Legislative Activity

The "Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act" enhances the rehabilitation tax credit for buildings in rural areas, offering a 40% credit for affordable housing projects and a 30% credit for other qualified projects. It defines "rural area" and "affordable housing project," sets a $5,000,000 limit on qualified rehabilitation expenditures, and allows taxpayers to transfer these credits. The bill also eliminates the basis adjustment for the rehabilitation credit for applicable rural projects.

The AIMM Act permanently extends the allowance for depreciation, amortization, or depletion when calculating the limitation on business interest. This provision, which had expired for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022, is now effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2021.

The Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to expand grant eligibility, increase grant amounts for remediation, and provide additional funding for state response programs. The act aims to improve access to grant opportunities for small and disadvantaged communities by reducing matching share requirements and increasing community involvement. It also directs the EPA Administrator to streamline the grant application process and update guidance to encourage applications from these communities, and includes Alaska Native tribes in brownfield revitalization funding. Finally, it reauthorizes grants through 2030.

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Environment and Public Works to spend money, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government entities to support its mandated duties. It sets specific expense limits for the committee from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027, and outlines the procedures for handling these expenses, including exceptions for certain payments that do not require vouchers. Additionally, it authorizes payments from the Senate's Inquiries and Investigations expense account for agency contributions related to committee employee compensation during the specified periods.

The Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act of 2025 restricts U.S. funding to the United Nations for Afghanistan assistance unless the Secretary of State certifies that no U.S. funds are used for cash shipments by the United Nations into Afghanistan, and that no specially designated global terrorist organizations or foreign terrorist organizations receive funds from these shipments. The Secretary can revoke this certification if found inaccurate, with notification to relevant congressional committees. The bill defines key terms like "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorist organization" to ensure clarity in its application.