Legislation

The Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely (RULES) Act mandates that asylum seekers arriving at U.S. ports of entry must process their applications exclusively at those locations and remain in custody during the review process. The bill clarifies that these specific port-of-entry restrictions do not apply to individuals apprehended after entering the country without authorization. Additionally, it expands decision-making authority regarding asylum applications to include both the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security.

The REDUCE Food Prices Act aims to lower food costs by providing targeted tax incentives to small food retail businesses operating in low-competition areas. The bill expands tax credits for building rehabilitation, hiring, and new business investment, while also increasing depreciation and income deductions. These measures are designed to encourage growth, improve infrastructure, and foster competition within the retail food sector.

This resolution schedules a joint session of Congress for Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 9 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is for the House and Senate to convene in the Hall of the House of Representatives to receive an official message from the President.

This bill establishes the Military Firefighters Compensation Fund to provide financial support and medical benefits to current and former military firefighters, or their survivors, who have suffered illnesses due to on-the-job PFAS exposure. It creates a presumption of exposure for those who served at military installations where these chemicals were present, ensuring eligible individuals receive timely and uniform compensation.

This joint resolution seeks to block a proposed foreign military sale to Israel, specifically prohibiting the transfer of 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. In addition to the missiles, the resolution halts the provision of associated technical support, training, and logistics equipment outlined in Transmittal No. 24104.

The FAIR Act of 2025 reforms federal civil forfeiture laws to protect property owners by raising the government's burden of proof, mandating judicial oversight, and expanding access to legal counsel. The bill also eliminates nonjudicial forfeiture and ends programs that share seized assets with state and local law enforcement, redirecting proceeds to the General Fund of the Treasury. Additionally, it provides new protections for individuals accused of structuring transactions and increases transparency in forfeiture reporting.

This joint resolution seeks to block a proposed foreign military sale to Israel involving 10,000 155mm artillery ancillaries. If passed, the measure would prohibit the addition of these items to previously authorized defense contracts as outlined in Transmittal No. 2416.

The Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure (ACEQUI) Act supports New Mexico’s historic community irrigation systems by ensuring farmers have improved access to federal drought and disaster assistance. The bill also streamlines operations by exempting routine maintenance of acequias on federal land from special use permit requirements. Additionally, it mandates a federal report to evaluate and improve the accessibility of agricultural support programs for these traditional water systems.

The Restoring Trade Fairness Act seeks to protect U.S. national security and economic interests by revoking China’s normal trade relations status. The bill mandates a phased-in increase of tariffs on Chinese imports, eliminates duty-free "de minimis" entry privileges for Chinese goods, and establishes a trust fund to compensate U.S. producers impacted by retaliatory trade actions. Additionally, it grants the President expanded authority to restrict imports and requires the U.S. to modify its World Trade Organization commitments to allow for greater flexibility in trade policy.

The Main Street Tax Certainty Act makes the 20% pass-through business deduction permanent by removing its scheduled expiration date. This legislation ensures that owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations can continue to benefit from this tax relief indefinitely.

The PEACE Act of 2025 prohibits the use of federal education funds for curricula or instruction that promotes "divisive concepts" related to race. The bill specifically restricts teaching that assigns collective guilt, promotes racial stereotyping, or suggests that individuals are inherently oppressive based on their race.

The Disaster Recovery Efficiency Act mandates that FEMA and HUD implement priority recommendations from a 2022 GAO report to improve the federal approach to disaster recovery. This legislation aims to streamline and enhance the effectiveness of government response efforts following major disasters.

The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 updates the 2010 settlement to improve the management and oversight of water infrastructure funding for the Crow Tribe. The bill establishes new dedicated accounts for water projects and implementation activities, streamlines fund withdrawals, and extends the timeline for key provisions related to the Yellowtail Dam. These amendments ensure the Tribe has the necessary resources and flexibility to develop and maintain essential water infrastructure.

The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act of 2025 mandates CFIUS review for real estate transactions near military sites by entities linked to adversarial nations, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill also prevents the approval of energy projects on such properties while they are under national security investigation. This legislation ensures that foreign investments near sensitive military infrastructure are subject to rigorous oversight and risk assessment.

The Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes the posthumous awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds. This honor recognizes his extraordinary heroism during World War II, when he defied Nazi orders to protect approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers under his command at a prisoner of war camp.

This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a special Manatee Semipostal Stamp to support the conservation of manatees and their habitats. Proceeds from the sale of these stamps will be transferred directly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund essential protection efforts.

The Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act authorizes federal land managers to provide ranchers with temporary access to vacant grazing allotments during extreme natural disasters. This legislation ensures that permit holders can maintain their operations while their primary lands recover, without altering the long-term status or management of those vacant allotments.

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 strengthens the Veterans Community Care Program by establishing clear, enforceable standards for care eligibility and wait times while streamlining the referral process. The legislation also overhauls access to residential mental health and substance abuse treatment, ensuring veterans receive timely, localized care with robust oversight. Additionally, it mandates the development of digital tools and pilot programs to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve transparency across the VA healthcare system.

The "End the Deep State Act" aims to increase executive branch accountability by reclassifying certain federal positions involved in policy-making and confidential work into a new "Schedule PolicyCareer" category. This legislation removes standard civil service protections for these roles, allowing for greater presidential control over the federal workforce. Additionally, the bill mandates regular agency reviews to identify positions for this new classification and requires employees in these roles to faithfully implement administration policies.

This joint resolution seeks to block a proposed foreign military sale of defense articles and services to Israel. The measure specifically prohibits the transfer of various munitions, including small diameter bombs, general-purpose bomb bodies, and precision guidance kits, as detailed in the February 2025 congressional transmittal.