Legislative Activity

The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2025 allows registered investment companies to temporarily postpone the redemption of securities for "specified adults" if they reasonably suspect financial exploitation is occurring. This measure requires companies to collect emergency contact information for these accounts and establish internal procedures for handling potential exploitation cases. The Act mandates the SEC to report to Congress with recommendations for further legislative changes to protect vulnerable security holders.

The College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a system for licensing reciprocity, allowing college mental health providers to offer telehealth services to their enrolled students across state lines. This streamlines care by generally adhering to the provider's home state licensing rules, while ensuring patient safety through required disclosures and identity verification. The Act also encourages interstate agreements to further facilitate this cross-state mental health support for students.

The PARTNERS Act aims to boost registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses in high-demand industries. It achieves this by establishing and funding regional partnerships that develop and support work-based learning opportunities. States will receive federal funds to issue grants to these eligible partnerships, which must then focus on curriculum development, business engagement, and providing essential support services to participants. The Act also establishes specific performance reporting requirements for accountability.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The UNLOCK Act amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to expand how federal housing funds can be used. This legislation now allows local entities to directly use these funds for the construction of new housing specifically for low- and moderate-income residents. The bill removes the requirement for these entities to partner with a nonprofit organization to carry out the new construction projects.

The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025 urges the Chinese government to enhance controls over precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production through cooperation, stricter shipping rules, and "know-your-customer" requirements. The bill also expands the definition of a "foreign opioid trafficker" under existing sanctions law to specifically target certain Chinese entities and officials who facilitate or fail to stop illicit opioid trafficking. Furthermore, it imposes new reporting and regulatory standards on the President when using emergency economic powers related to international drug trafficking. Finally, the Act explicitly prohibits using the sanctions authorized by this law to block the importation of general goods.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating September 22nd as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day." The goal is to formally recognize the sacrifices of service members and veterans while raising crucial awareness about the mental health challenges and suicide risks they face. By establishing this day, the resolution aims to reduce stigma and encourage greater focus on providing necessary support and resources to this population.

The Greyhound Protection Act of 2025 seeks to end commercial greyhound racing and related cruel training practices nationwide by October 1, 2027. This legislation bans all forms of wagering on greyhound races and prohibits the use of live animals for training or coursing events. Violators face significant fines and potential imprisonment under the strengthened Animal Welfare Act. The bill reflects concerns over widespread animal injuries, drug use, and inhumane confinement within the declining industry.

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 establishes a permanent Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the State Department to streamline and support the resettlement of Afghan allies. This Act mandates the creation of a secure, centralized database to track all applicants, beneficiaries, and relocation progress, ensuring accountability to Congress. The Coordinator will manage interagency efforts, resolve family reunification roadblocks, and provide integration support for covered persons. This entire framework is set to automatically expire five years after enactment unless otherwise specified.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 mandates that the Departments of HUD and Agriculture create a joint agreement to speed up environmental reviews for federally funded rural housing projects. This partnership aims to designate a lead agency and streamline the acceptance of environmental documentation between the two departments. The Act also establishes an advisory group composed of diverse stakeholders to guide implementation and requires a final report to Congress suggesting further efficiency improvements without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (Connected MOM) Act aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women on Medicaid by examining and addressing barriers to state coverage for remote physiologic monitoring devices. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on current state coverage rules and suggest improvements for utilizing these monitoring tools. Following the report, federal resources provided to states must be updated to reflect the recommended best practices for covering remote maternal health monitoring.

The Data BRIDGE Act mandates that the FCC update its national broadband map to specifically include the locations of agricultural areas. This update must be completed within 180 days of the bill's enactment. To ensure accuracy, the FCC is required to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders during this process. This action aims to better identify broadband coverage gaps affecting farms.

The Afghan Adjustment Act establishes new pathways for certain Afghan nationals already in the U.S. to obtain conditional permanent resident status, contingent upon rigorous security vetting. It also creates a special referral process for at-risk Afghan allies still outside the U.S. to access the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remotely. Furthermore, the bill extends deadlines and expands eligibility for existing Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) while mandating significant interagency coordination and reporting to Congress on processing efficiency.

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 Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or contracting for the use of certain foreign-made LiDAR technology identified in related defense legislation. This ban applies to purchases, contracts, and the use of federal loan or grant funds for this restricted technology, generally beginning in mid-2026. The Secretary of Transportation may only waive this prohibition if it is certified to be in the national interest of the United States. Certain safety testing and regulatory exemption activities remain exempt from these restrictions.

The College Transparency Act establishes a secure, new national system for tracking student data from postsecondary institutions to improve transparency regarding enrollment, completion, costs, and post-college outcomes. This system will collect detailed, student-level data, securely matched with other federal records, to create public, aggregate reports for comparison. The law mandates strict privacy and security standards while aiming to reduce overall reporting burdens for colleges.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.