Legislative Activity

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act" aims to discourage companies from shifting profits and operations overseas to avoid U.S. taxes. It achieves this by amending the tax code to calculate foreign income on a country-by-country basis, limiting interest deductions for domestic corporations in international financial reporting groups, modifying rules related to inverted corporations, and treating certain foreign corporations managed and controlled in the U.S. as domestic corporations for tax purposes. The bill also repeals the reduced tax rate on net CFC tested income and foreign-derived intangible income, increases the deemed paid credit for taxes related to tested income, and eliminates the carryback of foreign tax credits. These changes are intended to level the playing field and ensure that multinational corporations pay their fair share of taxes on income earned abroad.

The American Beef Labeling Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to mandate country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef and ground beef. It requires the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to find a way to reinstate MCOOL for beef in compliance with World Trade Organization rules. The changes to beef labeling will take effect within one year of enactment.

The "Access to Counsel Act of 2025" ensures individuals at ports of entry and during deferred inspection can access legal counsel and assistance. It allows consultations with counsel and interested parties, enabling them to advocate for the individual by providing information to examining officers. The bill also protects lawful permanent residents by ensuring they have the opportunity to seek legal advice before signing Form I-407, unless they knowingly waive that right. This act aims to provide due process and protect the rights of individuals seeking entry into the United States.

The "Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2025" increases the collateral threshold for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans from $14,000 to $50,000. The Act also requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the performance and default rates of these loans. Finally, the SBA must now tailor its outreach and marketing for disaster loans to address the specific challenges faced by rural communities in accessing them.

This resolution designates January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to recognize the positive impact of mentoring on youth development. It highlights mentoring's role in improving academic achievement, fostering leadership skills, and supporting at-risk youth. The resolution encourages expanding mentoring opportunities to address the significant need for mentors among young people nationwide. It also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of mentoring program staff and volunteers.

The "JOBS Act of 2025" expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term job training programs (150-600 hours) that lead to credentials in high-demand fields. These programs must meet specific requirements, including alignment with industry needs and assurance from state boards. The act also requires accrediting agencies to assess the quality of these programs and mandates data sharing between the Departments of Education and Labor. Finally, the bill lowers the threshold for the minimum Federal Pell Grant from 10 percent to 5 percent.

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act, or NO BAN Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion and national origin in nonimmigrant visas and immigration benefits. It limits the President's authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens, requiring specific justification, narrow tailoring, and congressional consultation. The Act also mandates reports on visa applicants and the impact of any suspensions or restrictions. Finally, it allows affected parties to sue the government if these regulations are not followed.

The "Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025" prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of .50 caliber rifles, with exceptions for government use and rifles lawfully possessed before the Act. It also creates an exception to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, allowing lawsuits against gun manufacturers or sellers who knowingly sell firearms in violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. Additionally, the bill prohibits firearm sales to significant foreign narcotics traffickers and includes rifles in multiple firearm sales reporting requirements.

This resolution recognizes the critical role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in advancing U.S. national security interests. It emphasizes USAID's importance in reducing global threats, promoting stability, addressing migration and extremism, and maintaining U.S. leadership against China. The resolution also references the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which requires USAID to consult with Congress on significant organizational changes.

The "Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act" directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali posthumously, recognizing his athletic achievements, advocacy for civil rights, and humanitarian efforts. The Secretary of the Treasury will design and produce the gold medal, which will then be presented to his wife, Lonnie Ali. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to the public and authorizes the United States Mint to use its funds for medal production.

This resolution designates February 3-7, 2025, as "National School Counseling Week" to recognize the vital role school counselors play in students' academic, social, and emotional development. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges students face and the importance of adequately supporting school counseling programs. The resolution encourages Americans to participate in events that highlight the importance of school counselors in helping students succeed.

The "Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act" directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to study Holocaust education efforts in schools across the country. The study will determine the status of Holocaust education implementation, teaching methods, instructional materials used, and assessment methods used to evaluate students' knowledge, and the director will submit a report to Congress on the study's findings. This act aims to improve understanding of the Holocaust, educate on preventing genocide and hate, and study the history of antisemitism.

This resolution designates January 30, 2025, as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It recognizes Fred Korematsu's resistance to the unjust incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The resolution encourages reflection on the importance of political leadership, vigilance, justice, and civil rights.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include innovative multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. These tests, which use genomic sequencing to detect multiple cancer types, will be covered for eligible beneficiaries with age and frequency limitations. The payment amount for these tests will initially align with that of multi-target stool screening DNA tests. This new coverage aims to improve early cancer detection without affecting existing Medicare-covered cancer screenings.

The "Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025" authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his civil rights contributions, loyalty, patriotism, and dedication to justice and equality. The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution after the award presentation. Additionally, the Act allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the gold medal to cover production costs.

The "African Diaspora Heritage Month Act of 2025" directs the President to annually proclaim a month as African Diaspora Heritage Month, recognizing the significant contributions and heritage of the approximately 50 million people in the U.S. who are part of the African diaspora. It encourages state and local governments, as well as the people of the United States, to observe the month with relevant programs and activities. The act highlights the economic, cultural, and social impact of the African diaspora, emphasizing their role in shaping government policy and fostering cross-cultural engagement. It also recognizes their commitment to family, community, and work ethic, as well as their right to access Federal resources and participate in civil life.

The American Music Fairness Act updates copyright law to require terrestrial radio broadcasts to pay royalties to music creators, similar to internet radio services. It establishes royalty rates for eligible small broadcasters and ensures that songwriters' royalties are not negatively impacted. The bill also directs Copyright Royalty Judges to consider the promotional value of radio airplay when determining royalty rates.

The "Keep Our PACT Act" aims to increase funding for Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) over the next decade. It mandates specific funding increases for these programs each year from 2026 to 2035, with the goal of fully funding IDEA at 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students with disabilities by 2035. This bill designates these funding increases as emergency spending.

The "Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025" aims to support youth mentoring programs by establishing a competitive grant program for eligible organizations. These grants will fund initiatives that help young people develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills, explore careers, and prepare for the workforce through mentoring and other support services. The act prioritizes programs serving high-need youth and requires grantees to report on outcomes while protecting student privacy. Additionally, the Department of Labor is directed to study mentoring programs to identify best practices and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program.