Legislative Activity

The Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2025 mandates the Federal Reserve to develop climate change risk scenarios and assess the financial stability of large financial institutions under these scenarios. It establishes a technical group of climate scientists and economists to advise on these scenarios and requires these institutions to develop climate risk resolution plans. The Act also directs the Federal Reserve to survey smaller financial institutions to evaluate their preparedness for climate-related financial risks and report the findings publicly. Ultimately, this bill aims to ensure the financial system can withstand potential economic shocks caused by climate change.

The Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025 requires the FAA to publish and maintain an online list of medications that are safe for pilots and air traffic controllers to use while maintaining their medical certification. The list must be comprehensive, user-friendly, and created in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and updated annually. It will also include a "Do Not Issue" list of prohibited medications, contact information for doctors to ask the FAA questions, and any additional information regarding the conditions a medication may or may not treat.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 aims to improve mental health support for aviation professionals by updating FAA regulations to encourage help-seeking, streamlining the special issuance process for mental health conditions, and increasing the number of aviation medical examiners. It also mandates the implementation of recommendations from the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee and authorizes funding for a public information campaign to reduce stigma around mental health care in the aviation industry. The Act authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026-2029 to support these initiatives.

The GREEN Appraisals Act of 2025 requires lenders to inform borrowers of their right to submit an energy report for consideration during home appraisals, and it mandates that qualified appraisers consider these reports when assessing property value for covered loans. Lenders must provide appraisers with the energy report (with borrower consent) and ensure their systems can handle appraisals that consider it. The Act also directs covered agencies to issue guidance for lenders on implementing these changes and to establish an advisory committee of stakeholders.

This bill streamlines the House's consideration of H.R. 1101, a bill designed to prevent unauthorized access to the Treasury Department's payment systems. It sets the rules for debating and amending the bill, limiting discussion to one hour. The bill also bypasses standard House procedures to expedite the process. Finally, it mandates that the Senate be informed of the House's decision on H.R. 1101 promptly.

The "Tradeable Energy Performance Standards Act" amends the Clean Air Act to establish a tradeable energy performance standard program that aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric, thermal, and cogeneration facilities. Starting in 2028, covered facilities must submit emission allowances for each ton of carbon dioxide released, with the number of allowances distributed based on an output-based emissions target that decreases annually. Facilities can also make alternative compliance payments or participate in allowance trading. The Act establishes a Carbon Mitigation Fund and Offset Program to further support emissions reduction and carbon sequestration efforts, with penalties for noncompliance and regular reporting to Congress on the program's effectiveness.

The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act of 2025 aims to combat the illegal trafficking of machinegun conversion devices. It mandates a coordinated strategy among the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of the Treasury to prevent the import and distribution of these devices, enhance law enforcement collaboration, and provide training to identify them. The Act also allows for the forfeiture of proceeds from illegal machine gun trafficking and requires the Attorney General to report data on machinegun conversion devices in the annual firearms trafficking report.

The Chief Risk Officer Enforcement and Accountability Act enhances risk management in financial companies by requiring the appointment of experienced Chief Risk Officers (CROs) responsible for identifying, managing, and reporting risks. CROs must report directly to both the risk committee and the CEO, ensuring the independence of the risk-management function. The act also mandates prompt notification and action for CRO vacancies and directs regulatory agencies to establish risk committees and appoint CROs in certain banks.

The Pell Grant Sustainability Act aims to increase the buying power of Pell Grants for lower-income students. It indexes the maximum Pell Grant award to inflation, starting with a \$1,060 increase for the 2024-2025 award year, and adjusts it annually based on the Consumer Price Index. This adjustment is added to the maximum Pell Grant specified in the latest appropriation act, ensuring Pell Grants keep pace with rising education costs. The bill also extends provisions of the Higher Education Act related to Pell Grants indefinitely.

