Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating October 2025 as National Foster Youth Voice Month. The designation aims to encourage dialogue and collaboration focused on solutions developed with young people who have experienced foster care. It highlights the needs and achievements of youth in the system and urges the federal government to officially recognize this awareness month. Ultimately, the bill emphasizes the importance of incorporating lived experience when creating policies that affect foster youth.

The Revitalizing Rural Communities Act of 2025 extends and increases funding for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. This legislation boosts the annual allocation for the program from \$10 million to \$12 million. The increased funding is set to continue for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support rural economic growth.

The Prevent Youth Suicide Act mandates that schools serving grades 6 through 12 establish comprehensive, evidence-based suicide prevention and postvention protocols to maintain federal funding. These rules require biennial staff training, clear referral systems for at-risk students, and the adoption of a trauma-informed approach. The Secretary of Education is tasked with creating these regulations, providing resources, and monitoring compliance.

The Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act of 2025 amends existing law to grant the Secretary of Agriculture greater flexibility in restoring disaster-damaged watersheds. This change allows the Secretary to restore areas to a condition better than pre-disaster levels if it ensures long-term watershed health. The bill focuses on proactive, improved recovery efforts following natural disasters.

The Train More Nurses Act mandates a comprehensive review of federal grant programs supporting the nursing workforce. The resulting report must provide Congress with specific recommendations to improve these programs. Key goals include increasing nursing faculty, facilitating experienced nurses' transition to teaching, and creating clearer pathways for LPNs to become RNs.

The Next Generation of Farmers Act of 2025 significantly lowers the minimum experience requirement for farmers and ranchers seeking direct farm real estate loans from the government. This legislation reduces the required substantial management experience from previous multi-year standards down to a minimum of one year. The Secretary of Agriculture retains discretion to accept alternative education or experience in place of direct farm management.

The Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 aims to modernize and stabilize rural housing programs across the nation. It streamlines administrative processes, establishes permanent protections for existing affordable rental housing, and improves access to repair loans for low-income homeowners. Furthermore, the bill creates new grant opportunities for local development and mandates greater transparency and efficiency in the application review process.

The Taskforce for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams Act (TRAPS Act) establishes a new Task Force led by the Secretary of the Treasury. This diverse group, including federal agencies, industry experts, and consumer advocates, will study evolving payment scams. The Task Force is charged with developing cross-sector prevention strategies and submitting comprehensive recommendations for new laws and improved coordination to combat these fraudulent activities.

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Act of 2025 significantly enhances support for small rural businesses. This bill increases the maximum loan size from $\$50,000$ to $\$75,000$ and extends the program's authorization period through 2030. It also modifies rules regarding how loan funds can be used for construction and real estate improvements.

The U.S.-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act establishes a strategic partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan's defense agencies. This initiative aims to boost defense industry collaboration, accelerate joint research and development, and strengthen Taiwan's defense manufacturing capabilities. The partnership will focus on emerging technologies like AI, microchips, and drones to enhance security cooperation.

The Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities Act mandates that funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designated for lead pipe replacement must be distributed as forgivable loans or grants. This funding is exclusively targeted toward disadvantaged communities to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water infrastructure upgrades.

The Safe Schools and Communities Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund local school districts. These competitive grants must be used to train school staff on identifying and preventing human trafficking, drug abuse (including fentanyl), and gang activity. This initiative aims to enhance safety protocols and awareness within elementary and secondary schools.

The PEACE Act of 2025 imposes strict new financial sanctions on foreign banks knowingly dealing with sanctioned Russian entities following escalating attacks on Ukraine. It mandates the Treasury Department to seize specific Russian Central Bank assets held in the U.S. and transfer them to a fund supporting Ukraine. The Act also requires a review of major Russian energy companies and includes provisions for presidential waivers and a sunset clause tied to Russia ceasing destabilizing actions.

The Financial Technology Protection Act of 2025 establishes an Independent Financial Technology Working Group to research and recommend regulations combating the illicit use of digital assets by terrorists and criminals. The bill also mandates a presidential report detailing strategies to prevent foreign actors from evading U.S. sanctions using emerging technologies. This legislation aims to secure the financial system against modern threats posed by new financial technologies.

The Neutralizing Unfair Chinese Export Subsidies Act of 2025 aims to counter unfair Chinese trade practices by strengthening allied efforts to enforce OECD export credit standards, placing the Treasury Secretary in charge of these international negotiations. The bill also updates the criteria the Treasury Secretary must use to determine if China is manipulating its currency exchange rate. If manipulation is found, the U.S. will actively oppose any increase in China's quota or voting power at the International Monetary Fund for one year.

The PEACE Act of 2025 imposes new financial restrictions on foreign banks that significantly aid Russia, particularly those dealing with sanctioned entities or operating in Russia's energy sector. The Treasury Department is required to establish strict rules regarding U.S. correspondent accounts for these foreign institutions. Furthermore, the Act mandates a Treasury determination on whether major Russian energy companies like Gazprom, Rosneft, and Lukoil qualify as "foreign persons" under existing law. This legislation will terminate either five years after enactment or sooner if the President certifies Russia has ceased destabilizing actions against Ukraine.

The ELEVATE Act of 2025 allows companies planning an initial public offering (IPO) to confidentially submit their registration statements to the SEC for pre-filing review. This enables companies to receive feedback privately before making their plans public. Any information shared during this confidential review process is legally protected from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025 establishes a program to create five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers. These centers will focus on research, development, and training to secure the nation's food supply chain against cyber threats. The bill authorizes $25 million annually through fiscal year 2030 to fund these university-led initiatives.

The Preventing Lethal Agricultural and National Threats (PLANT) Act establishes a new federal crime for the reckless importation of high-risk agricultural pathogens without proper authorization. This legislation imposes significant penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, which can increase to 20 years if the act involves foreign government ties or causes substantial economic damage. The Department of Agriculture is tasked with defining which specific pathogens are considered high-risk under this new law.

The SNAP Anti-Theft and Victim Compensation Act of 2025 significantly expands the USDA Inspector General's authority to investigate all forms of SNAP benefit theft, especially cyber fraud. This bill also authorizes states to reimburse households for stolen SNAP benefits due to electronic theft. Finally, it establishes a new civil penalty, doubling the value of stolen benefits, with collected funds dedicated to victim compensation and fraud investigation costs.