Legislative Activity

This joint resolution nullifies the Federal Communications Commission's rule addressing the homework gap through the E-Rate Program. By disapproving the rule, the resolution prevents the FCC from implementing measures intended to bridge the digital divide for students' home internet access.

The "Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act" directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to launch a project aimed at improving forecasts of coastal marine fog. This initiative will enhance vessel safety, reduce economic impacts from fog, improve the accuracy of fog modeling, and improve communication of hazardous marine fog events to the public. The project involves increased marine observations, advanced modeling, better advisory communication, risk communication, and decision support services. The Under Secretary must consult with stakeholders and develop a detailed project plan within one year.

The "Comprehensive NASA Reporting Act of 2025" ensures congressional oversight of NASA by mandating that the agency submit all reports and notices to the relevant committees in the Senate and House simultaneously. It requires confidentiality for nonpublic reports and reprogramming requests. Additionally, NASA must report to Congress within 15 days of the U.S. entering any international agreement related to NASA's space activities, including providing a copy of the agreement.

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act aims to increase transparency and access to information regarding civil rights cold cases. It allows the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board to reimburse state and local governments for costs associated with providing records and extends the Review Board's tenure to ensure continued progress in disclosing these important historical documents. Additionally, the bill mandates the disclosure of federal, state, and local government records related to civil rights cold cases to inform the public.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act aims to combat the nonconsensual sharing of intimate visual depictions, including deepfakes, by establishing criminal penalties for those who knowingly publish such content and requiring online platforms to create a process for individuals to request the removal of these depictions. Platforms must remove the content within 48 hours of a valid request and make reasonable efforts to remove any known identical copies. Failure to comply with these takedown obligations will be treated as a violation under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Act also defines key terms related to consent, digital forgeries, and covered platforms.

The LIABLE Act allows U.S. nationals, members of the armed forces, and U.S. government employees/contractors to sue international organizations in U.S. courts for monetary damages resulting from acts of terrorism, such as torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage-taking, if the organization provided material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. This applies if the international organization is based or has a significant presence in the U.S. The act stipulates that lawsuits must be filed within 20 years of the cause of action.

The "Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2025" establishes a program providing eligible military dependent children with education savings accounts. These accounts, managed by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will offer an initial deposit of \$6,000, increasing annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Funds can be used for a wide range of educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, online programs, and college costs. The Act authorizes \$1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, with subsequent years' funding adjusted for inflation, and prioritizes renewals of existing accounts.

The FLARE Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow for the permanent and full expensing of costs related to flaring and venting mitigation systems, which capture and process natural gas. This incentive applies to systems placed in service after 2025, and does not apply to property used by foreign entities of concern.

The "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act" prohibits Federal Reserve Banks from offering services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts for individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). It also prevents the Federal Reserve from testing, creating, or implementing a CBDC, or using it to implement monetary policy. The bill clarifies that it does not apply to digital currencies that preserve the privacy protections of physical currency.

The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act aims to standardize, publish, and improve public access to data regarding recreational use of federal waterways and fishing restriction areas. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop data standards, create a public website with geographic data on waterway and fishing restrictions, and coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders to ensure data compatibility and accessibility. The Act ensures that existing regulations and authorities regarding navigable waters and fisheries management remain unchanged.

The "Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act" requires manufacturers of internet-connected devices to clearly disclose if the device has a camera or microphone before purchase. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce this requirement and must issue guidance to help manufacturers comply. The act defines which devices are covered, excluding common devices like phones and laptops, and specifies that it applies to devices manufactured after the FTC issues its guidance.

The "Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act" allows NASA to use government vehicles to transport astronauts and space flight participants between their residences and other locations for official purposes. International partner astronauts and space flight participants must reimburse the Treasury for these transportation services. The NASA Administrator will create regulations to implement the Act and can use available funds for these transportation activities.

The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes \$25.5 billion in appropriations for NASA, allocating funds across exploration, space operations, technology, science, and STEM engagement. It directs NASA to maintain a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit, supports commercial space development, and establishes standards for lunar activities. The act also focuses on advancing aeronautics research and development, enhancing STEM education, and refining NASA's policies and collaborations. Finally, the bill restricts collaboration with China and promotes public-private talent exchange to protect U.S. interests and foster innovation.

The "Make American Flags in America Act of 2025" mandates that all U.S. flags displayed on Federal property or acquired by Federal agencies be entirely manufactured in the United States using American-made materials. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on country-of-origin labeling for U.S. flags, assessing enforcement and recommending improvements.

**Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025:** This act authorizes funding for the Coast Guard, updates military strength and training, and enhances operations, acquisitions, and personnel management. It also modernizes maritime regulations, improves vessel safety, and addresses emerging technologies like autonomous systems. Additionally, the act focuses on oil spill response, overhauls the Coast Guard's approach to sexual assault and harassment, and directs studies for improvements.

The Safeguarding Honest Speech Act prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce policies requiring federal employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns or names that do not align with a person's sex or legal name. It allows employees and contractors to file civil actions against federal agencies for violations, potentially receiving injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees. The Act defines "sex" as determined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

This joint resolution nullifies an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule concerning gross proceeds reporting by brokers involved in digital asset sales. By disapproving the rule, the resolution prevents the IRS from implementing new reporting requirements for digital asset transactions. This action effectively maintains the existing regulatory framework for brokers of digital assets.

The Falun Gong Protection Act aims to combat forced organ harvesting in China by imposing sanctions on individuals involved, requiring reports on China's organ transplant practices, and expressing U.S. policy to pressure China to end state-sponsored organ harvesting. It mandates the President to create a list of individuals involved in forced organ harvesting and block their assets and deny them entry into the U.S. The Act also requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on organ transplant policies in China, including the sources of organs and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

The "Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to adjust the basis of certain assets, like common stock and tangible property, for inflation when calculating capital gains or losses, using the GDP deflator to determine the inflation adjustment. This adjustment applies to indexed assets held for more than 3 years and acquired after December 31, 2025, requiring taxpayers to maintain written records of the original purchase price. The bill includes specific rules for pass-through entities, regulated investment companies, and real estate investment trusts, and disallows adjustments for sales between related persons or when the primary purpose is to increase the indexing adjustment. It also authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.

The "Pay Our Coast Guard Act" ensures that Coast Guard members, including military, civilian, and contract personnel, continue to receive pay and benefits during government funding lapses, particularly when the Department of Defense is funded but the Coast Guard is not. It designates funds for salaries, death benefits, and essential services, defining a "Coast Guard-specific funding lapse" and outlining the conditions under which the appropriated funds remain available. The Commandant of the Coast Guard determines which civilian and contract employees are considered "qualified" to receive pay during a funding lapse based on their support roles or the necessity of their work. This act aims to provide equitable treatment for Coast Guard personnel compared to other members of the Armed Forces.