Legislative Activity

The "Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025" aims to promote and expand employee ownership, particularly through S corporation employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). It includes provisions for tax deferrals on certain stock sales to ESOPs, establishes a Treasury Department office to provide technical assistance for S corporations interested in employee ownership, amends the Small Business Act to support ESOP-owned small businesses, and creates an Advocate for Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to support and promote employee ownership initiatives. This act seeks to encourage employee ownership by providing resources, removing barriers, and ensuring representation for employee ownership interests within the government.

The Seniors' Access to Critical Medications Act of 2025 allows physicians to dispense certain outpatient prescription drugs to Medicare patients under specific conditions, creating an exception to the physician self-referral prohibition. It requires a study on pharmacies that significantly increase drug dispensing after the bill's enactment to identify potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, it adjusts the amount available in the Medicare Improvement Fund.

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 Duty Drawback Clarification Act amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to align the duty treatment of whiskies under subheading 2208.30 with that of subheading 2208.50.00. It also directs the United States International Trade Commission to add statistical suffixes to subheading 2208.30.00.

The "Fight Fentanyl Act" amends the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998, requiring High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) to report on fentanyl trafficking investigations and any limitations in meeting their goals, while allocating \$333,000,000 annually from 2025-2030 for HIDTAs. It also increases funding for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) to assist law enforcement with fentanyl interdiction. The Act mandates the Attorney General to prioritize fentanyl trafficking investigations and prosecutions by providing sufficient resources, including temporary reassignment of assistant U.S. attorneys.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act introduces a new tax credit to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of homes in distressed communities. This credit aims to bridge the "value gap" that often hinders development in these areas by incentivizing the creation of affordable homes for qualified low- to moderate-income homebuyers. The credit is allocated to developers through state agencies, with specific requirements for affordability, construction standards, and homeowner protection. If the homeowner sells the home within five years, a portion of the profit must be repaid.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

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 "Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act of 2025" permanently increases the income cap for deducting mortgage insurance premiums. It raises the income limit to $200,000 (or $100,000 for those married filing separately), allowing more middle-class homeowners to benefit from this deduction. This change is effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

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 Retirement Savings for Americans Act of 2025 establishes the American Worker Retirement Plan, a retirement fund within the U.S. Treasury, to help workers save for retirement through automatic enrollment, diverse investment options, and government matching contributions. It creates the American Worker Retirement Investment Board to oversee the fund's management and sets guidelines for investment policies and fiduciary responsibilities. Additionally, the act introduces a Government Match Tax Credit to incentivize contributions to the fund, particularly for lower to moderate-income individuals, by matching a percentage of their contributions.

The CARE Act of 2025 mandates a Medicare program model that allows payment for ground ambulance services that respond to emergencies, even if transport to a hospital is not required. This model will run for five years and aims to improve access to emergency medical services by enabling on-scene treatment and telehealth options. The act requires a report analyzing the model's impact on patient outcomes, resource use, and regional variations in emergency service availability.

This bill expresses support for designating April 2025 as "Second Chance Month" to raise awareness about the barriers faced by individuals with criminal records. It recognizes the importance of redemption and removing obstacles to employment, education, and housing for those seeking to reintegrate into society. The bill encourages public support for these individuals, promoting their successful return as productive members of their communities.

The "Unfair Tax Prevention Act" modifies tax rules to target foreign-owned entities operating in extraterritorial tax regimes, treating them as applicable taxpayers and disallowing certain tax benefits. It defines "foreign-owned extraterritorial tax regime entity" and "extraterritorial tax" to specify which entities are subject to these changes. This act aims to prevent base erosion and tax avoidance by these entities. The changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after the enactment date of this Act.

The "Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act" or "SHORT Act" modifies firearm regulations by redefining "firearm" under the National Firearms Act, removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from certain restrictions, and preempting state laws that tax, mark, record, or register these weapons. The Act also mandates the destruction of records related to these specific weapons held by the Attorney General.

The "Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to include portable ultrasound transportation and setup services under Medicare, ensuring coverage and payment parity with portable X-ray services. It directs the Secretary to establish quality standards for ultrasound service suppliers, mirroring those for X-ray services. These provisions will take effect for services rendered on or after January 1, 2027.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to include loan repayments or loan forgiveness programs aimed at increasing access to veterinary services, specifically those under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act" introduces the Affordable Housing Conversion Credit, a tax incentive for converting non-residential buildings into affordable housing units. This credit covers 20% to 35% of qualified conversion costs, depending on the location and project type, with a national cap of $12 billion allocated to states based on population and economic need. To qualify, conversions must meet specific criteria, including affordability requirements and building age, aimed at boosting affordable housing options and revitalizing communities. The credit is transferable and applies to buildings placed in service after the Act's enactment.

The "Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025" aims to promote healthier lifestyles by allowing taxpayers to use pre-tax dollars for certain physical activities and fitness expenses. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat "qualified sports and fitness expenses" as medical care expenses, with limits of $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint returns or heads of household. Qualified expenses include fitness facility memberships, exercise programs, and equipment, subject to specific limitations and guidelines. This act intends to provide financial incentives for individuals and families to engage in regular physical activity and improve their overall health.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.