The "Stop Sexual Harassment in K-12 Act" aims to prevent and address sex-based harassment in schools by increasing the number of Title IX coordinators, providing training for school staff, and implementing anonymous sex-based harassment surveys. It requires schools to increase Title IX coordinators, trains staff to respond to signs of sex-based harassment, and mandates annual, anonymous surveys to assess the prevalence of such harassment. The Act also ensures that existing protections and remedies for victims of discrimination are not overridden. Finally, the Act allocates funding for grants to help schools implement these measures and conduct training programs.

The "IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act" mandates the Social Security Administration to issue free federal identification cards to U.S. residents who apply within 3 years, functioning similarly to a state-issued ID or driver's license. A task force will be established to determine the requirements for producing and providing the identification. The United States Postal Service, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, will develop a process, modeled after the passport application process, allowing individuals to apply for the ID through the Postal Service. The Act also authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to implement the Act.

The Gun Trafficker Detection Act requires non-licensed firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the Attorney General and local law enforcement within 48 hours, and it mandates the Attorney General to establish a web-based portal for such reporting. States must allocate a portion of their grant funding to manage data on lost or stolen firearms. The act also establishes penalties for failing to report or for falsely reporting the loss or theft of a firearm, and it updates the national criminal background check system accordingly.

The Vehicle Energy Performance Act of 2025 incentivizes the purchase of high-energy performance vehicles through a tax credit based on exceeding the median energy performance of the previous model year, while disincentivizing the purchase of low-energy performance vehicles through a fee on manufacturers. It also refines fuel economy testing and labeling for dual-fueled vehicles to reflect real-world usage. The tax credit is capped at \$5,000, and the low energy performance fee starts in model year 2029.

This bill directs the EPA to establish a voluntary labeling program for apparel, providing consumers with information about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product's lifecycle. Apparel sellers can apply to use the label, which will include a numerical summary of emissions, a QR code for detailed information, and a summary of voluntary commitments to reduce emissions. The EPA will verify label information, certify verifying entities, and publish regular reports on the program's effectiveness. The bill also includes provisions for technical assistance, voluntary commitments, a public database, consumer outreach, and penalties for fraudulent label use.

The "Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act of 2025" increases the tax deduction for eligible educators' expenses from $250 to $1,000. This extension of benefits is applicable through 2026 and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Period PROUD Act of 2025 increases funding for the Social Services Block Grant Program, earmarking $200 million annually from 2026-2029 for providing menstrual products to low-income individuals. States will distribute these funds to eligible entities, who will then provide free products, conduct community outreach, and improve access to menstrual products. The Department of Health and Human Services will evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to Congress. This act ensures that access to menstrual products does not affect eligibility for other federal needs-based programs.

The "Voluntary Food Climate Labeling Act" establishes a voluntary program, managed by the EPA, for food producers to display a label detailing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product's lifecycle. This label will include numerical summaries of emissions from production to disposal, verified by EPA standards, and accessible via a QR code. The act also creates a public database, encourages voluntary emission reduction commitments from manufacturers, and includes consumer education and penalties for misuse of the label.

The "Methane Emissions Mitigation Research and Development Act" aims to reduce methane emissions by establishing programs within the Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These programs will focus on methane leak detection and mitigation research, development, and demonstration, as well as the creation of national facilities for advancing methane detection and quantification. The Act authorizes specific appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these initiatives, fostering collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector. Ultimately, the goal is to improve methane emissions measurement technologies, data sharing, and the implementation of effective leak detection and repair strategies.

The REDUCE Act requires Transmission Organizations to allow aggregators of retail customers to submit bids that aggregate demand flexibility of the customers of certain utilities. It directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a final rule implementing this requirement within 12 months.

The "Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act of 2025" aims to bolster the resilience of the U.S. electrical grid by improving interregional electricity transfer capabilities. It directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish regulations that mandate minimum transfer capabilities between neighboring transmission planning regions to ensure reliability during extreme events. The Act requires regional transmission entities to develop and regularly update plans for interregional transmission projects, with FERC overseeing the approval and implementation of these plans. This will be achieved by identifying, selecting, and allocating costs for interregional transmission projects needed to meet the minimum transfer capability.