Legislative Activity

The Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 prohibits abortion providers from disposing of fetal remains in any publicly owned water system. Violators of this federal standard face significant criminal penalties, though the patient who received the abortion is explicitly protected from liability. This act does not supersede any stricter state or local regulations already in place.

The Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an electronic communication system for education assistance benefits. This allows eligible veterans and beneficiaries to opt-in to receive important correspondence regarding their benefits digitally instead of solely through postal mail. The VA must clearly notify all eligible individuals about this new electronic option.

The REFOCUS DODEA Act mandates the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to implement a strict policy banning student smartphone use during the school day. This new regulation requires students to secure their devices in lockers or approved pouches for the duration of the school day. Exceptions will be made only for documented medical needs or high-priority emergencies.

The Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025 aims to improve the VA's comprehensive assistance program for family caregivers. This bill mandates the creation of a single digital system for all caregiver applications and appeals, ensuring easier access to necessary documentation. It also clarifies that caregivers will receive stipends owed up to the date of a veteran's death, even if an appeal is pending. Finally, the Act standardizes training for employees reviewing caregiver appeals.

The Putting American Students First Act amends eligibility requirements for federally funded TRIO programs, such as Upward Bound. This legislation strictly limits participation to U.S. nationals and specific categories of legal residents. Furthermore, the bill explicitly prohibits any waivers of these new citizenship and residency standards.

The Restoring Biological Truth to the Workplace Act amends federal employment law to prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees based on their expression of views regarding the binary or biological nature of sex. This legislation also protects employees who request or use single-sex spaces, such as bathrooms or changing rooms. Furthermore, the Act expands anti-retaliation protections for employees who oppose these newly defined unlawful employment practices.

The CURB Act, or Curtailing Unreasonable Remuneration at Banks Act, grants the Director authority to set reasonable and comparable compensation for executive officers at Federal Home Loan Banks. This new authority specifically overrides existing rules regarding executive pay under the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. The bill renames the relevant section of law to clarify the focus on executive officer compensation.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through new reporting requirements and procedural changes. It mandates increased transparency on claim processing times and requires the VA to establish clearer guidelines for expediting cases. Furthermore, the bill grants the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) new authority to group similar appeals and expands the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims' (CAVC) jurisdiction regarding class actions.

The Visa Overstay Penalties Act of 2025 significantly increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S., including higher fines. This bill also establishes new criminal and civil penalties for nonimmigrant visa overstays exceeding ten days. Consequences for overstaying range from fines and up to six months in jail for a first offense, escalating for subsequent violations.

The ANTE Act, or Axing Nonmarket Tariff Evasion Act, grants the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) new authority to combat duty evasion by entities from nonmarket economy countries. This allows the USTR to impose remedial measures, such as new duties, on goods produced in a third country if a covered entity is using that location specifically to circumvent existing U.S. import duties. The process includes investigations initiated by the USTR, Congress, or interested parties, leading to potential penalties equal to the original evaded duties.

The No Loan Forgiveness for Terrorists Act of 2025 amends the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to disqualify employment with organizations that engage in activities with a "substantial illegal purpose." This exclusion specifically targets organizations involved in terrorism support, significant violations of immigration or child protection laws, or repeated illegal acts like vandalism or trespassing. Therefore, working for such entities will no longer count toward the forgiveness of federal student loans.

The VA Design-Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2025 encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prioritize the design-build construction method for future facility projects. Congress finds that this method can lead to faster construction, fewer change orders, and better value for the VA's extensive capital improvement plan. The bill mandates the use of specific federal design-build selection procedures for VA construction contracts.

The Timely and Accurate Benefits Act mandates that states implement an "Enhanced Income Identification and Verification Platform" within one year to continue receiving federal funding for covered benefit programs. This platform requires states to use comprehensive, real-time data matching to verify "enhanced gross income" from all sources, including bank transactions (with claimant permission). The goal is to ensure accurate eligibility and benefit levels for federal assistance programs.

This Act prohibits U.S. entities receiving federal funding from collaborating on sensitive technology research with specific Chinese organizations tied to the People's Liberation Army's military-civil fusion strategy. The law mandates the creation of a public list detailing restricted research areas and identified Chinese entities of concern. Covered entities must annually report all current and past collaborations with these prohibited entities or face immediate termination of all future federal funding.

The Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025 mandates that U.S. military service academies must accept the Classical Learning Test (CLT) for admissions alongside the SAT and ACT. Furthermore, the bill requires schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to administer the CLT to all eleventh-grade students. This legislation aims to integrate the CLT into both federal secondary education and military academy application processes.

The SAFE Home Act amends federal foster care and adoption assistance programs by requiring states to prohibit discrimination against potential or actual foster or adoptive parents based on their approach to a child's biological sex. Specifically, organizations receiving federal funds cannot deny placement if parents adhere to the child's biological sex or refuse consent for treatments or documentation changes related to gender identity inconsistent with biological sex. The bill strictly defines "sex" as biological sex for the purposes of these placement decisions. These new requirements take effect shortly after enactment, though states may receive a temporary extension if legislative action is required for compliance.

The Review Every Veteran’s Claim Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying a veteran's claim for benefits solely because the veteran failed to appear for a scheduled medical examination. This legislation ensures that missed appointments do not automatically result in claim rejection, requiring the VA to consider all other evidence submitted. The bill broadens existing protections to cover all claims for benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act revises the criteria for recognizing accrediting agencies, prohibiting them from basing standards or investigations on the racial, gender, or national origin makeup of a college's community. It also defines "free inquiry" requirements for institutions while providing significant exemptions for religious schools. Furthermore, the bill grants colleges the right to file a civil lawsuit if they face loss of accreditation due to an agency violating these new demographic-based restrictions.

The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act establishes a commission to assess and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base. This body will analyze current production capacity, identify bottlenecks, and review federal regulations hindering defense manufacturing. The Commission must deliver recommendations within one year to boost domestic production capabilities necessary for national security contingencies.

The Veterans Opportunity Act of 2025 establishes the new Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This Administration will centralize and manage key programs related to veteran employment, education, and housing loans. The bill also creates a new Senate-confirmed position, the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, to lead this new entity. All transfers of services must be certified to Congress as not negatively impacting veteran service quality before they can take effect.