Legislative Activity

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 "Business Over Ballots Act" aims to prevent the Small Business Administration (SBA) from engaging in voter registration activities. It restricts the SBA Administrator from taking actions to facilitate voter registration unless explicitly authorized by federal law, and prohibits recipients of SBA assistance from using funds for voter registration purposes. The bill asserts that supporting voter registration is outside the SBA's mission and legal authority.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to limit consumer reporting agencies from sharing credit report information when a person requests a credit report for a residential mortgage loan. Consumer reporting agencies can only furnish this information if the entity has a firm offer of credit or insurance, has the consumer's authorization, or has an existing relationship with the consumer as a mortgage lender, servicer, or financial institution. This act aims to protect consumers' privacy during the home buying process by limiting the amount of entities that get access to their credit information. The changes will take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted.

The "1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act" repeals Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, eliminating requirements for financial institutions to collect and report data on small business loans. This aims to reduce compliance costs for financial institutions, particularly smaller ones like community banks and credit unions. The goal is to alleviate regulatory burdens and improve credit access for small businesses by removing these data collection requirements.

The "Promoting New Bank Formation Act" aims to encourage the creation of new banks by easing regulatory burdens during their initial years. It allows for a phased-in approach to meeting capital requirements, simplifies business plan adjustments, and provides a more favorable leverage ratio for new rural community banks. The Act also expands agricultural lending authority for Federal savings associations and mandates a study on the decline of new banks to identify ways to promote their formation in underserved areas.

This bill condemns the increasing number of domestic terrorism incidents targeting Tesla vehicles and facilities in the United States and Canada. It highlights specific acts of vandalism, arson, and other violent acts motivated by political or ideological grievances. The bill acknowledges the creation of an FBI and ATF task force to investigate these attacks.

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 "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.

The SIGN Pardons Act would require the President to personally sign all pardons and reprieves. This ensures presidential accountability for these actions.

The Nuclear Ecosystem Drone Defense Act (NEDD Act) expands the Secretary of Energy's authority, allowing exemptions from prohibitions on procuring or operating unmanned aircraft systems from foreign entities, including the use of federal funds. It grants authority to determine classified tracking usage and accounting exceptions. This expansion aims to bolster the protection of nuclear facilities and assets from potential threats posed by unmanned aircraft.

The "Securing American Agriculture Act" mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress, assessing U.S. dependency on critical agricultural products and inputs that could be weaponized by China. This report will analyze domestic production capacity, identify supply chain vulnerabilities, and recommend ways to reduce reliance on China, encouraging domestic or near-shore production. The assessment covers key areas such as agricultural equipment, fuel, fertilizers, feed, veterinary products, crop protection chemicals, and seeds. The Secretary is required to protect the confidentiality of information provided for the assessment.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' support for maintaining the stepped-up basis under section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows inherited assets to be adjusted to their current market value, protecting family-owned farms and small businesses from increased taxes. It opposes any changes to the tax code that would negatively impact the ability of these businesses to pass their operations on to the next generation. The bill recognizes the importance of generational transfers for the continuation of family farms, ranches, agribusinesses, and small businesses.

The LIONs Act of 2025 increases the maximum loan amounts for both 7(a) loans and development company loans, aiming to provide greater financial support to small businesses. Specifically, it raises the 7(a) loan limit to $7,500,000 and the development company loan limit to $10,000,000.

The "ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act" aims to boost employment and entrepreneurship for individuals with disabilities by directing the Small Business Administration to collaborate with the National Council on Disability. They will work together to assist disabled individuals in starting businesses and finding jobs with small businesses, while also supporting small businesses in hiring people with disabilities. The Act requires a report to Congress detailing the activities, achievements, and future plans to expand these employment opportunities, but does not allocate additional funds for implementation.

The "Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act" aims to increase transparency and support for small businesses when federal agencies cancel contract solicitations. It mandates the Small Business Administration to create rules requiring agencies to disclose reasons for cancellation, plans for reissuance, and alternative contracting options. Additionally, it directs the Directors of Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to assist affected small businesses in finding similar opportunities. The Act specifies that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

The "Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025" increases penalties for stealing firearms from licensed dealers. It sets stricter punishments, including up to 20 years in prison, for violating laws related to firearm theft. The act also mandates minimum prison sentences of 3 years for burglaries and 5 years for robberies targeting licensed firearm businesses.

The SHOPP Act of 2025 expands the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to increase access to healthy foods. It allows program incentives to be used for fresh frozen fruits and vegetables, increasing year-round availability. The act also includes legumes as eligible purchases, alongside fruits and vegetables, to promote diverse and nutritious food choices.

The PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to protect veterans by clarifying who can assist with VA claims, reinstating penalties for charging unauthorized fees, and ensuring fair representation. It requires agents and attorneys to apply for recognition, limits fees for initial claims, and mandates transparency regarding free services available to veterans. The Act also overrides conflicting state laws to ensure consistent enforcement of these protections.

The "Grown in America Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for businesses that use domestic agricultural commodities in their products for human consumption. This credit, capped at $100,000,000, aims to incentivize the use of U.S.-produced agricultural inputs by offering a tax benefit based on the percentage of domestic agricultural commodities used. The percentage of domestic inputs required to receive the full credit increases over time, with the Secretary of Agriculture maintaining a list of agricultural commodities that cannot be produced domestically. These provisions will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.