Legislative Activity

The Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025 (ACRE Act) creates a new federal tax incentive for qualified lenders. This incentive excludes interest earned on certain loans secured by rural or agricultural real property from taxable income. The goal is to encourage lending for agricultural, rural housing, and related property by reducing the cost of capital for lenders.

The "Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025" expands Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to National Guard members performing specific full-time duties. This includes active duty under title 10 or title 14, section 3713, as well as full-time National Guard duty or active duty within the National Guard. These changes are retroactive to service performed on or after September 11, 2001, and will take effect one year after enactment.

The "Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude broadband grants from gross income. This exclusion applies to grants from programs like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and other federal and state broadband initiatives. It prevents grantees from receiving a double benefit by disallowing deductions or credits for expenditures covered by these grants and requires a reduction in the property's adjusted basis by the grant amount. This change is effective for taxable years ending after March 11, 2021.

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to make expenditures, employ personnel, and utilize services from other government entities through February 2027. It sets specific expense limits for various periods, including funds for consultants and staff training. Additionally, it outlines how committee expenses will be managed and paid from the Senate's contingent fund, while also authorizing payments for agency contributions related to employee compensation.

The "Financing Our Energy Future Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of "qualifying income" for publicly traded partnerships involved in green energy projects. This expansion includes income from various renewable energy activities, such as generating and storing power from renewable sources, processing biomass, utilizing carbon capture technologies, and producing renewable chemicals. These changes aim to incentivize investment in and development of green energy technologies by allowing more green energy companies to qualify for PTP status. The amendments will take effect for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

This bill transfers the responsibilities of the Food for Peace Act from the United States Agency for International Development to the Department of Agriculture. It ensures program continuity by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to implement immediate regulation amendments and utilize existing statutory authorities. The Department of Agriculture will also continue the Famine Early Warning Systems Network to monitor and mitigate food insecurity. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to consult regularly with the Secretary of State when implementing title II of the Food for Peace Act.

This resolution expresses condolences for the 67 lives lost in the tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and United States Army Aviation Brigade Priority Air Transport 25 on January 29, 2025. It also recognizes and appreciates the efforts of the first responders and the support from the community and nation.

The CIRCUIT Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the advanced manufacturing production credit to include distribution transformers. Manufacturers of these transformers will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 10% of production costs. This incentive aims to encourage domestic production of critical components for the electric grid.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The "Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act" updates terminology in the D.C. Official Code, replacing outdated terms like "substantially retarded persons" and "at least moderately mentally retarded" with the more respectful and accurate phrase "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" when referring to court jurisdictions. This change applies to the U.S. District Court, the Superior Court, and the Family Court within the District of Columbia.

The "Stop GREED Act of 2025" limits the Department of Veteran Affairs' ability to provide critical skill incentives to Senior Executive Service employees, especially those at the VA Central Office. It mandates individual approvals for incentives to senior executives not based at the Central Office and requires an annual report to Congress on these incentives. The goal of the act is to limit incentives for senior level employees.

The "Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act" authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specific major medical facility projects in fiscal year 2025. These projects include constructing a new critical care center and expanding clinical space for mental health in West Los Angeles, California, and Dallas, Texas, respectively. The Act also authorizes appropriations of $1,567,000,000 for these projects.

The "Farm to Fly Act of 2025" aims to promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by integrating them into Department of Agriculture bioenergy programs. It amends existing definitions to include SAF, sets specific standards for SAF qualification, and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to advance SAF development through inter-agency collaboration, public-private partnerships, and support for American farmers. The act seeks to increase domestic energy security, support the agricultural sector, and foster rural economic growth by accelerating a commercially viable SAF industry in the U.S.

The Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 aims to improve accountability within the VA by streamlining the process for removing or disciplining employees, including supervisors and senior executives, for misconduct or poor performance. It sets specific timelines and standards for disciplinary actions, emphasizing the use of substantial evidence and limiting external review of penalties. The bill also protects whistleblowers and ensures that disciplinary actions are based on a thorough consideration of the employee's record and the nature of the offense. These changes will apply retroactively to misconduct or performance issues that occurred after the enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017.

The "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act" amends the Social Security Act to allow individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to be eligible for SSI benefits, regardless of their spouse's income. This bill ensures that the income and resources of the spouse of an individual with disabilities are not considered when determining SSI eligibility and benefit amount. These changes would be effective for benefits paid out 180 days after the bill is enacted.