Legislative Activity

The All American Metal Act expands the advanced manufacturing production credit to incentivize the domestic recycling and purification of copper. Specifically, it offers a tax credit for recycled copper that meets a minimum purity standard of 99.9 percent. This provision aims to boost American manufacturing using recycled materials starting in 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.

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.

This bill, the Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act, mandates that TRICARE provide coverage for fertility treatments, including IVF, for active duty service members and their dependents starting in late 2027. The legislation outlines specific coverage limits for egg retrievals and embryo transfers while prohibiting the use of DoD funds for certain procedures like preimplantation genetic screening. It also requires the establishment of a program to coordinate this specialized fertility care for military families.

The Least Cost Exception Act amends FDIC rules to allow the agency to choose a bank resolution method that is *not* the least costly option. This exception permits the FDIC, in consultation with the Federal Reserve and Treasury, to prioritize limiting concentration among global systemically important banks. Any alternative method chosen must still be less costly than outright liquidation and subject to specific cost limitations and special assessments on acquiring entities.

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.

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 Campus Housing Affordability Act removes existing federal prohibitions that prevent students from receiving housing assistance. This legislation allows eligible students living in institutional housing to receive tenant-based rental assistance without that aid counting against their eligibility for federal student financial aid or other benefits. The bill grants the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the authority to waive certain requirements to facilitate this assistance.

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 ESTUARIES Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to officially add the Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program and extends the program's funding authorization through fiscal year 2031. However, the bill places specific restrictions on the EPA Administrator regarding the use of funds to implement this addition during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This ensures that the expansion of the program is contingent upon specific funding levels in the near term.

The Drunk Driving Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2025 establishes a major prize competition to accelerate the development of passive, in-vehicle technology to prevent drunk driving. The bill also creates a national data collection system for drug-involved crashes and establishes a Traffic Safety Enforcement Center of Excellence to assist law enforcement nationwide. These measures aim to reduce alcohol and drug-impaired driving fatalities through innovation, data analysis, and enforcement support.

The Office of Fusion Act of 2025 reestablishes a dedicated Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy to accelerate the research, development, and commercial deployment of fusion energy. This office will coordinate federal efforts, foster public-private partnerships aimed at starting construction on private fusion power plants by 2028, and ensure U.S. leadership in the sector. The Act mandates the creation of a commercial deployment roadmap to identify and overcome key barriers to bringing fusion power online.

This bill establishes the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for natural gas pipelines. It designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the sole lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The Act mandates coordination timelines and procedures for all participating federal and state agencies to ensure concurrent review and timely final authorizations. Furthermore, it requires public tracking of the permitting schedule and progress for all required agency actions.

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 HEAT Act of 2025 addresses the growing threat extreme heat poses to critical transportation infrastructure by amending federal law to explicitly recognize extreme heat as a qualifying event for emergency relief funding. This legislation allows states to access federal funds for repairing roads and highways damaged by heat waves, while also mandating a comprehensive study on the costs of heat damage and a report on best management practices for infrastructure safety. The Act aims to close a gap in current federal disaster programs that previously excluded extreme heat as a recognized cause for infrastructure failure.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 North Winton Road in Rochester, New York, as the "Lieutenant James N. Lyons Post Office." The legislation ensures that all future official references to this location will use the new designated name.

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 Critical Minerals Trade Security Act establishes a Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator within the U.S. Trade Representative's office to address foreign trade practices impacting vital mineral supply chains. This position will conduct trade negotiations and enforce agreements related to these essential resources. The Negotiator is required to submit annual reports detailing foreign policies that create supply chain vulnerabilities or violate trade agreements, along with corresponding response plans.

The Temporary Family Visitation Act establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category specifically for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to visit the United States for family purposes. This visa limits stays to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and requires financial support, medical insurance, and a sworn declaration of intent to depart. Individuals admitted under this category are prohibited from changing their status while in the U.S.

The Safer Schools Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program managed by the Attorney General to award grants to public schools for security enhancements. These grants fund independent facility security risk assessments and "hard security improvements," such as physical infrastructure upgrades. Priority is given to schools that have experienced past incidents of deadly harm, and recipients must report on the effectiveness of the improvements.