Legislative Activity

This joint resolution disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding waste emissions charges for petroleum and natural gas systems. The resolution utilizes the Congressional Review Act to prevent the rule's implementation.

The "Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act" enhances the existing paid family and medical leave credit by allowing the credit to be calculated based on wages paid or total premiums paid for qualifying insurance policies. It modifies eligibility criteria for both employers and employees, and requires outreach programs to increase awareness of the credit. This bill also ensures that employers cannot deduct the portion of paid premiums equal to the credit amount.

The "Stop GREED Act of 2025" limits the Department of Veteran Affairs' ability to provide critical skill incentives to Senior Executive Service employees, especially those at the VA Central Office. It mandates individual approvals for incentives to senior executives not based at the Central Office and requires an annual report to Congress on these incentives. The goal of the act is to limit incentives for senior level employees.

The "JOBS Act of 2025" expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term job training programs (150-600 hours) that lead to credentials in high-demand fields. These programs must meet specific requirements, including alignment with industry needs and assurance from state boards. The act also requires accrediting agencies to assess the quality of these programs and mandates data sharing between the Departments of Education and Labor. Finally, the bill lowers the threshold for the minimum Federal Pell Grant from 10 percent to 5 percent.

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 Hearing Protection Act seeks to remove silencers from special regulation under federal tax law, treating them similarly to standard firearms components. This bill preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration requirements on silencers involved in interstate commerce. Furthermore, it mandates the destruction of existing federal records identifying silencer owners and establishes new serial number marking requirements for manufacturers.

The "Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act" amends the Stafford Act to prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation when providing disaster relief. This ensures that disaster assistance is distributed fairly, regardless of a person's political beliefs.

The "Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025" establishes a 5-year pilot program to test a performance-based pay structure for certain federal employees. This program aims to enhance productivity, accountability, and employee satisfaction by linking pay adjustments to the achievement of pre-defined performance metrics. Employees who exceed expectations could receive a 15% pay increase and additional benefits, while those who do not meet expectations may face a pay reduction and be provided with additional training. The program's impact will be evaluated through annual reports and assessments submitted to Congress.

The "Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act" establishes a commission to study and recommend the relocation of certain federal agencies from the Washington, D.C., area to other parts of the United States. The commission will evaluate potential relocation sites based on factors such as financial efficiency, existing infrastructure, and community input, with the goal of transferring at least 100,000 employees of covered agencies. A report of the commission's findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The SHOW UP Act of 2025 requires Executive agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies within 30 days. Agencies must conduct a study on the impacts of expanded telework during the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a plan for future telework use to Congress. Any expansion of telework beyond pre-pandemic levels requires certification from the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, ensuring positive impacts on agency performance, cost reduction, and adequate resources for teleworkers. The Act aims to address potential negative effects of telework on agency mission, costs, and resource allocation.

The American Music Fairness Act updates copyright law to require terrestrial radio broadcasts to pay royalties to music creators, similar to internet radio services. It establishes royalty rates for eligible small broadcasters and ensures that songwriters' royalties are not negatively impacted. The bill also directs Copyright Royalty Judges to consider the promotional value of radio airplay when determining royalty rates.

The Purple Heart Veterans Education Act of 2025 allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart after September 11, 2001, to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to eligible family members. It defines eligible dependents, sets conditions for benefit use, and allows veterans to modify or revoke transfers. The bill also addresses scenarios involving the death of the veteran and sets age limits for child transferees, ensuring dependents receive the same educational assistance as the veteran.

The "Disaster Assistance Fairness Act" amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide federal assistance to residential common interest communities, condominiums, and housing cooperatives damaged by major disasters. It directs the President to create rules that debris removal from these communities after a major disaster is in the public interest if it threatens life, public health, safety, or economic recovery, as confirmed by a state or local government. The Act also covers the repair of essential common elements in condominiums and housing cooperatives, provided an individual's or household's share of these repair costs is well-documented. These changes will apply to major disasters declared on or after the enactment of this law.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include innovative multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. These tests, which use genomic sequencing to detect multiple cancer types, will be covered for eligible beneficiaries with age and frequency limitations. The payment amount for these tests will initially align with that of multi-target stool screening DNA tests. This new coverage aims to improve early cancer detection without affecting existing Medicare-covered cancer screenings.

The Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act of 2025 restricts U.S. funding to the United Nations for Afghanistan assistance unless the Secretary of State certifies that no U.S. funds are used for cash shipments by the United Nations into Afghanistan, and that no specially designated global terrorist organizations or foreign terrorist organizations receive funds from these shipments. The Secretary can revoke this certification if found inaccurate, with notification to relevant congressional committees. The bill defines key terms like "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorist organization" to ensure clarity in its application.

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 "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" introduces a federal tax credit for individuals and corporations who donate to scholarship granting organizations that provide educational scholarships to eligible elementary and secondary students. These scholarships can be used for tuition, books, tutoring, and other qualified education expenses. The bill sets a volume cap on the total amount of donations eligible for the tax credit and includes provisions to prevent government control over scholarship organizations and non-public schools. It also exempts these scholarship amounts from gross income.

The "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act" allows FEMA to reimburse state, tribal, and local governments in North Carolina for repairing or replacing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, if they are the sole access to homes or essential services. To be eligible for reimbursement, government officials must inspect and verify the need for repairs, ensure the roads/bridges remain open during repairs, and comply with all state and federal regulations. Individuals who have already received disaster assistance for road or bridge repairs can choose to continue with that assistance or return the funds to be eligible for reimbursement under this act. The Administrator will base eligible costs on certified estimates from licensed engineers unless there is evidence of fraud.

The "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act" or the "GOOD Act" mandates federal agencies to publish both new and existing guidance documents online in a central, easily accessible location. This aims to increase transparency by ensuring the public has access to agency policies and interpretations. The Act requires agencies to categorize these documents and maintain a record of rescinded guidance, while also exempting information protected by the Freedom of Information Act.

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.