Legislative Activity

The Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase housing supply, improve financial literacy, and modernize federal housing programs. It seeks to achieve these goals by reforming zoning regulations, extending rental assistance programs, increasing financing options for manufactured homes, and enhancing oversight across HUD and related agencies. Ultimately, the legislation aims to make housing more affordable and accessible while ensuring better accountability for federal housing investments.

The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding for rural health programs through 2030. This legislation ensures that grant money for rural health outreach and network development is specifically targeted to meet the needs of underserved populations. Furthermore, it mandates that residents in these rural areas must be actively involved in the planning and operation of the programs receiving these funds.

The Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from issuing any new direct loans under its primary Section 7(a) loan program. While the SBA can no longer originate these loans directly, it must continue to manage and service any existing direct 7(a) loans. This change shifts the focus of the program away from direct government lending.

The Community Investment and Prosperity Act amends federal banking laws to increase investment limits for national banks and Federal Reserve Banks. Specifically, this legislation raises the applicable investment threshold from 15% to 20%. This change is intended to promote public welfare through increased investment capacity.

The Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 clarifies and limits the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over entities already regulated by state insurance authorities. This bill specifically restricts the CFPB's ability to enforce federal consumer protection rules against state-regulated insurers operating within the business of insurance. The legislation ensures that state insurance regulators maintain primary oversight for these entities.

The IRS Accountability and Taxpayer Protection Act mandates that IRS personnel must obtain supervisor approval *before* issuing initial notices regarding tax penalties or the disallowance of certain tax benefits. This legislation aims to increase internal oversight on enforcement actions taken against taxpayers. Additionally, the Treasury Department must annually report publicly on all penalties assessed by the IRS.

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the flexibility for hospitals to provide acute care services in a patient's home through 2030. The bill also mandates a comprehensive, subsequent study comparing the quality, cost, and patient experience of hospital-at-home care versus traditional inpatient settings. This follow-up report must be submitted to key Congressional committees by September 2028.

The Modern Worker Empowerment Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to standardize the definition of an "employee" using traditional common law rules. This change clarifies the legal standard for determining employment relationships under federal wage and hour protections.

The Value Over Cost Act of 2025 updates federal procurement rules for the Multiple Award Schedule program. This legislation grants both civilian and defense agencies the flexibility to award contracts based on achieving the "best value" rather than being strictly limited to the lowest cost option. This change allows the government to select vendors whose offerings provide superior overall benefit to the United States.

This bill mandates that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) annually review and update a specific list of U.S. Government facilities and property deemed sensitive for national security. CFIUS must also report on any real estate transaction reviews involving these sensitive sites. This ensures the list remains current based on agency-specific annual reviews.

This resolution commemorates the tenth anniversary of the tragic 2015 shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church by honoring the lives of the nine victims lost that day. It details the accomplishments of those killed and summarizes the subsequent federal and state legal proceedings against the perpetrator. Ultimately, the bill serves as a formal acknowledgment of the victims and the enduring strength of the church community.

The Strengthening Benefit Plans Act of 2025 allows employers to transfer surplus assets from overfunded retiree health accounts or defined benefit pension plans into other employee benefit funds, like 401(k) plans or VEBAs. This aims to provide flexibility for employers managing excess funds while imposing strict requirements to protect employee vesting and future benefit levels. The bill establishes specific calculations for defining "excess assets" and mandates advance notice to participants before any transfer occurs.

The Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act aims to provide tax relief and compliance clarity for the beauty services industry. It expands an existing employer tax credit for Social Security taxes paid on employee tips to include beauty service establishments. Furthermore, the bill establishes an IRS audit "safe harbor" for beauty employers who implement specific tip reporting and training procedures, and it introduces new information reporting requirements for landlords renting space to multiple beauty professionals.

The COACHES Act, or Creating Opportunity for Athletic Coaches to Help Educate Students Act, expands the existing above-the-line tax deduction for educators. This update specifically broadens eligibility to include interscholastic sports administrators and coaches, allowing them to deduct expenses incurred as part of instructional activity for tax years beginning after December 31, 2023.

The Employee Access to Worksite Health Services Act clarifies the tax treatment of employer-provided on-site health clinics. This bill ensures that an employee's eligibility for or use of qualified services at a worksite clinic will not automatically count as having other standard health insurance coverage for tax purposes. This separation aims to preserve an employee's eligibility for other potential tax benefits or credits.

This bill seeks to permanently reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by repealing its scheduled expiration date. By removing the sunset provision, Congress ensures these sanctions against Iran's weapons programs and support for terrorism remain in effect indefinitely. The legislation reaffirms the U.S. policy to fully enforce the existing sanctions.

The High-Quality Charter Schools Act establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who donate to eligible, high-performing charter school organizations for expansion purposes. This section sets an annual national cap of $5 billion on these credits, distributed via state allocations and a national pool on a first-come, first-served basis. Furthermore, the bill imposes penalties on recipient organizations that fail to spend these qualified contributions within a five-year period. Finally, the Act ensures that participation in this program does not compromise the organizational autonomy of the charter schools involved.

This resolution congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of public charter schools for their ongoing contributions to American education. It highlights the growth, academic achievements, and parental choice offered by these tuition-free public schools. The measure officially recognizes and supports the goals of the 26th Annual National Charter Schools Week, scheduled for May 11–17, 2025.

The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act aims to streamline and accelerate the process for issuing atomic energy licenses by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This bill allows the NRC to generally skip mandatory public hearings for certain permits and licenses unless an affected party requests one. If no hearing is requested, the NRC can proceed after a thirty-day notice period, utilizing informal procedures when hearings are held. These changes apply immediately to pending applications.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the recent rule finalized by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) concerning overdraft lending practices at very large financial institutions. By passing this resolution, Congress is effectively vetoing and preventing the enforcement of that specific BCFP regulation.