Legislative Activity

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allowed California to set its own vehicle emissions standards under the Advanced Clean Cars II Waiver. By disapproving this rule, the bill prevents California from implementing stricter emission standards and effectively maintains federal control over vehicle emission standards.

This bill nullifies the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that designated the San Francisco Bay-Delta population of Longfin Smelt as an endangered species. By disapproving the rule, the bill removes the protections and regulations associated with the endangered species status for this specific population of Longfin Smelt.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allows California to set its own pollution control standards for motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad engines. The bill prevents the implementation of the EPA's rule outlined in the Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 643).

This bill disapproves and nullifies an EPA rule that allows California to set its own stricter pollution control standards for heavy-duty vehicles and engines. The rule covers emission warranties, maintenance, advanced clean truck standards, zero-emission airport shuttles, and powertrain certification. By disapproving the rule, the bill aims to prevent California from implementing these specific environmental regulations.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to limit consumer reporting agencies from sharing credit report information when a person requests a credit report for a residential mortgage loan. Consumer reporting agencies can only furnish this information if the entity has a firm offer of credit or insurance, has the consumer's authorization, or has an existing relationship with the consumer as a mortgage lender, servicer, or financial institution. This act aims to protect consumers' privacy during the home buying process by limiting the amount of entities that get access to their credit information. The changes will take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted.

The "High-Quality Charter Schools Act" introduces a tax credit for individual contributions to eligible charter school organizations, capped at 75% of the contribution or \$5,000, to support the creation or expansion of charter schools. It establishes expenditure requirements for these organizations, ensuring funds are used effectively, and sets a \$5 billion volume cap on the total tax credits available nationwide, allocated to states and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The Act also protects the autonomy of charter schools, ensuring they maintain freedom in meeting student needs without government intervention. These provisions will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "PROTECT Kids Act" mandates that public schools obtain parental consent before altering a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, as well as before changing their access to sex-based accommodations. This requirement applies to elementary and middle school students in schools receiving federal education funds.

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 "Save Our Sequoias Act" aims to protect giant sequoia groves from wildfires, insects, and drought by streamlining environmental review processes for emergency response projects, establishing a collaborative coalition, and creating a reforestation strategy. This act directs the Secretary to create agreements, assessments, and strike teams to address threats to giant sequoias on both public and National Forest System lands. It also establishes grant programs and amends existing laws to support these efforts, including stewardship contracting and good neighbor agreements. Finally, the act authorizes appropriations for these protection and restoration activities.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "Election Results Accountability Act" amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002, setting deadlines for states to count ballots (90% within 72 hours) and certify federal election results (within 2 weeks), with exceptions for emergencies. States that fail to meet these deadlines may face withheld election administration funds unless a compliance plan is approved. These changes apply to elections held more than 90 days after the Act's enactment.

The "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act" prohibits Federal Reserve Banks from offering financial products or services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts for individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly. It also blocks the Federal Reserve from testing, creating, or implementing a CBDC, or using it to implement monetary policy, without explicit congressional authorization. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to digital versions of the dollar that are open, permissionless, and private, like physical currency.

The POWER Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for individuals who purchase emergency generators for use in their primary residence. This credit, capped at $500, is available to qualified individuals whose primary residence is in an area declared as a major disaster area at least twice in the last 5 years and who have received individual assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The credit amount is reduced for taxpayers with higher incomes, and it applies to generators purchased within 2 years of the Act's enactment. The bill specifies that disasters declared for public health purposes are not covered.

The Association Health Plans Act modifies the definition of "employer" under ERISA to include groups or associations of employers that meet specific criteria, such as having at least 51 employees and being formed for purposes other than providing medical care. It allows these plans to establish base premium rates using a modified community rating methodology and adjust contribution rates based on employer risk profile, while prohibiting discrimination based on health status. The Act clarifies that providing coverage through these associations does not create an employer relationship and that these group health plans must still adhere to existing regulations under ERISA and the Public Health Service Act.

The DETERRENT Act aims to increase transparency and oversight of foreign funding and influence in higher education. It mandates institutions to disclose foreign gifts, contracts, and investments of concern, especially those tied to countries or entities that pose a risk to U.S. national security. The Act also requires institutions to maintain policies regarding conflicts of interest and establishes penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential ineligibility for federal student aid programs. Additionally, the Department of Education is required to maintain a public database of disclosed information and share it with relevant federal agencies.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the "Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building." It also mandates that any reference to this facility in U.S. records will reflect this new designation.

The HELPER Act of 2025 amends the National Housing Act to establish an FHA mortgage insurance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and teachers. This program allows the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages up to 100% of the appraised value for eligible first-time homebuyers, waiving down payment requirements but requiring an up-front mortgage insurance premium. Mortgagors must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a first-time homebuyer, completing a housing counseling program, and meeting employment and good standing requirements as a first responder. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 and requires reauthorization of the program after 5 years.

The TRACE Act mandates the Attorney General to enhance the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System by including a data field that indicates whether a missing person's last known location or unidentified remains were found on Federal land. It also requires an annual report to Congress detailing the number of cases involving missing persons or unidentified remains found on these lands, broken down by the responsible federal agency. "Federal land" is defined as land owned by the U.S. and managed by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary of Defense, specifically for land and water projects handled by the Army Corps of Engineers. This aims to improve tracking and reporting of missing persons and unidentified remains cases on federal lands.