Legislative Activity

The Smart Ship Repair Act of 2025 modifies the definition of "short-term work" related to the Navy's construction of combatant and escort vessels. This amendment extends the time threshold for a shipbuilding project to be classified as short-term from 12 months to 18 months. This change impacts how the Navy assigns vessel projects under existing statutes.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that open water lifeguards should be formally recognized as first responders and emergency response providers. It highlights the critical, life-saving work they perform, often under dangerous conditions, aligning their duties with those of traditional emergency personnel. The bill advocates for federal recognition that matches the essential nature of their daily service.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act of 2025 overhauls federal coastal protection by establishing a new Coastal and Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program focused on protecting high-value lands and restoring damaged areas, with priority given to vulnerable low-income communities. The bill also significantly expands the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, mandating the designation of at least five new sites and bolstering research efforts focused on climate change adaptation. Furthermore, it establishes new requirements for non-governmental partners and updates funding authorizations through fiscal year 2029.

The Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act mandates the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Defense to develop a modernized 10-year strategy to defend against the anthrax threat. This plan must ensure a sustainable supply of anthrax countermeasures for the Strategic National Stockpile and outline protections for civilians and military families. The Secretaries are required to submit an initial classified report detailing the threat and the full strategy to Congress within 180 days, followed by annual updates.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The Women in Agriculture Act establishes a dedicated Liaison within the USDA to advocate for and assist women farmers and ranchers in accessing USDA programs. The bill also prioritizes federal research funding for the development of ergonomically designed farm equipment for women. Finally, it grants priority consideration for rural development loans and grants to applicants focused on improving rural child care infrastructure.

The POWER Act of 2025 establishes a new, temporary tax credit of up to $500 for individuals who purchase an emergency generator for their primary residence. To qualify, homeowners must have experienced at least two major disasters in their area within the last five years and personally received federal assistance for one of those events. The credit amount is subject to phase-out based on the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.

The Iranian Terror Prevention Act mandates the swift designation of specific Iranian-linked groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the Secretary of State. It requires the President to impose existing sanctions on these designated groups and any affiliated entities within 60 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill establishes ongoing reporting requirements to Congress regarding designations and the application of sanctions.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 imposes sweeping economic penalties on the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. This legislation mandates severe, immediate sanctions against key Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities, including asset freezes and trade prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act dramatically increases import duties on Russian goods and requires the President to review and reimpose these measures until Russia negotiates a lasting peace with Ukraine.

The Taiwan Allies Fund Act establishes a dedicated fund to support countries that maintain relationships with Taiwan despite pressure from the People's Republic of China (PRC). This fund authorizes up to $40 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to help eligible nations counter PRC coercion. Aid will focus on strengthening democratic partnerships, supporting Taiwan's international participation, and offering alternatives to PRC economic influence. The Secretary of State will manage the fund, coordinating with Taiwan, and must report annually to Congress on the fund's activities and Taiwan's matching contributions.

The ABC Act mandates a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to significantly simplify application processes, forms, and communications for family caregivers. This effort requires federal agencies to streamline requirements, improve customer service, and enhance accessibility across their systems. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden on caregivers while ensuring clear and timely access to essential benefits. Agencies must report their findings and planned actions to Congress within two years of enactment.

The Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to fund specialized behavioral health crisis response training for state, local, and Tribal law enforcement and corrections officers. This initiative aims to improve officer and public safety by equipping personnel with the necessary skills to safely de-escalate encounters involving individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. Grants will be administered by the Attorney General to supplement existing agency funds dedicated to this critical training.

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive 10-year Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The plan must address critical infrastructure needs, including new training facilities, updated housing, and essential utility overhauls, to support modern maritime education and national security requirements. Congress authorizes up to \$1.02 billion from the Maritime Security Trust Fund between fiscal years 2026 and 2035 to execute this modernization effort.

The Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act prohibits colleges and universities receiving federal funding from allowing, supporting, or paying for any event on campus that promotes antisemitism. This legislation mandates the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism for enforcement. The goal is to ensure federally funded institutions do not host or endorse antisemitic activities.

This resolution formally recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps in 2025. Congress is honoring the Corps' long history, core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and its consistent readiness to defend the nation. The bill encourages the public to join in celebrating this significant milestone and acknowledging the service and sacrifice of all Marines.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Service-Connected Suicide Compensation Act ensures that survivors of veterans who died by suicide receive dependency and indemnity compensation. This benefit is automatically provided if the veteran had a service-connected mental disorder. The Act establishes a direct link between service-connected mental health issues and eligibility for survivor benefits following a veteran's suicide.

The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 aims to align the practice standards for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with those of the Defense Health Agency, recognizing them as licensed independent practitioners. The bill also establishes new certification and minimum direct patient care requirements for all anesthesia providers in the VA system. Finally, it mandates an annual public report from the GAO comparing the cost-effectiveness of different anesthesia delivery models within the VHA.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.