Legislative Activity

The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act aims to strengthen federal nutrition programs for children by clarifying eligibility rules for for-profit childcare centers and mandating a comprehensive review of serious deficiency processes to ensure fairness and reduce unnecessary state-level burdens. The bill also adjusts meal reimbursement limits, updates inflation tracking for program costs, and establishes an advisory committee to drastically reduce paperwork and modernize administrative requirements for providers. These changes seek to streamline operations, improve consistency, and better support child care providers participating in federal meal programs.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concerning gross proceeds reporting by brokers for digital asset sales. Through this joint resolution, Congress is exercising its authority to disapprove the specific IRS regulation. Consequently, the proposed reporting requirement will not take effect.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap hindering the construction and rehabilitation of affordable starter homes in distressed communities. This credit incentivizes developers to build or substantially renovate housing in specific low-income census tracts and sell it affordably to qualified moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will manage the allocation of these credits, ensuring projects meet affordability standards and promoting revitalization in struggling neighborhoods.

The AG2PI Act of 2025 reauthorizes the critical Genome to Phenome Initiative through 2030. This legislation aims to bridge the gap between genetic knowledge and practical agricultural traits in crops and livestock. By extending this research program, the bill supports interdisciplinary efforts to develop more resilient, productive, and sustainable farming systems.

The DRIVE Act prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from mandating speed limiting devices on heavy commercial vehicles engaged in interstate commerce. This legislation removes any federal requirement for trucks over 26,000 pounds to have their top speed electronically capped. In essence, the bill deregulates restrictions concerning speed control technology for large, cross-state eighteen-wheelers.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow disaster loans to be issued specifically for damages resulting from prolonged power outages. It defines a "prolonged power outage" based on the number of affected properties and the duration or severity of uninsured losses. Furthermore, the legislation permits loan funds to be used by small businesses for purchasing energy resilience systems, such as generators and solar power equipment.

This resolution formally condemns the impunity surrounding unpunished Serbian sexual war crimes from the 1999 Kosovo War, centering on the case of U.S. citizen and survivor Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman. It details the systemic failures of justice mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable for widespread sexual and gender-based violence during the conflict. The bill urges the Serbian government to prosecute those responsible for these atrocities against women and calls on the U.S. government to prioritize accountability for wartime sexual violence globally.

The Financial Inclusion in Banking Act of 2025 establishes a new Office of Community Affairs within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This office is tasked with researching the barriers preventing un-banked and under-banked consumers from accessing traditional banking services. The Act mandates that this office coordinate federal efforts and develop strategies to boost financial education for these underserved populations. Finally, the Office must report biennially to Congress with findings and specific recommendations to improve financial inclusion.

The S-CAP Act of 2025 significantly increases the maximum number of shareholders a business can have while qualifying for S corporation tax status, raising the limit from 100 to 250. This change is designed to allow more small businesses to benefit from pass-through taxation. This new 250-shareholder limit will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Carnivals are Real Entertainment Act establishes a specific P visa pathway for temporary workers employed by traveling carnivals, circuses, and associated concession providers. This new classification ensures essential mobile entertainment staff can enter the U.S. while adhering to existing H-2B temporary worker program regulations. The law mandates that the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Labor develop and finalize the necessary rules within one year of enactment.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a new, streamlined grant program within the Department of Justice to support small local and Tribal law enforcement agencies (under 175 officers). These funds are specifically designated for officer training, mental health resources, and recruitment/retention bonuses. The law mandates a rapid application process and includes strict accountability measures, such as audits and public reporting of bonuses. Congress is authorized to appropriate up to $50 million annually for this program through fiscal year 2031.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal criminal penalties for the intentional sharing of both real and digitally forged nonconsensual intimate images, with stricter penalties for images involving minors. It mandates that covered online platforms create a clear process for victims to request the removal of such content within 48 hours. Failure by platforms to reasonably comply with these removal requests will be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt "qualified student loan bonds" from the annual volume cap imposed on certain tax-exempt bonds. Furthermore, it ensures that interest earned from these bonds will not be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). These changes aim to make issuing bonds for student loans more flexible and attractive to investors.

The Communities of Recovery Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost support for recovery services. This bill increases the annual funding set aside for building communities of recovery from \$5 million to \$17 million for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This reauthorization ensures continued and expanded resources for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.

The Youth Suicide Prevention Research Act updates the National Science Foundation's research priorities to better address childhood suicide. This legislation specifically mandates the NSF to focus new research efforts on understanding the roles of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress in youth suicide risk.

The STABLE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal framework for regulating payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to maintain 1:1 reserves in safe assets and adhere to strict transparency and anti-money laundering standards. The bill strictly limits issuance to approved entities, whether federally or state-qualified, and clarifies that these dollar-backed digital assets are not considered securities. Furthermore, it mandates robust consumer protection rules, ensuring customer assets are segregated and prioritized in bankruptcy proceedings.

The 1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act aims to eliminate the mandatory data collection and reporting requirements for small business loans previously established under Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Proponents argue that these regulations impose unnecessary compliance costs on lenders, potentially hindering small business access to credit. This bill repeals those specific reporting mandates to reduce regulatory burdens on financial institutions.

This bill mandates the immediate rescission of specific waivers and licenses that previously allowed certain international money transfers related to Iran. It explicitly prohibits the President from reissuing similar permissions or granting new licenses that would allow the Iranian government access to restricted financial accounts. In essence, this legislation closes specific financial pathways previously opened concerning Iran.

The No Iranian Energy Act aims to strengthen U.S. policy by explicitly targeting Iran's growing natural gas industry with sanctions. This bill amends existing law to ensure that sanctions apply to the sale, supply, or transfer of Iranian natural gas. The legislation reflects Congress's intent to restrict Iran's energy sector activities.