Legislative Activity

This resolution officially honors and commends the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) for its 80th anniversary and its long history of advocacy. It recognizes the BVA's crucial role in securing better healthcare, rehabilitation, and benefits for blind and low-vision veterans. The measure also urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure safe access for service dogs and to appoint specialized staff at all medical centers. Ultimately, this resolution celebrates the BVA's dedication to helping blinded veterans live full and independent lives.

The Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act clarifies tax rules regarding stock ownership in government-sponsored enterprises like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Specifically, it ensures that when determining if an organization qualifies as a tax-exempt entity, the U.S. government's ownership stake in these GSEs is disregarded. This change applies to tax years ending after July 30, 2008.

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to clarify the definition of "employer." This bill explicitly includes Indian Tribes and their tribally owned enterprises operating on tribal lands under the scope of the NLRA for labor relations purposes. It also establishes clear definitions for "Indian Tribe," "Indian," and "Indian Lands" within this context.

This Act establishes a federal grant program, managed by the Secretary of Transportation, to provide up to $50 million annually for transportation projects supporting U.S. host cities for major international events like the Olympics or FIFA World Cup. The funding aims to assist eligible local entities with transportation planning and infrastructure needs within 100 miles of the event site, starting five years before and ending shortly after the event concludes. Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce to conduct studies analyzing the travel and tourism industry impacts of the 2028 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains operational during a lapse in appropriations by automatically accessing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This mechanism allows essential FAA operations, research, and grants to continue at the previous year's funding level until a new budget is enacted. The bill prevents disruptions to aviation services by providing a stable, temporary funding source during government shutdowns.

This bill establishes the Southwestern Power Administration Fund (SWPA Fund) as a dedicated, non-expiring Treasury account for the Southwestern Power Administration. The Fund will consolidate all SWPA receipts and appropriated funds to cover the costs of power operations, maintenance, and construction. This structure grants the Administrator greater flexibility to commit funds for authorized expenses ahead of annual appropriations.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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 "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 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 "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.