Legislation

The CARE for Moms Act aims to combat the rising maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. through significant federal investments and policy changes. The bill establishes grant programs to support state quality collaboratives and expand the doula workforce. Crucially, it mandates 12 months of postpartum coverage under Medicaid and CHIP, alongside requiring oral health services for pregnant and new mothers. Finally, the Act increases federal excise taxes on tobacco products to fund these maternal health initiatives.

This bill waives certain historic preservation review requirements (Section 106) for projects focused on upgrading or structurally rehabilitating public water systems and treatment works. This waiver applies when the entity carrying out the project specifically requests the responsible federal agency to exclude it. The goal is to streamline infrastructure improvements while maintaining historic review for other undertakings.

The CLEAR Act of 2025 aims to streamline energy project development by preventing repeated litigation over the same project through a "Single Action Rule." It establishes strict standards for judicial review, requiring courts to defer to agency factual determinations and limiting remedies for procedural errors to remands with short deadlines. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict procedural requirements, including tight filing deadlines and prior substantive public comment, for any legal challenge to a federal energy project authorization.

The Recreational Drone Empowerment Act expands the airspace where recreational drone operators can fly without needing prior FAA authorization. This legislation specifically clarifies that flights are permitted in certain Class E airspace, in addition to existing allowances for Class G airspace. The goal is to simplify operations for hobbyist drone pilots.

The China AI Power Report Act mandates the Secretary of Commerce to deliver an annual, detailed report to Congress for three years assessing China's advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and supply chains. This legislation emphasizes the need for dynamic U.S. export controls to counter China's evolving technological advancements and protect national security. The comprehensive report must cover everything from advanced AI chips and fabrication facilities to AI models, funding, and the effectiveness of current U.S. restrictions.

The ePermit Act mandates the creation of a unified, digital system for managing all federal environmental reviews and project permits. This system will standardize data, automate processes, and provide real-time public access to review status and documents. The goal is to increase transparency, efficiency, and data interoperability across federal agencies involved in project authorizations.

The American Water Stewardship Act extends and modifies several key federal water restoration and quality programs through fiscal year 2031, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and programs for the Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin. The bill establishes a new restoration program for the San Francisco Bay with specific cost-sharing requirements and adds the Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program. Furthermore, it enhances coastal recreation water quality monitoring grants and restricts certain federal funds from going to entities connected with foreign countries of concern.

The Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Act aims to improve career readiness for current and former foster youth. It mandates a comprehensive study on existing job training and apprenticeship programs serving this population. Furthermore, the bill establishes a grant program to expand access to industry-aligned technical training and modernizes how existing education vouchers can be used for short-term, credential-granting opportunities.

The Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 mandates a study on the obstacles preventing the aviation industry from adopting digital documentation and verification tools. This effort aims to enhance the integrity of aerospace parts documentation to combat falsified paperwork and counterfeit components. The resulting report will provide Congress with recommendations for accelerating the industry-wide transition to digital records and authentication methods.

The Self-Insurance Protection Act clarifies the regulatory framework for employer-sponsored, self-funded health plans. It specifically excludes certain medical stop-loss insurance from the definition of "health insurance coverage" under ERISA. This ensures employers can purchase stop-loss coverage to manage catastrophic claims without state laws interfering with that protection. The bill also preempts state laws that would prevent group health plans from obtaining this risk protection insurance.

This bill establishes a specific process for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to pursue a land claim in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims related to the 1805 Grouseland Treaty. It grants the court jurisdiction to hear this claim, overriding standard time limits. In exchange, the bill extinguishes all other past and future land claims by the Tribe within the State of Illinois, except for the one claim filed under this act.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act aims to reduce costs by expanding options for small employers through Association Health Plans and allowing integrated Health Reimbursement Arrangements. It also increases transparency for consumers by imposing strict new reporting requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Finally, the bill permanently funds Affordable Care Act cost-sharing reductions starting in 2027, with restrictions on plans covering abortion services.

This bill reauthorizes the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, ensuring the continued collection and public release of historical civil rights cold case records. It clarifies that these records should be presumed available for public disclosure and allows for the reimbursement of state and local government costs associated with providing these documents. Furthermore, the legislation extends the tenure of the Review Board and removes certain privacy exemptions for older records.

This bill reaffirms that the Lytton Rancheria of California is subject to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This action authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land and place it into trust for the benefit of the Rancheria. Any land taken into trust will become part of the Rancheria's reservation and be managed under existing federal trust laws for Indian Tribes.

The Federal Building Threat Notification Act mandates the development and dissemination of emergency communication guidance for federal buildings facing life safety events. This guidance will establish best practices for informing tenants and instructing safety procedures during threats. The General Services Administration and Federal Protective Service are responsible for creating and reporting on the implementation of these new protocols.

This bill authorizes the distinguished Iowa National Guard Sergeants Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard to lie in state in the Capitol rotunda. The President pro tempore and the Speaker of the House will set the date for this honor.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to reform the federal rulemaking process by increasing transparency and accountability across executive agencies. It mandates extensive disclosure requirements for studies and funding sources submitted during public comment periods and establishes new standards for judicial review of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill creates an Office of the Public Advocate to focus on social equity in regulations and streamlines the review timeline for significant regulatory actions by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

The Automatic IRA Act of 2025 establishes mandatory automatic enrollment retirement savings plans, referred to as "automatic contribution plans or arrangements," for many employers. These plans require employers to automatically enroll employees into a defined contribution plan or an Automatic IRA arrangement, with escalating default contribution rates unless the employee opts out. The bill also creates an excise tax for employers who fail to maintain these required arrangements and offers a tax credit to small employers starting these programs. Finally, it preempts state laws that would otherwise prohibit or restrict these federally defined automatic IRA arrangements.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating September 2025 as "National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month." It highlights the significant public health impact of childhood cancer, noting the thousands of annual diagnoses and fatalities. The bill encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe the month with awareness programs and pledges to prioritize the prevention and cure of childhood cancer.

The Association Health Plans Act amends federal law to allow certain groups or associations of employers to sponsor a single group health plan, treating them as a single employer for coverage purposes. This aims to expand access to health coverage by enabling broader risk pooling across different industries. The bill establishes specific criteria these associations must meet to qualify, including minimum size and operational standards. Finally, it outlines rules for setting premium rates and prohibits discrimination based on health status for plans established under this Act.