Legislative Activity

The Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025 restricts the Department of Defense from entering into long-term retail concessions agreements with businesses controlled by designated foreign nations. This legislation mandates that existing agreements with such retailers undergo immediate review by CFIUS for national security risks, with termination required if control by a covered nation is confirmed. Exceptions are permitted only if the service provided is vital and security risks are mitigated, requiring notification to Congress.

This Act mandates the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and then a final standard requiring comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans for employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. These plans must be developed with employee input and detail risk assessments, hazard controls, reporting procedures, and annual training. Furthermore, the bill amends the Social Security Act to require Medicare-funded hospitals and skilled nursing facilities not covered by OSHA to comply with these new federal workplace violence prevention standards. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for workplace violence and includes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to test methods for increasing the purchase of nutrient-rich dairy products by households using SNAP benefits. The Secretary of Agriculture will award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement incentive projects at the point of sale. These projects must prioritize direct incentives that can only be spent on buying more eligible dairy items, and all projects will undergo rigorous independent evaluation. The Act also mandates the transition of existing dairy incentive projects into this new framework without interruption.

The Hot Foods Act of 2025 removes the general federal ban on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. This legislation clarifies that hot foods are now eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, while also setting a new rule that limits SNAP-participating retailers to deriving no more than 50% of their gross sales from these ready-to-eat hot items. The act updates existing statutes to reflect this expanded purchasing power for recipients.

The Trucker Bathroom Access Act ensures that commercial truck drivers are allowed to use restrooms at businesses where they are delivering or picking up goods. This legislation also mandates that operators of marine terminals provide adequate and safe restroom facilities for drayage truck drivers working on port property. The goal is to guarantee basic sanitation access for professional drivers during their work hours.

The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act establishes a new 20% federal tax credit for converting eligible, older commercial buildings into affordable housing. This incentive aims to increase housing supply by requiring that at least 20% of the converted units remain rent-restricted for low-income residents for 30 years. State agencies will allocate these credits, which are subject to a national cap of $12 billion, based on approved plans prioritizing financially necessary projects.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act aims to encourage more veterinarians to serve in underserved rural areas by making participation in certain loan repayment or forgiveness programs more financially appealing. This bill amends the tax code to exclude amounts received through qualifying state or federal veterinary student loan repayment programs from being counted as taxable income. This tax benefit applies to amounts received for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow distributions from a Health Savings Account (HSA) for the funeral expenses of the account beneficiary to be treated as qualified, tax-free distributions. These expenses, which include burial, cremation, and related services, are capped at a total of \$5,000 per beneficiary. The legislation also clarifies that funeral expenses incurred within 90 days after the account holder's death can be treated as if they occurred before death for tax purposes.

This bill mandates a comprehensive, independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction therapy provided to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) versus non-VA providers. The study will assess outcomes, treatment methods, coordination, and patient experience across various care settings. The final report will be submitted to Congress and made public to inform future quality improvements.

The Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025 repeals the outdated 12-percent Federal excise tax on new heavy trucks and trailers. This repeal aims to lower costs, encouraging fleet owners to replace aging vehicles with modern, safer, and more fuel-efficient models. By removing this significant tax burden, the bill seeks to accelerate the adoption of cleaner engine technology and improve overall road safety. The Act also includes technical updates to the tax code related to the removal of this long-standing tax.

This resolution formally recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps in 2025. Congress is honoring the Corps' long history, core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and its consistent readiness to defend the nation. The bill encourages the public to join in celebrating this significant milestone and acknowledging the service and sacrifice of all Marines.

The Safer Skies Act of 2025 mandates enhanced security screening for certain smaller charter and commuter air carriers that sell individual passenger seats publicly. This legislation requires these specific operations, currently exempt from TSA checkpoints, to adopt the security standards applied to larger commercial airlines. The goal is to raise the baseline security level across a broader segment of air travel operations.

This bill permanently extends the existing exemption allowing qualified school bus drivers to skip the engine compartment portion of the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test. It mandates the Secretary of Transportation to maintain this specific "under-the-hood" inspection waiver indefinitely. States utilizing this permanent exemption must still submit annual reports on the number of drivers licensed under it for the next six years.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The Brake for Kids Act of 2025 establishes a national public safety messaging campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus. This initiative will be funded using existing allocations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The required campaign must utilize broad outreach methods, including national television, radio, social media, and edge service advertising.

This bill establishes the voluntary Congressional Fitness Challenge, a national program designed to promote physical fitness among eligible participants aged 6 to 17. The Challenge requires participants to complete five specific fitness tests, with performance benchmarks set based on age and gender. Successful participants who meet performance goals will receive official recognition certificates signed by Congressional leadership. The legislation also outlines administrative rules for testing, data collection, and allows lawmakers to use office funds for related activities.

This joint resolution authorizes the President to use the U.S. Armed Forces against specific, named international criminal organizations designated as "covered cartels." It declares these groups are acting as terrorist organizations due to their actions against the U.S., including drug trafficking and human exploitation. The measure explicitly complies with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution.

The UPRISERS Act mandates the revocation of student and exchange visitor visas for individuals convicted of assaulting a police officer or engaging in riot-related offenses. Furthermore, this bill makes conviction for these specific crimes grounds for deportation for those holding F, J, or M visas. This legislation targets non-immigrant visa holders involved in violent civil unrest or attacks on law enforcement.

The FAFSA Act of 2025 revokes federal student aid eligibility, including grants and loans, for individuals convicted of assaulting a police officer or certain riot-related crimes. Any federal grants received prior to the conviction will be immediately converted into Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans that must be repaid with interest. These converted loans will not be eligible for any existing federal forgiveness or discharge programs.

This resolution expresses support for designating March 18, 2025, as "National Agriculture Day." It recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture as a leading industry in the United States.