Legislative Activity

The Merger Process Review Act mandates that the Inspector General of each federal banking agency regularly review their procedures for handling insured depository institution merger applications. These reviews will evaluate processing times, identify sources of delay, and assess the impact of mergers on competition and financial stability. The findings and agency responses will be reported to Congress and made public to promote efficiency in the merger review process.

This Act mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on how federal banking regulators review merger applications for insured depository institutions. The study will evaluate the use of commitments and conditions in these reviews to ensure they align with the law and assess their impact on financial stability and competition. The GAO must report its findings to Congress within one year of enactment.

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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.