Legislative Activity

This bill mandates increased federal audits of colleges and universities to ensure compliance with existing rules for disclosing gifts and contracts from foreign sources. It establishes severe new excise taxes, including a 300% penalty on funds received from "countries of concern" and a 110% penalty for failing to report any foreign funding discovered during an audit. These measures aim to increase transparency regarding foreign influence in higher education institutions.

This bill establishes a Special Review Board to audit the Department of Defense's handling of religious accommodation requests related to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The Board is tasked with identifying service members whose careers were negatively impacted and ordering corrective actions, such as promotions, back pay, and the removal of adverse records. Furthermore, the legislation mandates strict reporting to Congress and an independent audit to ensure accountability and fair restoration for all affected personnel.

The AVIATE Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses for veterans with service-connected disabilities under vocational rehabilitation programs. This change allows veterans to receive VA-funded flight training even if the course does not lead to a traditional college degree. These provisions apply to rehabilitation programs approved on or after August 1, 2025.

The Universal Savings Account Act of 2025 establishes new tax-advantaged savings vehicles called Universal Savings Accounts (USAs). These accounts allow individuals to save money with tax-exempt growth, subject to annual contribution limits that begin at \$10,000 for 2025 and adjust for inflation. Generally, distributions from a USA are not taxed as income, though specific rules apply to rollovers and inherited accounts. The legislation sets forth detailed requirements for account trustees, investment restrictions, and penalties for excess contributions.

This Act establishes a project to significantly improve forecasts for coastal marine fog, focusing on areas where fog poses major safety and economic risks. The initiative will enhance data collection using federal and commercial sources, develop advanced tracking algorithms, and improve the accuracy and communication of fog advisories. The ultimate goal is to increase maritime safety and reduce economic losses caused by fog-related delays.

The Comprehensive NASA Reporting Act of 2025 standardizes how NASA submits official documents and reports to Congress. This bill mandates that key oversight committees receive all required reports within 10 days of their submission elsewhere. Furthermore, it requires NASA to promptly report any new international space agreements to relevant Senate and House committees.

The LIABLE Act creates a new exception to the general immunity shielding international organizations from lawsuits in U.S. courts when terrorism is involved. This allows individuals to sue an international organization if an employee caused death or injury through specific terrorist acts while working for the organization. Lawsuits are permitted only if the organization materially supported a designated foreign terrorist organization and the claimant or victim had a connection to the U.S. or if the organization has a significant U.S. presence. Claims must be filed within 20 years of the injury or death.

The Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program allowing parents of eligible military dependents to receive funds for private educational expenses. These Military Education Savings Accounts can be used for tuition, tutoring, materials, and other approved educational services. The program is federally funded, tax-exempt, and designed to support educational choice without government control over private providers.

The Facilitating Lower Atmospheric Released Emissions Act (FLARE Act) permanently allows businesses to immediately deduct 100% of the cost for installing equipment that mitigates natural gas flaring and venting. This tax incentive applies to property placed in service after December 31, 2025, provided the equipment is not installed by a designated "foreign entity of concern." The goal is to encourage the capture, utilization, or controlled combustion of otherwise wasted natural gas.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act prohibits Federal Reserve banks from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly to individuals. This legislation explicitly bans the Federal Reserve Board from developing or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Fed and is widely available to the public. Congress asserts that any such digital currency must be explicitly authorized by Congress, not created unilaterally by the Federal Reserve.

The Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act authorizes the government to use its own vehicles to transport astronauts and space flight participants for necessary post-mission activities. This transportation is permitted only for official purposes, such as medical monitoring, and requires written approval from the Chief of the Astronaut Office. The bill also establishes provisions for maintaining these vehicles and requires non-employee astronauts to reimburse the Treasury for the travel costs.

The Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act requires manufacturers to clearly disclose if an internet-connected device has a built-in camera or microphone before it is purchased. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these rules as unfair or deceptive practices. This law specifically excludes common devices like phones and laptops from these new disclosure requirements.

The Make American Flags in America Act of 2025 mandates that all U.S. flags displayed or purchased by federal agencies must be 100% manufactured in the United States using entirely domestic materials. This requirement takes effect for purchases within 90 days and for display within two years of enactment. Additionally, the bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and report on the current enforcement of country-of-origin labeling for American flags.

**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.

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 Safeguarding Honest Speech Act prohibits the use of federal funds to compel employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns that do not align with biological sex or to use names other than a person's legal name. Individuals forced to comply with such mandates can notify their agency and, if unsatisfied with the response, sue the responsible federal department. Successful plaintiffs may receive damages, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees.

The Falun Gong Protection Act establishes a firm U.S. policy to cease cooperation with China on organ transplantation until the practice ends. This bill mandates sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, against foreign individuals knowingly involved in forced organ harvesting in China. Furthermore, it requires a comprehensive government report detailing China's transplant practices and an atrocity determination regarding the persecution of Falun Gong.

The Pay Our Coast Guard Act ensures that Coast Guard members receive equitable pay and benefits compared to other Armed Forces. Crucially, it establishes automatic appropriations to continue paying active and essential civilian personnel during a funding lapse that specifically affects only the Coast Guard while the Department of Defense remains funded. This measure guarantees essential operational continuity and support for service members and their families during such shutdowns.

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.

Eric's Law amends title 18 of the United States Code, mandating that if a jury cannot unanimously agree on a sentencing recommendation in certain cases, the court must impanel a new jury for a special hearing upon the government's request. If the second jury also fails to reach a unanimous sentencing recommendation, the court is required to impose a sentence other than death.