Legislative Activity

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The "Federal Firefighters Families First Act" aims to improve pay equality for Federal firefighters, enhance recruitment and retention, and ensure comprehensive calculation of retirement benefits. It updates the computation of pay and annuity calculations to include additional compensation for overtime hours in regular tours of duty. The Act also directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish a maximum regular workweek for Federal firefighters, not exceeding an average of 60 hours per week. These changes will impact annuity payments for individuals who separate from service 60 days after the law's enactment.

The "Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025" modifies tax deductions for performing artists by adjusting the income threshold for deduction phaseouts, clarifying deductible expenses to include commissions, and increasing the threshold for nominal employers. The adjusted gross income (AGI) threshold is $100,000, and the nominal employer threshold is $500. Both amounts will be adjusted for inflation after 2025. This ensures fair tax treatment and helps offset professional expenses.

The "Assuring Medicare's Promise Act of 2025" aims to bolster the solvency of Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by expanding the application of the net investment income tax. It directs revenue from the net investment income tax to the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and broadens the base of the tax to include trade or business income for high-income individuals, with certain income thresholds and phase-in provisions. This act amends both the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to ensure the financial stability of Medicare.

The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act permanently withdraws approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in Minnesota's Rainy River Watershed from mining and mineral leasing activities to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park. It allows for the removal of certain materials like sand and gravel if it does not harm the environment. The Act aims to preserve water quality, air quality, and the ecological integrity of the Rainy River Watershed.

The "Department of Education Protection Act" prevents the Department of Education from using already allocated funds to reorganize in ways that would decentralize, reduce staff, or alter the Department's responsibilities, structure, authority, or functions as they existed on January 1, 2025. This act ensures that the Department of Education continues to focus on boosting student success and equal access through its established offices and institutes.

The "Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act" directs the Department of Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2028 to honor the women who contributed to the World War II Home Front. The coin designs will represent the legacy of these women, with input from the Rosie the Riveter Trust, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. Surcharges from the coin sales will go to the Rosie the Riveter Trust to support the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. This act ensures that the coin minting incurs no net cost to the government and recognizes the invaluable contributions of women during WWII.

The LNG Public Interest Determination Act of 2025 amends the Natural Gas Act, requiring the Secretary of Energy to approve natural gas exports only if they are deemed to be in the public interest. Approval requires assessments regarding climate change, economic impacts, and environmental justice, ensuring exports do not significantly worsen climate change, increase energy prices for U.S. consumers, or unfairly burden vulnerable communities. The Act mandates public participation, especially from communities with environmental justice concerns, and terminates a rule that automatically excludes certain natural gas export approvals from environmental review. The Secretary of Energy must create regulations to implement this law within one year.

The "End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2025" aims to eliminate various tax benefits and subsidies currently provided to the oil and gas industry. It repeals or modifies provisions related to amortization of geological expenditures, tax credits for marginal wells and enhanced oil recovery, intangible drilling costs, percentage depletion for oil and gas wells, deductions for tertiary injectants, and passive loss limitations. The act also prohibits major integrated oil companies from using last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting and modifies foreign tax credit rules for dual capacity taxpayers. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of crude oil for excise tax purposes to include tar sands.

The Goldie's Act seeks to strengthen the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by mandating annual inspections, requiring humane treatment of suffering animals, and imposing significant penalties for violations. It ensures transparency through mandated sharing of violation records and sets firm guidelines for determining penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The Act also enables legal action to recover unpaid penalties and penalizes the disobedience of "cease and desist" orders.

The "Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act of 2025" extends the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through 2030. This program supports the use of telecommunications technologies to provide educational and medical services in rural areas.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.

The SAP Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Act of 2014, extending the Acer Access and Development Program through 2030. It requires the Secretary to seek input from maple industry stakeholders on research and education priorities before awarding grants. This input must be sought at least 6 months before the first funding application request, starting one year after the SAP Act of 2025 is enacted. The Secretary must consider this input when awarding grants.

The Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act requires dairy manufacturers to report their production costs and product yield information. The Secretary will then publish a report every two years with the collected data, starting three years after the law's enactment. This aims to increase transparency in dairy processing costs.

The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide infertility treatments, including up to three IVF cycles resulting in a live birth or 10 attempted cycles, to eligible veterans and their partners. It permits the use of donated gametes or embryos with proper consent and covers travel expenses for partners. The Act also defines key terms and requires the VA to issue regulations for implementation within one year, while expanding services to include partners of veterans, regardless of marital status, and the use of donated gametes or embryos in the interim.

The "Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act" establishes a commission to examine the history of slavery and discrimination in the United States from 1619 to the present. The commission will study the lingering negative effects of these injustices on living African Americans and U.S. society, and recommend appropriate remedies, including how to educate the American public on its findings to promote racial healing and understanding. The commission will submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to Congress within 18 months of its first official meeting, and the act authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 to implement the provisions of this act.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act outlines the process for Washington, D.C., to become the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, while establishing a separate U.S. Capital. It addresses the transition of laws, property, and governance, ensuring continued federal operations and representation for D.C. residents. The Act also covers federal responsibilities, courts, elections, and benefit programs during the transition, establishing a commission to oversee the process and mandating presidential certification.