorded in the journals of both houses.

The "Stop Woke Investing Act" aims to modify SEC regulations regarding shareholder proposals, limiting the number of proposals companies must include on proxy cards based on filer status (non-accelerated, accelerated, large accelerated). It mandates that only proposals with a material financial impact on the company can be included, as determined by the company itself. This act does not require companies to include proposals that are otherwise excludable under SEC rules.

The "Fair Play for Girls Act" mandates the Attorney General to produce a report analyzing challenges to fair competition for female athletes, instances of lost opportunities due to competition with biological males, and the effectiveness of state laws protecting female athletes. It also requires an examination of online violence and sexual abuse against female athletes, along with recommendations to address these issues.

This bill allocates $19,311,600 to the House Committee on Natural Resources for expenses, including staff salaries, during the 119th Congress. The funds are divided into two equal amounts for each session of Congress, with spending governed by House Administration Committee regulations and voucher procedures.

The "Expanding Penalty Free Withdrawal Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement plans for individuals who have received unemployment compensation for at least 26 consecutive weeks. Withdrawals must be made during the year unemployment benefits are received or the following year. The provision is effective for distributions made after December 31, 2024, and is subject to certain limitations.

The "Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2025" establishes a program to provide financial and technical assistance for oyster reef restoration and conservation projects. It creates a competitive grant program supporting research, planning, and workforce training related to oyster reefs. The Act authorizes $15 million annually from 2026 to 2030 for these initiatives, aiming to enhance the health and resilience of oyster reefs while supporting coastal communities.

This resolution establishes a joint congressional committee to inform the President that both the Senate and House of Representatives have assembled a quorum. The committee will notify the President that Congress is prepared to receive any communications they wish to deliver.

The "Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act of 2025" mandates that physicians performing abortions must have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and inform patients of its location for follow-up care. Non-compliant physicians may face penalties, while women undergoing the procedure are exempt from prosecution. Additionally, abortion clinics are required to be licensed by the state and adhere to the same standards as ambulatory surgery centers to receive federal funding.

This resolution informs the House of Representatives of the Senate's election of Jackie Barber as its Secretary.

This proposed constitutional amendment changes the rules for ending debates on legislation in the Senate. It mandates that ending a debate requires either adherence to the rules in place on January 3, 2025, unanimous consent, or a three-fifths majority vote of all Senators. This new rule would not apply to presidential nominations.

The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) amends Title 28 of the United States Code to add College Station to the list of locations in Texas where district courts can be held and El Centro to the list of locations in California where the Southern District Court can be held.

This bill recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Greensboro Four sit-in, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement that began on February 1, 1960. It acknowledges the Greensboro Four's significant contribution to the fight against racial inequality and encourages states to include their story in educational curricula. The bill also recognizes the importance of sit-ins as a form of nonviolent resistance and the enrichment that ethnic and racial diversity brings to the United States.