Legislation

The "Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act" prohibits federal agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel, starting January 1, 2026, for contracts exceeding $100,000. Companies must certify they are not participating in such boycotts, and contracts will include clauses prohibiting these activities. The Act includes enforcement mechanisms for violations, while clarifying that it does not infringe upon First Amendment rights or take a position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The "Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase the participation of women, underrepresented minorities (including LGBTQ+ individuals and those with disabilities) in STEM fields. These grants will fund various activities such as workshops, mentoring, internships, and outreach programs. The bill allocates \$15 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to support this initiative.

The "Expanding Regional Airports Act" establishes a grant program for the Secretary of Transportation to award grants to eligible regional airports. These grants will help improve passenger and flight capacity by expanding screening facilities, lengthening runways, constructing hangars, improving passenger facilities, and covering operational and security compliance costs. Between 3 and 10 grants will be awarded each fiscal year to eligible general aviation or nonprimary commercial service airports serving communities of at least 75,000 people. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $50,000,000 for each fiscal year to fund the program.

The "Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act" allows the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired law enforcement personnel. These retired officers will train civilian employees and perform civilian law enforcement tasks such as assisting in investigations, reviewing footage, and providing computer expertise. The grants are subject to strict accountability requirements, including audits, to prevent fraud and waste, with priority given to entities with a clean audit history. The Attorney General must provide annual certifications and reports to Congress on audit completion, exclusions, and any duplicative grants awarded.

The SERVE Act aims to bolster military recruitment by improving access to potential applicants in high schools and colleges, establishing new JROTC affiliation types, creating a pilot program to recognize military-friendly schools, and prioritizing service academy applications from schools with above-average military enlistment rates. The act also designates a National Week of Military Recruitment and mandates several reports to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these initiatives.

The "Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act" aims to strengthen North American energy security by streamlining the approval process for cross-border energy infrastructure projects, such as oil and natural gas pipelines and electric transmission facilities. It mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or the Secretary of Energy to issue a "certificate of crossing" for new facilities within a specified timeframe, while exempting existing facilities and modifications from needing new permits. The Act also removes the requirement for Presidential permits and order to transmit electric energy to Canada and Mexico, and prohibits the President from revoking existing permits without Congressional authorization. Furthermore, it expedites the approval process for natural gas import/export applications with Canada and Mexico.

The "Help Hoover Dam Act" allows the Secretary of the Interior to use specific funds for activities related to the Hoover Dam. These activities include operations, maintenance, investigations, cleanup, and capital improvements within the Boulder Canyon Project. All actions must be done in consultation with Boulder Canyon Project contractors.

The Gaining Meaningful Experiences from Service Act or the GAMES Act, expands eligibility for veterans to participate in military adaptive sports programs by removing the requirement that they apply within one year of separation from service. This change allows more veterans to benefit from these programs, promoting rehabilitation and ongoing engagement in physical activity.

The "Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025" aims to promote and expand employee ownership, particularly through S corporation employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). It includes provisions for tax deferrals on certain stock sales to ESOPs, establishes a Treasury Department office to provide technical assistance for S corporations interested in employee ownership, amends the Small Business Act to support ESOP-owned small businesses, and creates an Advocate for Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to support and promote employee ownership initiatives. This act seeks to encourage employee ownership by providing resources, removing barriers, and ensuring representation for employee ownership interests within the government.

The "Save Healthcare Workers Act" aims to protect hospital personnel by making it a federal crime to knowingly assault a hospital employee, with increased penalties if a weapon is used, bodily injury occurs, or the act happens during a declared public emergency. It also establishes a grant program for hospitals to improve safety and security through training, technology, and coordination with law enforcement. The Attorney General will administer the grant program, prioritizing hospitals with demonstrated need and ensuring equitable distribution across the country, with $25 million authorized annually from 2025 to 2034.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer a specific 0.81-acre parcel of Forest Service land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County, Arkansas, without payment, provided the county requests it within 180 days. Perry County will bear all conveyance costs, including survey and environmental analysis expenses. The transfer will be executed via quitclaim deed, safeguarding existing rights and U.S. interests.

