Legislative Activity

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how veterans receive assistance with their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. It establishes new rules for the recognition, fees, and conduct of agents and attorneys who represent veterans. The bill also mandates increased transparency regarding available assistance and requires a review of the entire representative recognition process.

The PFAS Alternatives Act aims to protect firefighters by funding research and development for next-generation turnout gear that eliminates harmful PFAS chemicals. The bill establishes grants through NIOSH to create safer, PFAS-free protective equipment and separate funding for training programs on the proper care of this new gear. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to reduce occupational illness and injury among fire and EMS personnel.

The Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act clarifies and strengthens federal authority over emission standards for existing locomotives and engines. This legislation limits the ability of states to set their own pollution control standards for certain railroad equipment. Specifically, it expands federal preemption to cover more nonroad engines and locomotives engaged in commerce.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating May 2025 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It acknowledges the significant role motorcyclists play in transportation while highlighting the critical need for increased safety awareness. The bill encourages proper rider training, the use of protective gear, and mutual road safety between motorcyclists and other drivers.

This bill extends key federal tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel production and mixtures through 2026. It ensures that these older credits will not be claimed concurrently with the newer clean fuel production credit (Section 45Z(a)). The legislation also extends the tax credit for second-generation alcohol fuels, coordinating its expiration with the new clean fuel rules.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 significantly overhauls federal funding to expand high-speed internet access in underserved rural areas. This legislation prioritizes grants and loans for projects delivering at least 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds, focusing heavily on communities currently lacking adequate service. The bill sets strict buildout timelines, mandates participation in affordability programs, and establishes specific priority criteria for funding distribution through 2030.

The Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act aims to expedite the permitting process for facilities handling critical energy resources. It introduces a new definition for "critical energy resource," determined by the Secretary of Energy based on national necessity and supply chain vulnerability. This change specifically modifies how interim hazardous waste permits are handled for facilities processing these vital resources under the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

The NFA SBS Act redefines short-barreled shotguns under federal tax law, removing specific restrictions and ensuring they are not treated as destructive devices. This legislation eliminates disparate federal restrictions on these shotguns and preempts state or local laws that attempt to impose special taxes or registration requirements referencing the National Firearms Act. Furthermore, the Act mandates the destruction of specific government records related to the registration and transfer of these shotguns.

This bill amends Medicare rules to cap the out-of-pocket coinsurance amount beneficiaries must pay for certain services provided in an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). If the standard ASC coinsurance exceeds the annual inpatient hospital deductible, the beneficiary's cost will be limited to that deductible amount. The Secretary will cover the difference owed to the ASC.

The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act of 2025 officially recognizes accounting education as a vital component of a well-rounded K-12 curriculum. This legislation amends federal education law to ensure accounting is counted within core curriculum planning frameworks. The Act specifically directs states and districts to improve access to quality accounting programs, with a focus on increasing opportunities for underrepresented students.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) significantly amends federal law to require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This legislation mandates that states actively clean their voter rolls and cooperate with federal agencies to verify citizenship status. It establishes new criminal penalties for officials who fail to enforce these documentation requirements.

The Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act makes a technical organizational change within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill specifically moves the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to be situated directly within the Office of the Secretary. This clarifies the OSA's placement and reporting structure within the VA.

The DRIVE Act prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from mandating speed limiting devices on heavy commercial vehicles engaged in interstate commerce. This legislation removes any federal requirement for trucks over 26,000 pounds to have their top speed electronically capped. In essence, the bill deregulates restrictions concerning speed control technology for large, cross-state eighteen-wheelers.

The Repair Expenditures Support Infrastructure, Labor Investment, Energy Needs, and Creates Equity Act of 2025, or the RESILIENCE Act of 2025, modifies tax rules for public utility companies. This legislation allows utility companies to reduce their adjusted financial statement income by deductions taken for repairing and maintaining their property. The goal is to align these specific repair deductions with existing depreciation rules for tax purposes, effective for tax years beginning after 2024.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent assessment of all notices sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure they are clearer, more concise, and easier for claimants to understand. The VA Secretary must implement the resulting recommendations within one year of receiving the assessment. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain existing limits on veterans' pension payments.

The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 establishes a new federal crime targeting individuals who intentionally stage motor vehicle collisions involving commercial motor vehicles. This act sets significant penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for staging an accident, with mandatory minimum sentences for crashes resulting in serious injury or death. The legislation also includes provisions to prevent federal prosecution if the individual has already been tried in a state or local jurisdiction for the same incident.

The IDEA Full Funding Act establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs through fiscal year 2035. This legislation sets specific appropriation targets based on student counts and national average spending to ensure greater financial support for special education services. Furthermore, the bill requires that these new IDEA appropriations adhere to "cut-as-you-go" budget offset rules.

The Iranian Terror Prevention Act mandates the swift designation of specific Iranian-linked groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the Secretary of State. It requires the President to impose existing sanctions on these designated groups and any affiliated entities within 60 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill establishes ongoing reporting requirements to Congress regarding designations and the application of sanctions.