Legislative Activity

The American Workforce Act establishes a new Division within the Commerce Department to administer a program offering paid, on-the-job training contracts between employers and prospective trainees. This program provides employers with education subsidies and hiring bonuses for training U.S. citizens who lack a bachelor's degree for high-wage jobs. The Act mandates rigorous reporting, compliance checks, and sets an automatic sunset date for the program after ten years, contingent upon evaluation reports to Congress.

This joint resolution formally honors the thirteen U.S. service members who were killed in the August 26, 2021, bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. It recognizes their ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation and expresses deep gratitude to their Gold Star Families. The bill essentially establishes a National Day of Remembrance to ensure their faithful service in the fight for liberty is never forgotten.

This resolution formally recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and celebrates its foundational role in strengthening U.S. energy security and supporting rural economies. It highlights the RFS's success in driving domestic fuel innovation, creating jobs, and improving environmental performance. The measure affirms the ongoing importance of the RFS in achieving national energy, economic, and environmental goals.

The NEPTUNE Act authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to procure up to two new ships specifically designed for laying and repairing submarine telecommunications cables. Furthermore, this legislation prohibits the retirement of the existing cable ship, USNS Zeus, until a fully capable replacement vessel is officially in the Navy's active inventory. This ensures the continuous protection and maintenance of vital undersea networks.

The Homes for Heroes Act aims to enhance housing benefits for eligible veterans. This bill increases the maximum loan amount the VA will guarantee for certain veterans' home loans. Additionally, it updates the fee structure for veterans refinancing existing VA-guaranteed loans, often resulting in lower or unchanged fees for disabled veterans.

The Time is Money Act lowers the threshold for what qualifies as a "significantly delayed or changed flight" by the Department of Transportation. This bill reduces the threshold for domestic flights from three hours to two hours, and for international flights from six hours to five hours. These changes aim to provide travelers with quicker access to remedies for significant disruptions.

The Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to significantly upgrade its capabilities by integrating advanced computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning into its weather and climate modeling. This legislation mandates the creation of Centers of Excellence and a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan to ensure NOAA has the necessary high-performance computing infrastructure for faster and more accurate forecasting of hazardous weather events. The bill also requires collaboration with the Department of Energy and regular reporting to Congress on progress and future needs.

The Harvest to Hue Act aims to strengthen the U.S. food supply by supporting American farmers in producing ingredients for natural food color additives. This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance domestic capacity through targeted research and improved coordination among farmers, federal agencies, and food companies. Ultimately, the bill seeks to create new markets for U.S. agriculture by ensuring a reliable, homegrown source for natural food colors.

The Safeguarding U.S. Supply Chains Act restricts eligibility for the advanced manufacturing production tax credit. Specifically, companies cannot claim the credit for components produced by designated "foreign entities of concern." Furthermore, battery component credits are disallowed if the underlying technology was sourced from these restricted entities.

The IMPACT Act establishes a new research and development program to make U.S. cement, concrete, and asphalt production cleaner, more competitive, and less polluting. This initiative mandates the creation of a five-year strategic plan focusing on carbon capture, alternative fuels, and material efficiency. The program will also support real-world demonstration projects and provide technical assistance to help bring these advanced, low-emissions technologies to market.

The "Farm to Fly Act of 2025" aims to boost the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels by including them in Department of Agriculture bio-energy programs. It amends existing definitions to recognize sustainable aviation fuel and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promote its development through collaborative initiatives and manufacturing assistance. This act supports U.S. agriculture, enhances energy security, and promotes clean energy in the aviation sector by utilizing sustainable biomass resources.

The "Permanent Tax Cuts for American Families Act of 2025" makes permanent the increased standard deductions, raising them to $18,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married filers. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This change applies to taxable years starting after the law is enacted.