Legislative Activity

The Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African-American astronaut candidate, in recognition of his pioneering achievements and contributions to art and Black history. The Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal and allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to the public. It also designates the medals as national and numismatic items and outlines the use of funds for medal production and sales.

The REPLACE Act requires the President to waive fees for individuals needing to replace critical documents, such as passports and licenses, after a major disaster. It also directs the Secretary of State and the Director of USCIS to post notices about the availability of these waivers and submit annual reports to Congress on the number of waivers granted and associated costs.

The "Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act" establishes a "Ski Area Fee Retention Account" within the Treasury, directing ski area permit fees collected by the Secretary of Agriculture into this account. These funds will be used to support the administration, maintenance, and improvement of ski areas and related visitor services within the National Forest System. A majority of the fees collected at a specific unit will be reinvested into that unit, with a smaller portion available for use across other National Forest System units. The funds cannot be used for wildfire suppression or land acquisition.

The "Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2025" increases the minimum disaster loan amount for which the Small Business Administration may require collateral from $14,000 to $50,000. The Act requires a GAO report on the performance and default rates of disaster loans. It also requires the Small Business Administration to tailor its outreach and marketing for disaster loans to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

The "Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act" aims to reform and enhance the pay, benefits, and retirement options for Federal wildland firefighters. It establishes special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and rest and recuperation leave, while also addressing health concerns like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health support. The act also ensures pay parity for Federal structural firefighters and establishes a casualty assistance program for families of firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty. Finally, it modifies retirement calculations and service credit for firefighters.

This bill formally elects specific members of the House of Representatives to serve on the Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Ways and Means standing committees. These committees are crucial for budgeting, regulating commerce and energy, overseeing financial institutions, and managing taxes and revenue. The assignments reflect the current composition and priorities within the House.