Legislative Activity

The Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025 clarifies that state and federal courts have exclusive regulatory authority over attorneys' litigation activities, preventing federal agencies from overseeing or regulating attorneys in legal proceedings. It also prohibits federal private civil actions against opposing attorneys for alleged misconduct during litigation. The bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act to ensure attorneys engaged in debt collection litigation are excluded from certain regulatory definitions, reinforcing the courts' authority over attorney conduct in litigation.

This bill mandates the United States Postal Service to assign unique ZIP Codes to specific communities across 22 states within 270 days of enactment. This aims to provide these communities with distinct postal identities.

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 Duty Drawback Clarification Act amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to align the duty treatment of whiskies under subheading 2208.30 with that of subheading 2208.50.00. It also directs the United States International Trade Commission to add statistical suffixes to subheading 2208.30.00.

This bill aims to boost American auto manufacturing through tax deductions for companies meeting specific domestic production, labor, and benefit standards. It also seeks to repeal recent vehicle emission and fuel efficiency regulations, including those allowing states to set stricter standards. The bill further directs the EPA and Department of Transportation to establish new greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards for both passenger and heavy-duty vehicles, balancing environmental goals with economic and technological feasibility.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The S-CAP Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, increasing the maximum number of shareholders an S corporation can have from 100 to 250. This change aims to broaden the appeal and accessibility of S corporation status for businesses. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

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 "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act" prohibits Federal Reserve Banks from offering financial products or services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts for individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly. It also blocks the Federal Reserve from testing, creating, or implementing a CBDC, or using it to implement monetary policy, without explicit congressional authorization. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to digital versions of the dollar that are open, permissionless, and private, like physical currency.

The Taiwan Allies Fund Act aims to bolster Taiwan's international standing by authorizing $40 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 to support countries that maintain or strengthen ties with Taiwan and face pressure from China. These funds, drawn from the Countering PRC Influence Fund, will support various initiatives, including health, civil society, supply chain diversification, and alternatives to Chinese development assistance. The Act emphasizes coordination between the U.S. and Taiwan in providing assistance and requires an annual report to Congress on the activities and their impact. The goal is to promote Taiwan's diplomatic relations and counter China's influence.

The "RIFLE Act" repeals the existing tax on firearm transfers outlined in Section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Additionally, it amends related sections of the code to align with the repeal. The act clarifies that it does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any authority over firearms regulated under the Internal Revenue Code.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection-Inspector General Reform Act of 2025 establishes an independent Inspector General within the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP), appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, to provide oversight and accountability. It mandates the BCFP to allocate 2% of its funds to the Office of the Inspector General and requires the Inspector General to appear before Congress semi-annually. This act removes the Federal Reserve Chairman's authority to appoint the BCFP Inspector General, ensuring direct oversight of the BCFP's operations. The changes take effect upon Senate confirmation of the new Inspector General.

The DETERRENT Act aims to increase transparency and oversight of foreign funding and influence in higher education. It mandates institutions to disclose foreign gifts, contracts, and investments of concern, especially those tied to countries or entities that pose a risk to U.S. national security. The Act also requires institutions to maintain policies regarding conflicts of interest and establishes penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential ineligibility for federal student aid programs. Additionally, the Department of Education is required to maintain a public database of disclosed information and share it with relevant federal agencies.

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 "Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act" requires the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to include more detailed information and analysis in its proposed rulemaking notices. This includes explaining the need for the regulation, assessing its costs and benefits (especially for small businesses), examining alternative approaches, and justifying the regulation's impact. The bill aims to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the CFPB's regulatory process.

The Firearm Due Process Protection Act aims to protect individuals' Second Amendment rights by ensuring due process in firearm-related matters. It allows individuals affected by Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act violations to take legal action, shifting the burden of proof to the government to justify denying firearm ownership. Additionally, it mandates the FBI to provide annual reports to Congress on the challenges to the accuracy of NICS records. The Act reinforces the importance of due process in protecting the right to bear arms.

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 "Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act" modifies reporting requirements for registered investment companies. It allows them to exclude certain indirect fees and expenses from their "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" calculations on registration statements. This exclusion applies specifically to fees and expenses resulting from investments in business development companies. The change affects fee disclosures on Forms N-1A, N-2, and N-3.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.