Legislation

The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint and sell a limited series of gold, silver, and clad coins to honor the life and legacy of baseball legend and humanitarian Roberto Clemente. These coins must feature designs celebrating both his athletic achievements and his activism, with final approval resting with the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Clemente Foundation and family. All proceeds from the mandated surcharges on the coin sales will be directed to the Roberto Clemente Foundation to support its charitable and educational programs. The issuance of these coins is strictly limited to the calendar year 2027.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office." The legislation ensures all official records are updated to reflect this new memorial name for the post office.

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 relationship to alumni or donors. This legislation aims to eliminate legacy and donor preferences in the college application review process. The ban will take effect starting with the second award year following the law's enactment.

The Return to Sender Act focuses on fiscal cleanup by officially repealing specific funding authorizations within Public Law 117-169. This action immediately rescinds any unspent, obligated funds previously set aside under those repealed sections. In essence, the bill cancels old spending authority and returns the remaining money to the Treasury.

The Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act aims to significantly restrict the detention of pregnant and postpartum noncitizens in immigration custody. It mandates immediate testing for pregnancy upon intake and establishes a strong presumption against detention unless extraordinary, case-by-case public safety risks are proven. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits the use of physical restraints on pregnant detainees and requires comprehensive medical care, including reproductive health services, alongside detailed public reporting on detention statistics and restraint incidents.

The Don't Penalize Victims Act simplifies the process for determining eligibility for federal disaster assistance. It removes language that required agencies to check every potential funding source to prevent duplication of benefits. This change streamlines aid distribution by focusing on preventing double payments for the same disaster loss.

This bill ensures that veterans have the option to receive and submit a physical, paper copy of the VA travel reimbursement form (Form 10-3452) by mail or at any VA medical facility. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide these physical copies upon request to accommodate veterans who cannot or prefer not to use digital submission methods. This guarantees accessible avenues for veterans seeking reimbursement for travel expenses related to their VA care.

The Farm Ownership Improvement Act establishes a temporary, five-year pilot program for direct farm ownership loans to help farmers and ranchers secure financing. This program allows the Secretary of Agriculture to use flexible financial assessment methods when evaluating a borrower's ability to repay. The Secretary must track the program's success and report annually to Congress with a recommendation on making the program permanent.

This bill, the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to increase public and Congressional oversight of how political activity complaints against federal employees are handled. It mandates new reporting requirements for the Special Counsel regarding decisions not to investigate certain employees and requires the public posting of detailed enforcement statistics, including demographic data. The legislation also requires written explanations for decisions not to prosecute certain non-career employees who allegedly violated the Hatch Act.

The Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2025 aims to increase the participation of private landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, particularly in high-opportunity neighborhoods. It establishes new incentives, such as one-time payments and security deposit assistance, funded by the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund. The Act also modernizes inspection standards, requires the use of specific Small Area Fair Market Rents, and mandates annual reporting on the program's effectiveness.

The Native ELDER Act aims to significantly improve services and support for Native American elders by establishing a new Tribal Advisory Committee within the Administration for Community Living. This committee will advise on policy and government-to-government consultation regarding Native Americans under the Older Americans Act. The bill also mandates technical assistance for Title VI grantees and requires comprehensive reports on caregiver support models and in-home service needs for Native elders.

This act, officially named the Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act, aims to strengthen the integrity of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It mandates that states administering TANF must now adhere to the federal Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to identify and stop improper payments. Furthermore, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on a comprehensive plan to reduce these improper payments over the next decade.

This bill officially renames the Maine Forest and Logging Museum in Bradley, Maine, to the National Museum of Forestry and Logging History. This designation formally recognizes the museum's importance to the nation's forestry and logging heritage. The change is effective immediately across all federal records and documents.

The HELP Copays Act mandates that financial assistance provided by third parties, such as non-profits or drug manufacturers, must count toward a patient's deductible, copayment, and out-of-pocket maximums. This change ensures that patient cost-sharing requirements are met even when external aid is used to cover prescription drug costs. The new rules generally apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act bans the importation of specific Russian-origin minerals, including platinum group metals, nickel, and copper, into the United States. This prohibition begins 90 days after enactment and remains in effect until one year after the President certifies that Russia has ceased all fighting against Ukraine. Crucially, the President has no authority to waive this specific ban.

The Accelerating Broadband Permits Act aims to speed up the deployment of broadband infrastructure by improving how federal agencies track and manage communications use applications. It mandates better data collection and requires agencies to analyze and report on any delays that cause applications to miss established processing deadlines. Furthermore, the bill updates the definition of a "major project" for broadband infrastructure to include projects over $5 million that require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

The Harriet Tubman Tribute Act of 2025 mandates that the likeness of Harriet Tubman must be included on the face of all new $20 Federal Reserve notes printed after December 31, 2030. The Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to delay this implementation by up to two years under specific economic or security concerns. This act ensures a prominent tribute to Tubman on circulating currency.

The Do No Harm Act amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to ensure that federal anti-discrimination, labor, and equal access laws take precedence over religious freedom claims in specific circumstances. This legislation clarifies that RFRA protections cannot be used to override requirements in federal contracts or agreements involving government funding. Furthermore, the Act explicitly limits the application of RFRA to challenges against government actions, precluding its use in private litigation between non-governmental parties.

The Protect Our Probationary Employees Act allows certain federal employees involuntarily separated during a specific timeframe to avoid restarting their probationary period upon rehire. If rehired into a similar role, their remaining probationary time will be calculated by subtracting previously served time from the new job's full requirement. This provision is designed to credit time already served before separation and will expire in 2029.

The Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal disaster aid for agricultural producers. This bill expands eligibility for conservation payments, streamlines approval processes for emergency repairs, and modifies payment timelines for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Additionally, it establishes an interagency working group to improve the accuracy and data used by the U.S. Drought Monitor.