Legislative Activity

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025 initiates a 20-year demonstration project aimed at helping blind Americans receiving Social Security disability benefits return to work. For the first 10 years, eligibility for benefits will be determined without considering substantial gainful activity, and benefits will be reduced based on earnings above a set amount, incentivizing employment without immediate loss of support. The project waives certain benefit requirements to facilitate successful employment, with participants having the option to opt out after the initial 10-year period. This act aims to support blind individuals in their transition back to the workforce while maintaining a safety net.

The Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include alpha-gal, a sugar found in non-catarrhine primate mammals and red algae, as a major food allergen. This will require food labels to clearly identify the presence of alpha-gal. The amendment will take effect 18 months after the enactment of this Act, with an exception for mammal-derived ingredients where alpha-gal is below a detectable limit as determined by the Secretary.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule concerning the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons, specifically addressing the management of certain hydrofluorocarbons and their substitutes as outlined in the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The "Farm Credit Administration Independent Authority Act" affirms the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) as the sole regulator of the Farm Credit System. It requires Farm Credit System lenders to collect and report demographic data from small farmer loan applicants and borrowers, with the FCA responsible for publishing this data while protecting personal information. The Act also exempts Farm Credit System institutions from certain regulations if related rules are invalidated or repealed. Finally, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act is amended to specify that the entities supervised by the Farm Credit Administration are exempt.

The "Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act" repeals the inclusion of Social Security benefits in gross income, effectively ending the taxation of these benefits for taxable years beginning after the enactment of this law. The Act mandates the allocation of funds each fiscal year to the Social Security Act or the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, ensuring these programs are not negatively impacted by the tax elimination. The amount allocated must equal the reduction in transfers to these funds because of the change. Congress intends to offset the revenue reduction without raising taxes.

The WARN Act aims to improve community safety during weather emergencies by directing the Comptroller General to study the effectiveness of local, state, territory, and federal emergency alert systems. The study will assess alert dissemination methods, evaluate the clarity and actionability of alert content, and explore improvements to public alerting systems. A report on the study's findings will be submitted to Congress within 18 months, with the goal of enhancing emergency response plans and public safety.

This bill, called the "Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act of 2025," allows taxpayers to exclude gains from their gross income when selling real property interests to qualified organizations for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program purposes. The exclusion does not apply to sales by pass-through entities within three years of acquisition, with an exception for family-owned entities. This exclusion encourages land conservation and military readiness. It applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

The "Marc Fischer Memorial Act" aims to combat the flow of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, into Federal prisons through the mail. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to equip all Federal correctional facilities with the technology and processes needed to scan mail, protect staff and inmates, and ensure timely delivery of mail copies while maintaining legal mail privileges. The strategy includes assessing current practices, identifying necessary resources, and providing a budgetary proposal for implementation, with ongoing reporting to Congress on its effectiveness.

The "PATROL Act" prevents the Department of Justice from suing states for building barriers along their borders to prevent illegal immigration and protect their territory. This bill specifically applies to civil actions under Section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899, concerning unauthorized obstruction of navigable waters. The term "barrier" includes physical structures like walls, fences, or floating buoys.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, concerning race, color, and national origin. This aims to address rising antisemitism in educational settings. The Act clarifies that it does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change existing discrimination standards, reduce existing rights, or infringe upon First Amendment rights.

The "Voter Eligibility Verification Act of 2025" aims to ensure accurate voter rolls by requiring the prompt release of immigration status information to state officials. The Attorney General or Secretary of State must receive an individual's immigration status within 15 days of requesting it, including for potential voters. This will allow states to verify the eligibility of individuals for voter registration.

This bill stops the distribution of China Daily, a Chinese Communist Party propaganda outlet, in House buildings. It prevents the Chief Administrative Officer from distributing these publications or using internal mail for their delivery, aiming to protect the House from foreign influence. The policy does not restrict private subscriptions by individuals, access through public facilities, or collection by the Library of Congress. The bill defines a CCP-controlled publication as one registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" amends titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses. This act modifies Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rules, allowing surviving spouses who remarry to still receive benefits. Additionally, it ensures continued Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments for certain remarried surviving spouses and expands TRICARE eligibility to include remarried widow/widowers whose subsequent marriage ended.

The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act aims to ease the financial burden of federal regulations on small businesses. Starting in 2026, the Small Business Administration must ensure that new rule changes do not increase costs for small businesses. The Act also requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to Congress on all federal rules impacting small businesses. No additional funds are authorized to implement the Act.

The "No User Fees for Gun Owners Act" prohibits state and local governments from imposing taxes, fees, or insurance requirements on firearm or ammunition ownership and commerce. Regular sales taxes are permitted if applied at the same rate as other goods and services. This bill aims to protect gun owners and businesses from discriminatory financial burdens.

The IGO Anti-Boycott Act amends the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to include international governmental organizations in the prohibitions against boycotts. It requires the President to submit an annual report to Congress. This report will list foreign countries and international organizations that support boycotts and describe those boycotts.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "Stop Illegal Reentry Act" increases the penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after having been deported or removed. It raises the maximum prison sentence for general illegal reentry to five years. Repeat offenders or those with prior felony convictions could face up to 10 years, and aggravated felons or repeat re-entrants could face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.