Legislative Activity

The "Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act" prevents payment card networks from assigning a unique merchant category code to firearm retailers. The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the Act, investigating complaints, and reporting to Congress. This law overrides state and local laws regarding merchant category codes for firearm retailers and does not establish a private right of action.

The "Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, changing the calculation and wage limitations based on employee categories and hours worked. It increases wage limitations for qualified veterans and revises rules for summer youth employees and long-term family assistance recipients. Additionally, the act removes the age limit for qualified supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits recipients, with these changes taking effect for individuals starting work after December 31, 2024.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The "Marc Fischer Memorial Act" aims to combat the flow of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, into Federal prisons through the mail. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to equip all Federal correctional facilities with the technology and processes needed to scan mail, protect staff and inmates, and ensure timely delivery of mail copies while maintaining legal mail privileges. The strategy includes assessing current practices, identifying necessary resources, and providing a budgetary proposal for implementation, with ongoing reporting to Congress on its effectiveness.

The "Growing and Preserving Innovation in America Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate a scheduled decrease in the deduction for foreign-derived intangible income. This change maintains the deduction at a higher level, supporting companies that generate income from intellectual property developed and used abroad. The act is effective immediately upon enactment.

The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit, which incentivizes investment in low-income communities. It removes the credit's expiration date and adjusts the credit amount for inflation after 2025. The act also provides alternative minimum tax relief for qualified equity investments made after December 31, 2024.

This bill condemns the Government of Azerbaijan's treatment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, citing wrongful detention, human rights violations, and suppression of academic freedom. It demands his immediate release and urges the Secretary of State to prioritize his case in discussions with Azerbaijan.

The US-Kazakhstan Trade Modernization Act allows the President to extend nondiscriminatory trade treatment to products from Kazakhstan, which would formally remove Kazakhstan from Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974. This action acknowledges Kazakhstan's compliance with emigration requirements since 1997 and its membership in the World Trade Organization since 2015, further solidifying trade relations between the United States and Kazakhstan.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, concerning race, color, and national origin. This aims to address rising antisemitism in educational settings. The Act clarifies that it does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change existing discrimination standards, reduce existing rights, or infringe upon First Amendment rights.

The RAIL Act aims to improve the safety of trains transporting hazardous materials by mandating updated safety regulations, enhancing inspection protocols for railcars and locomotives, and requiring the use of defect detectors. It also increases the maximum civil penalties for rail safety violations, phases out older, less safe tank cars, and improves hazardous materials training for first responders. Finally, the act sets a minimum crew size of two people for most freight trains to ensure safe operation.

The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 ensures that monetary penalties from False Claims Act cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This excludes payments to whistleblowers and reimbursements to the government. This will increase the amount of money available to help victims of crimes.

The "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" establishes federal tax credits for individuals and corporations who contribute to scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships for eligible students to attend elementary and secondary schools. It sets a volume cap on the total amount of credits that can be claimed and prioritizes allocation on a first-come, first-served basis. The act also exempts these scholarships from gross income and protects the autonomy of scholarship organizations and non-public schools from government control.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "REVIVE VI Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude certain income from services performed in the Virgin Islands from the calculation of global intangible low-taxed income. This applies to income earned by corporations formed under Virgin Islands law for services performed within the Virgin Islands, benefiting specific U.S. shareholders. The goal is to encourage economic activity and investment in the Virgin Islands by modifying tax calculations for businesses operating there. The Secretary is directed to issue regulations to prevent abuse of these provisions.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States through charitable activities, volunteer work, and financial support for members. It expresses the sense of Congress that these societies are a valuable support system that addresses unmet needs and generates substantial returns to the U.S. through their tax-exempt status. The bill also advocates for the continued promotion of fraternal benefit societies.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the deduction for qualified business income. This removes the previous expiration date, providing long-term tax certainty for eligible businesses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025 expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) headstones and markers by removing a key date restriction for certain individuals. It also updates benefits for families choosing an urn or plaque instead of a traditional marker, effective for veterans who died on or after January 5, 2021. Finally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain existing limits on VA pension payments.

The "Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act" revises the tax treatment of intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas operations. It modifies how these costs are handled when calculating adjusted financial statement income, aligning depreciation and expense deductions more closely with taxable income standards. These adjustments impact depreciation deductions under section 167 and deductions for expenses under section 263(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. The changes will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The "Protecting Americans Right To Silence Act of 2025" or the "PARTS Act of 2025" amends the definition of "firearm silencer" and "firearm muffler" under federal law. The updated definition includes any device designed to silence or muffle a portable firearm, whether attached directly or through other devices. It also includes the primary housing or structure for sound-reduction components of such devices.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to fix the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. For this amendment to be valid, three-fourths of the state legislatures must ratify it within seven years of its submission.