Legislation

The Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available to eligible small businesses under specific Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, raising the limit from $\$5.5$ million to $\$10$ million. This legislation also mandates that the SBA report annually to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas benefiting from these enhanced loan categories. The goal is to provide greater financial resources for small businesses through SBA lending.

The VA DATA Access Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025 strictly limits access to sensitive veteran data held by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This bill specifically prohibits the DOGE Service Administrator from accessing any veteran records. Furthermore, it imposes tight restrictions on special government employees, ensuring they only use the data for approved official business and cannot retain any copies after their service ends.

The Infrastructure Project Acceleration Act aims to rapidly advance major domestic manufacturing projects valued at over one billion dollars. This legislation expedites construction by waiving certain federal environmental permits and streamlining the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. Furthermore, the bill severely limits judicial review of agency approvals for these priority projects to prevent delays from lawsuits.

The Selena Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue special $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad coins honoring the late Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla. These collector coins, which must feature her image, will be available for sale only during the calendar year 2029. All surcharges collected from the sales will be directed to the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History to support its operations, including a Selena exhibit. The Treasury must ensure the program fully covers all production and issuance costs before any surcharge funds are distributed.

This bill authorizes the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to hear a specific land claim brought by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma regarding land in Illinois, overriding standard time limits for filing. The Tribe must file this claim within one year of the Act becoming law. Successfully settling this claim will resolve all other past, present, and future land claims the Tribe may have concerning Illinois territory.

The Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Funding Eligibility Act makes the Corporation eligible to receive specific federal transportation grants, including BUILD, National Infrastructure Project Assistance, Rail Improvement and Safety, and Passenger Rail grants. A key provision across all these programs is that any funding awarded to the Corporation will cover 100 percent of the project costs, eliminating any local matching requirement. This legislation streamlines federal funding access for Union Station redevelopment projects.

The Fair College Admissions for Students Act prohibits colleges and universities that receive federal student aid from giving preferential treatment in admissions based on an applicant's family legacy or past donor contributions. This legislation aims to ensure that admissions decisions are not influenced by an applicant's relationship to alumni or their family's financial support for the institution. The ban will take effect starting with the second award year following the law's enactment.

The Defend American Manufacturing Act ensures the continued operation of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) beyond 2024 by mandating the Secretary of Commerce to renew and award grants to MEP centers annually. This legislation also amends the NIST Act to convert a previously optional action for NIST into a mandatory requirement. Overall, the bill strengthens support for domestic manufacturing infrastructure.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to significantly advance the fight against brain tumors by increasing research funding and improving patient access to care. This legislation establishes new networks for glioblastoma research, creates a public database for tracking biospecimens, and launches a national awareness campaign about clinical trials. Furthermore, the Act funds pilot programs to improve long-term care for survivors and directs the FDA to ensure brain tumor patients are not unfairly excluded from relevant clinical trials.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act establishes a program for FEMA to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest paid on specific disaster recovery loans. This reimbursement is capped at the lesser of the actual interest paid or the interest calculated using the Federal Reserve's prime rate. The law mandates FEMA to quickly establish procedures for states to apply for reimbursement of qualifying interest paid up to nine years prior to enactment.

The Family Cord Blood Banking Act amends the tax code to allow individuals to treat payments for private umbilical cord blood or tissue banking services as deductible medical expenses. This change makes the cost of utilizing accredited private cord blood banks potentially tax-deductible for federal tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 makes the existing tax credit for adoption expenses fully refundable, meaning taxpayers can receive the excess credit amount as a refund. This is achieved by renumbering the credit section and updating related tax code references. The bill also mandates new regulations for verifying adoptions via standardized affidavits. These changes will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Retirement Freedom Act grants individuals the option to voluntarily opt out of automatic Medicare Part A coverage. This legislation ensures that choosing to opt out will not affect Social Security benefits. Furthermore, individuals can reverse this decision later without incurring any penalties.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE Act) prohibits the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill establishes a formal process managed by the Attorney General and ATF to list prohibited firearms, while grandfathering existing possessions under strict transfer rules. Furthermore, it permits states to use federal Byrne grants for voluntary buy-back programs targeting these newly restricted items. Violations carry significant fines and potential prison sentences.

The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act mandates the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) to modernize weather forecasting, improve severe weather information delivery, and develop specialized AI models for wildfire prediction. The bill focuses on creating high-quality, AI-ready training datasets and ensuring federal employees have the necessary expertise to utilize these new tools effectively. Furthermore, it establishes requirements for open access to resulting data and code, while balancing security and proprietary concerns.

The Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections and rights for small businesses and individual taxpayers dealing with the IRS. This bill increases civil damages for IRS misconduct, removes net worth limits for small businesses seeking fee reimbursement, and institutes new procedural safeguards like banning secret IRS discussions on pending appeals. It also establishes a 10-year term limit for the National Taxpayer Advocate and improves rules regarding IRS levies on principal residences and alternative dispute resolution options.

The Postal Service Clusterbox Responsibility Act establishes new rules for the maintenance of certain historically maintained, privately-owned cluster mailbox units. This legislation requires the Postal Service to continue upkeep on qualifying older units, provided the owner applies and grants permission. The Act also creates a dedicated, permanent fund to cover the costs associated with maintaining these specific mailboxes.

The Imported Seafood Quality Enforcement Act significantly tightens safety standards for all seafood entering the U.S. by requiring foreign countries to have certified safety systems and mandating federal inspection and testing of at least 20% of all imported shipments annually. The bill establishes strict penalties for exporters who fail inspections, including temporary import bans, and allows the FDA to partner with states to expand inspection capabilities. Furthermore, it authorizes fees on exporters to fund these enhanced federal and state oversight operations.

The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act of 2025 expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of real estate purchases near sensitive military sites by foreign persons linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. This bill mandates automatic CFIUS review for these specific transactions and requires notification to local members of Congress. Furthermore, it pauses Department of Defense and Department of Transportation reviews and approvals for energy projects situated on land currently under CFIUS scrutiny for national security risks.

The SAFE Supply Chains Act restricts the Department of Defense (DoD) from purchasing covered IT hardware and embedded software unless it comes directly from the original equipment manufacturer or an authorized reseller. This measure aims to secure federal technology supply chains by eliminating purchases from unapproved third-party vendors. The Secretary of Defense may request a waiver for mission-critical or scientific research needs, provided they notify Congress and certify the product is not sourced from a foreign adversary. The DoD must also report annually to Congress on the use of these waivers.