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 amends title 38 of the U.S. Code to modify the process and oversight of agents and attorneys who assist veterans with initial and supplemental benefit claims. It mandates increased transparency, including public lists of accredited representatives and warnings about fees, and sets guidelines for fee agreements, including caps and installment options. The Act also expands the grounds for disciplinary actions against agents and attorneys and requires reviews and reports to ensure effective implementation and oversight. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments.

The "Building Ships in America Act of 2025" introduces several tax incentives and modifications to support the U.S. maritime industry. It establishes a "United States Vessel Investment Credit" for investments in U.S.-built vessels, excludes certain maritime security payments from gross income, and eliminates restrictions on domestic operations for qualifying vessels. The act also provides tax credits for shipyard facility construction, modifies incentives for merchant marine capital construction funds, and exempts student incentive payments from gross income. Additionally, it extends fuel tax exemptions and treats maritime prosperity zones as opportunity zones to further stimulate investment in the sector.

The American Sovereign Wealth Fund Exploration Act establishes a commission to study the feasibility and implications of creating a national sovereign wealth fund for the United States. This commission will investigate potential revenue sources, asset composition, fund usage, and management logistics, while also assessing the fund's potential impact on various aspects of the U.S. economy and national security. The commission will then deliver a report to the public, the President, relevant Federal agencies, and relevant Congressional committees with findings and recommendations for legislative action.

The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025 seeks to revise patent eligibility criteria by eliminating judicial exceptions and clarifying what inventions are patentable under Title 35 of the United States Code. The Act aims to ensure that any useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter is eligible for patent protection, with specific exclusions for certain subject matter such as unmodified natural materials and purely mental processes. It specifies that patent eligibility should be determined by considering the invention as a whole, and allows courts to determine patent eligibility in infringement cases. This legislation intends to promote innovation by providing clearer guidelines for patent eligibility while maintaining existing requirements for patentability such as novelty and non-obviousness.

The Clean Slate Act of 2025 allows for the automatic sealing of federal records for individuals arrested but not convicted, or convicted of non-violent marijuana offenses, after they have completed their sentence. It also allows individuals convicted of other covered non-violent offenses to petition a court to have their records sealed one year after completing their sentence, balancing public safety with the individual's rehabilitation. Sealed records would not be accessible except in certain circumstances, such as for law enforcement or national security purposes, and employers would be immune from liability for employee misconduct related to sealed records. The bill establishes procedures for sealing records, including notification of relevant parties, hearings, and considerations for the court's decision.

The "Rural Broadband Assistance Act" amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, establishing a broadband technical assistance program. The Secretary of Agriculture will provide grants to organizations to offer broadband technical assistance and training to expand broadband access in rural communities. This assistance includes preparing applications, identifying funding sources, creating feasibility studies, and improving broadband facility management. The Act aims to support various entities, including Tribes, state and local governments, and nonprofits, in developing and enhancing rural broadband infrastructure.

The Liberating Incandescent Technology Act of 2025, or LIT Act of 2025, seeks to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act by removing regulations and definitions related to general service incandescent lamps. This bill would eliminate energy conservation standards and specific rules for these types of light bulbs, effectively deregulating their production and sale. The Act terminates specific rules from the Department of Energy related to these lamps.

The Stealthing Act of 2025 allows individuals to sue someone who removes a sexual protection barrier without consent during sexual contact, resulting in unprotected contact. This applies if interstate commerce was used to further the act, or if the act occurred within U.S. jurisdiction. Penalties for the defendant in a civil action include compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and other relief as determined by the court.

The UNLOCK Housing Act aims to increase affordable housing options by designating affordable housing development as a public purpose under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, and by creating a task force to identify and streamline the process of using underutilized federal land for housing. The task force will evaluate federal land for residential development and report annually to Congress on its progress. This act seeks to address the shortage of affordable housing and reduce associated costs to federal and state entities.