Legislative Activity

The REAL AMERICA Act introduces several significant tax changes, primarily effective starting in 2026. Key provisions include creating a new deduction for reported cash tips for lower- and middle-income earners and repealing the taxation of Social Security benefits. The bill also establishes new deductions for qualified overtime compensation and modifies the tax treatment of partnership interests received for services, particularly for investment management partners.

The Making Any Reimbursement Against the Law for Guarding Overnight Act (MARALAGO Act) prohibits the U.S. Secret Service from using federal funds to pay the sitting or former President, or any business they own, for expenses like lodging or office space incurred during protection details at a presidential residence. This means the government cannot reimburse the President for services related to their own security detail at their home. However, the Act explicitly allows the President or their businesses to provide these services to the Secret Service free of charge as a gift.

The Baseball Diplomacy Act removes specific government restrictions that currently hinder Cuban nationals coming to the U.S. to play professional baseball. This legislation exempts these athletes from certain financial and trade controls, ensuring they can earn and take their wages home. Furthermore, it streamlines the visa process by limiting the initial stay to the baseball season while allowing for easier re-entry for subsequent seasons with the same team.

The Mobility Means Freedom Tax Credit Act establishes a new federal tax credit equal to 50% of the cost of purchasing qualified mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and braces. This credit is limited to a maximum of three devices per year. The purpose is to provide financial relief for individuals acquiring necessary equipment to enhance personal mobility.

The America First Equipment and Information Act prohibits the United States from providing military equipment, financing, or intelligence to Russia due to national security concerns regarding Russian aggression. This legislation strictly bars the sale, loan, or trade of U.S. defense articles and technology to Russia. Furthermore, the Act mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing compliance with these new prohibitions.

The Cerebral Palsy Research Program Authorization Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated research program for cerebral palsy (CP) within the CDC. This program will focus on improving diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding the public health impact of CP. The Act authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 through 2031 to fund these critical research efforts.

The Nationally Enhancing the Well-being of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act establishes new pilot programs to combat high infant mortality rates across the country. These programs will provide grants, prioritizing the 50 counties with the highest rates, to develop community-specific outreach and support services for at-risk mothers. Funds can be used for everything from prenatal care coordination and smoking cessation programs to public education campaigns. The Secretary will use annual reports from grant recipients to evaluate the effectiveness of these localized efforts.

The Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act of 2025 brings tax return preparers under federal regulation by establishing minimum competency standards, including exams and background checks, and expanding the Treasury Department's authority to sanction preparers. The bill also mandates the IRS to implement technology to identify and assist taxpayers facing economic hardship when they owe taxes. Furthermore, it requires the Treasury to establish and annually update information security standards for tax preparation software.

The School Bus Safety Act of 2025 mandates comprehensive safety upgrades for school buses, including 3-point safety belts, fire suppression systems, improved firewalls, and automatic emergency braking. It also requires enhanced training for school bus operators and studies on motion-activated detection systems and safety belt alerts. Finally, it establishes a grant program to help local educational agencies implement these safety measures.

The "National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act of 2025" mandates the collection and reporting of comprehensive data on all instances of deadly force used by law enforcement officers. This includes details on involved individuals, circumstances of the incident, and justifications for the use of deadly force. The Bureau of Justice Statistics will then publish this data, excluding personal identifying information, and make it available to Congress and the public. States and local governments that fail to comply with reporting requirements will face a reduction in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funding.

The Police CAMERA Act of 2025 authorizes a matching grant program managed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help State, local, and Tribal governments purchase or lease body-worn cameras for law enforcement. Grant recipients must follow certain requirements, including developing policies with community input, limiting the use of facial recognition technology, releasing data in accordance with state open record laws, and conducting regular security evaluations of data storage. The bill allocates \$30,000,000 of the Bureau of Justice Assistance funds for this program from 2026-2028 and requires a study on the efficacy and impact of body-worn cameras. The goal of the bill is to deter excessive force, improve accountability and transparency, assist in responding to complaints, and improve evidence collection.

This bill aims to include the Czech Republic in the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for E-1 trade visas, provided the Czech government offers reciprocal visa opportunities to U.S. citizens. This would allow Czech nationals to enter the United States for trade purposes under the E-1 nonimmigrant visa program, fostering stronger economic ties between the two nations.

The Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate Fort Pillow Historic State Park's national significance and determine the feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. This study will consider the park's historical importance, particularly its role in the massacre of Union troops, including United States Colored Troops, and its impact on the Civil War. The findings of this study will help determine whether Fort Pillow should be recognized as a National Battlefield Park.

The DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act establishes a National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation to serve as a point of contact and resource for victims, survivors, and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in roadway safety programs and policies. The Advocate will communicate stakeholder recommendations, explain Department processes in plain language, and provide feedback on the Department's regulatory agenda, while also being required to submit an annual report to the Secretary of Transportation, highlighting systemic roadway safety issues and providing recommendations. This position is designed to improve communication and collaboration between the Department of Transportation and those affected by road crashes, without granting the Advocate authority to make legal determinations, set agency deadlines, or create policies.

This bill recognizes the significant progress made in eradicating polio worldwide, with cases reduced by over 99.9% since 1988. It acknowledges the ongoing threat of polio until it is eradicated globally and expresses support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The bill also urges the U.S. government to maintain financial support for this initiative.

The Constitutional Emoluments Protection of American Interests Act of 2025 prohibits the federal government from using any taxpayer funds at businesses owned, operated, or controlled by Donald J. Trump. This measure prevents federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements from being awarded to entities associated with him. The goal is to ensure federal spending remains entirely separate from his business interests.

The Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act requires the TVA to disclose the names, salaries, and duties of its executives, board members, and management-level employees earning at or above the GS15 pay grade level in its annual report. This information will be excluded from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act.

The Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2025 amends bankruptcy laws to allow private student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy, aligning them with other types of debt. It removes the existing exception that prevents the discharge of private student loans, and modifies the remaining exception to include programs substantially funded by a government unit. The changes will apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after the date of the Act's enactment.

The Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a tiered ranking system for foreign countries based on their efforts to combat corruption. It sets minimum standards for governments to meet in eliminating corruption and requires the Secretary of State to assess and report on these efforts annually. The Act also directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to assess individuals in Tier 3 countries for potential sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, and requires the designation of anti-corruption points of contact in U.S. embassies in Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries.

This proposed constitutional amendment limits the President's pardon power, prohibiting pardons for themselves, their family, administration members, campaign employees, or anyone who financially benefited the aforementioned. It also restricts pardons for offenses directed by or coordinated with the President. Pardons issued for corrupt purposes would be invalid, and Congress is granted the power to enforce these limitations.