Legislation

The Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a program to provide housing assistance and guaranteed income to homeless youth aged 18-29. The program will select up to 105,000 participants from a newly created database and provide them with housing navigation, financial coaching, and monthly cash payments for 36 months. A study will be conducted to assess the program's impact on participants' housing, health, and economic outcomes, as well as the feasibility of expanding the program nationwide. The Act also creates a National Youth Economic Advisory Council to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on program implementation and evaluation.

The "Eliminating the RFS and Its Destructive Outcomes Act" repeals the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, which mandates the blending of biofuels into gasoline. This bill removes Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, which established the RFS, and makes related technical corrections to other sections of the Clean Air Act and the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to reflect the repeal.

The "New Producer Economic Security Act" establishes a program within the Farm Service Agency to award grants and cooperative agreements to eligible entities. These funds will support projects aimed at improving access to land, capital, and markets for farmers, ranchers, and forest owners with less than 10 years of experience, those operating on rented land, or those with low incomes. The program prioritizes projects offering direct financial assistance, promoting collaborative networks, and supporting land transitions to new farmers. This act aims to strengthen food system security by supporting the next generation of agricultural producers.

The Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 allows livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures that are causing or are reasonably believed to cause death, injury, or destruction to livestock. This act defines key terms related to black vultures and livestock production and requires individuals who take a black vulture to submit an annual report to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Act prohibits the use of poison to take or attempt to take a black vulture. The Fish and Wildlife Service must provide a reporting form within 180 days of enactment.

The Undersea Cable Control Act directs the President to develop a strategy, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of State, to limit foreign adversaries' access to essential items required for building, maintaining, and operating undersea cables. This includes identifying necessary items, evaluating current export controls, engaging with allies to unify export policies, and promoting U.S. leadership in international standards. The President is required to submit regular reports to Congress on the strategy and actions taken, and the Secretary of Commerce must evaluate export controls for relevant items. The goal is to hinder foreign adversaries' involvement in undersea cable infrastructure and promote secure international standards.

The Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act mandates terrorism-related sanctions on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and associated individuals/entities due to their involvement in terrorist activities, including the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel. It requires the President to block assets and impose visa restrictions on those affiliated with the PRC, with exceptions for national security and humanitarian reasons. Additionally, the Act directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on whether Lions Den and the PRC should be designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

The "Capping Prescription Costs Act of 2025" caps annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for individuals at $2,000 and families at $4,000 starting in 2026. These limits will be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index for medical care. This cap applies to all group health plans and health insurance issuers.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 aims to improve support and resources for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It mandates a comprehensive report on MST in the digital age, updates the disability compensation claims process, and expands access to healthcare and support services for veterans and former service members, including those who did not complete their service academy training. The bill also focuses on improving communication, training, and oversight within the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans receive respectful and effective care.

The "Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025" aims to protect students' rights to freely associate in single-sex organizations at higher education institutions. It prevents these institutions from taking adverse actions against students or organizations based solely on their single-sex status. The Act ensures fair treatment and equal opportunities for students participating in these groups, safeguarding their freedom of association.

The "Helping to Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for Youth Act of 2025" modifies and extends the Work Opportunity Credit to encourage the employment of young individuals. It expands the credit for summer youth to include year-round employment and increases the credit amount. The bill also creates a new credit for "disconnected youth" who face significant barriers to employment due to lack of education, skills, or foster care history. These changes aim to provide businesses with incentives to hire and train young people, helping them gain valuable work experience and skills.

The Guidance Clarity Act mandates that federal agencies include a "guidance clarity statement" on all guidance documents, clarifying that these documents do not have the force of law and are only intended to provide clarity on existing legal requirements or agency policies. This statement must be prominently displayed on the first page of the guidance. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is directed to issue guidance to implement this Act within 90 days of enactment.

The COMPLETE Care Act aims to improve access to behavioral healthcare by providing financial incentives for integrating these services into primary care settings through Medicare. It increases Medicare payments for specific behavioral health services provided in primary care settings from 2027-2029 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to offer technical assistance to primary care practices integrating behavioral health services. The bill allocates funding from 2025 through 2029 to support these technical assistance efforts.

The College Employment Accountability Act aims to ensure that institutions of higher education comply with immigration laws regarding employment. It prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal student aid or institutional aid if they are found to employ unauthorized aliens, and mandates participation in the E-Verify Program. The Department of Homeland Security will monitor institutions' compliance and notify the Department of Education of any violations.

The "Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025" directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a national public health education campaign to improve access to abortion and related health services. This campaign will educate the public on how to access abortion services, the legality of abortion, accurate medical information, patient rights, and how to identify misleading information. The campaign aims to be culturally competent and accessible, providing resources for underserved communities while protecting personal information and avoiding the promotion of misinformation.

The "Providing a Quality Defense Act of 2025" aims to improve the quality of legal representation for defendants who cannot afford an attorney. It authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states, local governments, and tribal organizations to collect data on public defense and hire more public defenders or increase their compensation. The Act also requires the Attorney General to conduct studies and develop recommendations regarding public defender caseloads and compensation. Finally, it allocates funding for educational programs for public defenders and panel attorneys.

The "Improving Newborns’ Food and Nutrition Testing Safety Act of 2025" (INFANTS Act of 2025) aims to enhance the safety and quality of infant and toddler foods by mandating manufacturers to test for contaminants, maintain detailed records, and report positive pathogen test results. It grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services mandatory recall authority over contaminated infant and toddler food and requires manufacturers of powdered infant formula to establish environmental monitoring programs. The Act also requires food facilities to provide records to the Secretary of Health and Human Services upon request, either in advance of or instead of an inspection.

The COST of Relocations Act requires federal agencies to conduct a benefit-cost analysis and report to their Inspector General (OIG) before carrying out a "covered relocation" which involves moving or replacing a significant number of employees. The OIG then reviews the agency's report and submits its findings to Congress, assessing the justification for using federal funds and adherence to guidelines. This act aims to ensure transparency and careful evaluation of the financial and operational impacts of agency relocations.

The "Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025" enables the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to implement emergency measures on National Forest System lands to protect watersheds and restore forest health after natural disasters. It allows agreements with state, local, and tribal governments for rapid implementation of protection measures, waives matching requirements, and streamlines NEPA compliance for these emergency actions. The Act also clarifies liability for sponsors carrying out these measures and updates related sections of existing agricultural legislation.

The "Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025" aims to improve law enforcement responses to mental health crises by providing grants to state, local, and tribal agencies for behavioral health crisis response training. These grants will help equip officers with the tools to de-escalate crisis situations, reduce injuries and fatalities, and better serve individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues. The act requires the Attorney General to set training program standards and mandates annual reporting and auditing of grant fund usage. This program prioritizes training programs developed with healthcare professionals and individuals with lived experiences of mental illness.

The "Ensuring Opportunities in Online Training Act" amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include online training providers. It specifies that online training providers approved outside a participant's state are ineligible for funding from that state unless the provider is on that state's eligible training provider list.