Legislative Activity

The New BANK Act of 2025 mandates that key federal financial regulators, including the OCC, NCUA, Federal Reserve, and FDIC, publish detailed annual reports on their charter and holding company application processes. These reports will standardize the disclosure of application volumes, approval times, and common reasons for denial across national banks, federal credit unions, and holding companies. The legislation also requires a joint report on state-level financial institution charter applications.

This bill officially renames Newark Penn Station in Newark, New Jersey, to the "Donald M. Payne, Jr. Transit Center at Newark Penn Station." It mandates that all future federal references to the station must use this new designation.

The Military CARE Act establishes a digital system for military beneficiaries to easily file and track complaints regarding access to care at military medical facilities. It mandates the creation of an annual report analyzing these complaints to identify trends and inform improvements. This aims to enhance transparency and accountability in military healthcare access.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 expands existing federal whistleblower safeguards to cover nearly all contracts, grants, and agreements funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This ensures that individuals reporting wrongdoing on HUD-funded projects receive standard federal whistleblower protections. These protections apply retroactively to existing agreements.

This Act mandates a joint study by federal banking agencies to find ways to improve the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of depository institutions serving rural areas. The study must also identify federal laws or regulations that may be limiting these institutions or the creation of new rural banks. The agencies are required to submit a report of their findings to Congress within one year of enactment.

The Protecting Private Job Creators Act creates an exception to SEC Rule 15c2-11 specifically for fixed-income securities. This change exempts certain debt instruments, such as bonds and debentures, from the rule's quotation requirements. This aims to ease regulatory burdens on private job creators dealing with these types of securities.

The NFIP Extension Act of 2026 officially extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This legislation ensures the NFIP continues to operate by pushing its expiration date from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2026. The bill also includes a provision to ensure this extension takes effect even if enacted after September 30, 2025.

The Enhancing Bank Resolution Participation Act mandates a joint study by the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve on the use of "shelf charters" and the "modified bidder qualification process" in bank failure resolutions. This study will examine how these regulatory tools affect competition, the Deposit Insurance Fund, and overall financial stability. The agencies must report their findings and recommendations for potential legislative or regulatory changes to Congress within one year.

The Failing Bank Acquisition Fairness Act tightens the rules for bank mergers that would create excessive market concentration. Exceptions to these limits are allowed only when necessary to prevent serious economic harm or financial instability. Furthermore, regulators must prove no other qualified, non-concentrated bidder was available before granting an exception. Any such waiver must also be reported to Congress and made public.

The Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act mandates federal regulators to study the impact of partnerships between banks and fintech companies on competition, innovation, and consumer protection. It also requires a separate study on similar partnerships involving credit unions. The goal of these studies is to recommend necessary changes to laws and regulations to better promote effective collaboration between traditional financial institutions and technology firms.

Alyssa's Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to help schools develop emergency response maps and comprehensive master plans for preventing and responding to school shootings. The bill also significantly expands the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-based Practices to enhance research, technical assistance, and the development of new safety technologies like panic alarms. Furthermore, it mandates the creation of a National School Safety Data Center to analyze nationwide school safety issues and trends. Finally, the Act sets technical standards for federally funded emergency response maps and requires ongoing reporting on national planning efforts.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

The Payer State Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the annual calculation of how much each state contributes to federal taxes and how much it receives in federal spending. These figures, detailing each state's federal tax burden and outlays, must be compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Management and Budget. The resulting joint report must then be submitted to Congress and made publicly available online.

This Act addresses the significant unemployment disparities faced by young African Americans by strengthening pathways into registered apprenticeship programs. It establishes a Diversity and Inclusion Administrator within the Department of Labor to promote greater participation from underrepresented groups. Furthermore, the bill authorizes a competitive grant program to help entities create or expand apprenticeships, requiring applicants to submit plans specifically aimed at increasing African American enrollment.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act mandates that new fixed-route buses purchased with federal funds, meeting specific size and lifespan criteria, must be equipped with a protective barrier around the operator's workstation. This barrier must fully enclose the area without obstructing the driver's line of sight. This requirement can be waived if the relevant labor union agrees to the waiver for the specific bus purchase.

The Endometriosis CARE Act aims to improve the understanding and management of endometriosis through increased research funding and data collection at the NIH. The bill also mandates studies to identify barriers to treatment access and requires the development of public education campaigns and provider information resources. Furthermore, it calls for a comprehensive study on disparities in endometriosis prevalence, detection, and treatment outcomes.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act strictly prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools, establishing national safety standards and requiring immediate parental notification after any restraint incident. It mandates that states create detailed plans, publicly report incident data broken down by student demographics, and utilize federal grants to fund training and prevention strategies. The bill creates a private right of action for families harmed by violations and ensures oversight across various federal school systems.

The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in hiring, retaining, and training prosecutors and support staff. Administered by the Attorney General, the program will award competitive grants, prioritizing offices in underserved or budget-impacted areas. This initiative is authorized with $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030, requiring a 25% non-federal match unless waived.