Legislative Activity

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.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating June as "National Annuity Awareness Month." It highlights annuities as a crucial tool for guaranteeing lifetime income and boosting retirement confidence. The bill encourages educational efforts across the country to inform consumers about how annuities can help meet their long-term financial security goals.

The Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) Formalization Act mandates that the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) must establish and maintain a joint reserve detachment. This change converts the current discretionary authority for the DIU into a firm requirement for this reserve component.

The FORCE Act establishes the National Defense Executive Reserve, a new program allowing private sector experts to temporarily fill federal roles during national emergencies. This legislation mandates the creation of reserve units within key agencies like Commerce, Defense, and Homeland Security. Additionally, the bill modernizes how the government uses voluntary agreements under the Defense Production Act, shifting authority away from the FTC and requiring the development of a critical national defense action plan utilizing the new Reserve.

The HEALTH for MOM Act of 2025 allows states the option to establish "maternity health homes" to provide enhanced, coordinated care for pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Medicaid. These health homes must offer comprehensive, patient-centered care planning that links medical services with crucial social and behavioral supports for one year after delivery. To encourage adoption, the bill provides temporary enhanced federal funding for states that choose to implement this coordinated care model.

The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025 updates federal assistance programs to specifically promote the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing. This legislation introduces competitive grants for pilot and demonstration-scale biorefineries while streamlining loan guarantee processes. The bill establishes detailed scoring criteria for grant applicants, prioritizing innovation, private investment, and environmental impact, and sets annual funding levels through fiscal year 2030.