Legislative Activity

The Business Owners Protection Act of 2025 terminates specific, unused regulatory authorities granted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Dodd-Frank Act. If the SEC failed to initiate rulemaking for these discretionary powers by January 1, 2025, those authorities automatically expire upon the enactment of this Act. The SEC is required to publicly report to Congress on all terminated authorities within 180 days.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 establishes a presumption that certain cancers leading to death or disability in public safety officers were caused by on-duty exposure to recognized carcinogens. This law defines specific exposure-related cancers and sets conditions, such as five years of service, for the presumption to apply. It also updates review processes for adding new cancers to the list and grants retroactive application and filing extensions for eligible past and present claims.

The COUNTER Act grants the Department of Defense (DoD) expanded authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems (drones) operating outside of the United States. This legislation delegates response authority, clarifies mitigation methods like remote identification, and exempts security details regarding these operations from public disclosure. Furthermore, it limits the application of certain criminal and security laws to authorized DoD and Coast Guard activities aimed at countering these aerial threats overseas.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for healthcare entities and individuals who object to participating in specific medical procedures, such as abortion, based on moral or religious beliefs. It prohibits discrimination against providers who refuse such services and significantly bolsters enforcement mechanisms within the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly grants individuals and affected parties the right to file private lawsuits seeking damages when these conscience protections are violated.

The ASSIST Act of 2025 clarifies that medically necessary automobile adaptations for veterans, such as ramps and specialized seating, must be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs' definition of medical services. This ensures veterans receive necessary support for safe transportation related to service-connected disabilities. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veteran pension payments from late 2031 to September 30, 2032.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from requiring firearms retailers to use a unique Merchant Category Code (MCC) that singles them out. This ensures that credit and debit card transactions for firearms and ammunition are treated the same as general retail purchases. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing this prohibition and reporting annually to Congress on compliance efforts.

This joint resolution disapproves a final rule issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) that defined "Larger Participants" in the market for general-use digital consumer payment applications. By passing this resolution, Congress nullifies the BCFP's specific definition and any associated regulatory requirements for these digital payment providers. Essentially, this action prevents the BCFP from implementing its proposed oversight framework for large digital payment companies.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent rule aimed at closing the "Homework Gap" using the E-Rate Program. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, Congress is formally rejecting the FCC's specific plan to extend E-Rate funding for student home internet access. Consequently, the FCC's rule, published on November 29, 2024, will not take effect.

The Chip Security Act mandates the implementation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported to protect U.S. national security interests. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure chips include features verifying location and reporting unauthorized use or tampering. Furthermore, the Act calls for an assessment and potential rollout of secondary security features to enhance export control compliance and prevent misuse by adversaries. The goal is to maintain the U.S. competitive edge by securing sensitive hardware sent to allies and partners.

The MOMS Act aims to support mothers and unborn children through three main areas: establishing a federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect expecting and new mothers with local services. It also creates grant programs to fund organizations that support carrying pregnancies to term and expand access to prenatal/postnatal telehealth care. Finally, the Act mandates that states establish and enforce child support obligations on behalf of unborn children upon the mother's request.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week. It aims to celebrate the vital contributions of the over 34.5 million small businesses that support tens of millions of jobs nationwide. The bill honors the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners in every community.

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes and extends the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033, increasing its total authorized funding. This legislation adjusts funding priorities to favor projects receiving private contributions and streamlines the process for accepting and allocating public donations. Additionally, it mandates reporting on efforts to reduce the existing deferred maintenance backlog and improve future preventative maintenance across public lands.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to revise how federal agencies interact with insurance company data. This bill removes certain government subpoena powers and strengthens confidentiality protections when the Federal Insurance Office shares sensitive information. Furthermore, it limits the Office of Financial Research's ability to subpoena insurance companies directly and requires financial regulators to coordinate data collection to avoid duplication.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Financial Literacy Month" to raise national awareness about the critical need for personal finance education. It highlights current financial struggles, such as high household debt and lack of banking access, while emphasizing that financial education leads to better economic outcomes. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe the month with programs promoting essential skills like budgeting, saving, and debt management.

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025 significantly enhances the rehabilitation tax credit by setting a standard 20% credit rate and introducing a new, higher 30% rate for qualifying small projects, including special provisions for rural areas. The bill also allows for the transfer of these credits and eliminates the requirement to reduce a property's cost basis when claiming the credit. These changes aim to incentivize the rehabilitation and placement in service of historic properties after the enactment date.

The SNOOP Act of 2025 aims to adjust the reporting requirements for third-party payment processors regarding transactions sent to the IRS. This bill reinstates the higher reporting threshold of over $20,000 in payments across more than 200 transactions for issuing 1099-K forms. Furthermore, it clarifies that backup withholding on network payments only applies if both the transaction count and dollar amount thresholds are met for the year.

The Health Tech Investment Act aims to establish specific, cost-based payment rules for advanced algorithm-based healthcare services under Medicare, starting in 2026. This ensures that services utilizing AI or machine learning receive appropriate payment based on manufacturer-submitted costs while in the New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (NTAP). The bill also clarifies eligibility for these new technologies within the Medicare outpatient payment system.