Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the memory of the 67 victims who lost their lives in the tragic mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter on January 29, 2025. It extends heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and expresses profound gratitude to the numerous first responder organizations that provided dedicated rescue and recovery efforts.

The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit, originally set to expire after 2025, to encourage investment in low-income communities. The bill also adjusts the credit amount for inflation after 2025 and provides alternative minimum tax relief for credits on qualified equity investments made after December 31, 2024. These changes aim to incentivize ongoing investment in economically distressed areas.

The "Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025" modifies regulations for 403(b) plans under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These modifications broaden exemptions from registration provisions for certain interests, participations, or securities related to 403(b) plans, especially those subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or where the employer acts as a fiduciary, or are governmental plans as defined in section 414. The goal is to expand the types of trusts, plans, and accounts that are excluded from being defined as investment companies. It also updates a section regarding exemptions from registration requirements for securities, adding a reference to plans described in section 3(a)(12)(C)(iv) of the Act.

The GENIUS Act of 2025 establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, defining who can issue them and setting standards for reserves, redemption policies, and reporting. It mandates federal approval for stablecoin issuers, with an option for state regulation for smaller issuers under certain conditions, and clarifies that payment stablecoins are not securities or commodities. The Act also prioritizes customer protection by requiring custodial services to be supervised and customer assets to be segregated, and it prioritizes stablecoin holders over other creditors in case of issuer insolvency. Finally, it directs the Federal Reserve to establish reciprocal agreements with countries that have similar stablecoin regulations to promote international transactions.

The Fair Access to Banking Act aims to ensure equal access to financial services by preventing banks and credit unions from denying services to individuals or entities engaged in lawful activities based on subjective or politically motivated reasons. It sets requirements for banks with over $10 billion in assets, prohibiting them from denying services based on reputational risk and requiring them to justify denials with documented, risk-based standards. The act also allows individuals to sue financial institutions that violate these requirements, with the potential for treble damages and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs. Furthermore, it restricts access to Federal Reserve lending programs and the Automated Clearing House Network for institutions that fail to comply with the Act.

The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act amends the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening tests starting in 2028. This legislation establishes a formal coverage and payment framework for these innovative blood-based tests while ensuring they complement, rather than replace, existing cancer screening protocols.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The Charitable Act renews and expands tax incentives for charitable giving by allowing individuals who do not itemize deductions to claim a deduction for charitable contributions during the 2026 and 2027 tax years. Under this provision, non-itemizers can deduct contributions up to one-third of their standard deduction amount. Additionally, the bill removes specific accuracy-related penalties associated with these deductions.

The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 establishes a federal tax credit for individuals and corporations that donate to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations provide scholarships to help eligible students cover a wide range of K-12 educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, and educational therapies. The bill includes a $10 billion annual volume cap on these credits and contains robust protections to ensure the autonomy of participating schools and the rights of parents to direct their children's education.

The Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. contributions to the United Nations for assistance in Afghanistan until the Secretary of State certifies that no funds are being diverted to terrorist organizations through cash shipments. This legislation mandates strict oversight to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not inadvertently support designated global or foreign terrorist entities.

The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act seeks to codify the "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy into federal law, preventing future presidential administrations from reversing it. The bill prohibits the use of U.S. federal funds for foreign and domestic nongovernmental organizations that perform, promote, or provide financial support for abortion services. By establishing these permanent restrictions, the legislation aims to ensure that U.S. global health assistance is not used to facilitate abortion-related activities.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States. It acknowledges their extensive volunteer network and substantial charitable giving, which helps to meet various needs and support financial security. The resolution affirms that their tax-exempt status continues to benefit the country and that their work should be encouraged.

This joint resolution exercises congressional authority to disapprove and nullify the Department of Energy’s recent rule regarding energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By passing this measure, Congress prevents the rule from taking effect, effectively blocking the proposed regulatory changes.

The Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act amends the corporate alternative minimum tax to allow companies to fully deduct intangible drilling and development costs when calculating their adjusted financial statement income. By modernizing how these expenses are treated, the bill aims to incentivize increased domestic oil and gas production. These changes are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Defund Planned Parenthood Act seeks to prohibit the allocation of any federal funding to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates. This legislation aims to restrict these organizations from receiving taxpayer dollars, regardless of existing provisions that might otherwise permit such funding.

The Main Street Tax Certainty Act makes the 20% pass-through business deduction permanent by removing its scheduled expiration date. This legislation ensures that owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations can continue to benefit from this tax relief indefinitely.

The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act aims to reduce double taxation for residents of Taiwan and the U.S. by lowering withholding rates on cross-border income and establishing clear tax residency rules. Additionally, the bill authorizes the President to negotiate a formal tax agreement with Taiwan, ensuring congressional oversight and public transparency throughout the process. This legislation seeks to boost bilateral trade and investment while ensuring reciprocal tax benefits for both nations.

The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025 prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services and federally subsidized health insurance plans that include abortion coverage. The bill also mandates increased transparency by requiring health plans to clearly disclose abortion coverage and associated premium surcharges in all marketing and enrollment materials. Exceptions are provided for cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospital transport and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child is protected from prosecution. The bill also allows the woman on whom the abortion was performed to file a civil action against anyone who violated the requirements if a child was born alive.

The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2025 mandates U.S. sanctions against foreign individuals and financial institutions that facilitate the Palestinian Authority’s system of providing payments to terrorists and their families. By targeting those who support this compensation system, the bill aims to hold the PLO and PA accountable for incentivizing acts of terrorism. These sanctions will remain in effect until the Secretary of State certifies that the compensation system has been fully terminated.