Legislative Activity

The "Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025" postpones tax deadlines and waives penalties for U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, including their spouses, by disregarding the period of detention when determining tax liabilities. It requires the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to identify affected individuals and inform the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury will establish a program for eligible individuals to apply for a refund or abatement of penalties and fines related to the "applicable period" from January 1, 2021, to the date this law is enacted. This ensures that those who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained are not penalized for their inability to meet tax obligations during their captivity.

This bill, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025, seeks to amend the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws to strengthen protections for workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. It aims to modernize labor regulations by clarifying definitions, addressing unfair labor practices, enhancing enforcement, and increasing transparency in labor-management relations. The bill introduces measures such as electronic voting in union elections, strengthens whistleblower protections, and mandates studies on collective bargaining practices. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure fair treatment of workers and promote equitable labor practices.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims, and to update which states and political subdivisions are subject to federal oversight based on a history of voting rights violations. It broadens the types of violations that allow a court to retain jurisdiction over a case, clarifies the Attorney General's authority to assign observers, and ensures transparency in voting-related changes. The Act also authorizes the Attorney General to demand documents and information to enforce voting rights and provides grants to small jurisdictions to assist with notification requirements.

The Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025 (ACRE Act) creates a new federal tax incentive for qualified lenders. This incentive excludes income earned from interest on loans secured by rural or agricultural real property from taxation. The goal is to encourage lending for agricultural, forestry, and certain rural home improvement purposes while prohibiting loans to foreign adversary entities.

This bill expresses condolences for the 67 lives lost in the American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. It recognizes the impact on Wichita, Kansas, and acknowledges the cooperation of officials in responding to the tragedy and assisting the families. The bill also commends the heroic actions of first responders and emergency services personnel.

The "Employer Participation in Repayment Act" permanently extends the tax exclusion for employer-provided student loan repayment assistance. This allows employers to contribute to their employees' student loan debt without the contribution being considered taxable income for the employee. This provision was previously set to expire before January 1, 2026, but is now a permanent part of the tax code. The change is applicable for payments made after the enactment of this law.

The "Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2025" aims to improve the treatment and prevention of sickle cell disease and its complications. It amends the Public Health Service Act to broaden the scope of activities and increase funding for these efforts through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. The Act authorizes $8,205,000 annually from 2025 to 2029 and emphasizes the need for further research into heritable blood disorders.

The Veterans Readiness and Employment Transparency Act of 2025 aims to improve outreach by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities by establishing a dedicated phone number and contact information on regional office websites. It also mandates monthly Q&A sessions between VA employees and school certifying officials, as well as in-person briefings at educational institutions. The Act requires the Secretary to submit an annual report on vocational rehabilitation program extensions and approve or reject extension requests within 30 days.

The ARCH Act extends Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) and Medicare low-volume hospital (LVH) payments through fiscal year 2031, ensuring continued financial support for rural hospitals. It also mandates a GAO report to Congress analyzing rural hospital classifications and recommending improvements for financial sustainability and healthcare access in rural areas.

The Improper Payments Transparency Act requires the President's budget to include detailed information on improper payment amounts and rates for programs at executive agencies, including explanations for these payments and trends over the past three years. It also requires information on incomplete corrective actions and future steps to address improper payment issues.

The "Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act" amends the Stafford Act to include algal blooms as a condition in which disaster relief and emergency assistance can be given. This change will allow states to receive federal assistance in the event of an algal bloom.

The "Community News and Small Business Support Act" introduces two tax credits aimed at supporting local news and small businesses. First, it provides a tax credit for small businesses that advertise in local media outlets, such as newspapers and broadcast stations. Second, it establishes a payroll tax credit for local news organizations to help them employ local news journalists. Both credits are designed to alleviate financial burdens and promote investment in local journalism and small business advertising, with specific limitations and eligibility requirements. The provisions of this act will be in place for 5 years.

The Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to include rural areas, not just highly rural ones. It broadens the range of eligible grant recipients to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations. The bill also increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000, with a possible increase to $80,000 for vehicle purchases needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and authorizes necessary funding by removing the previous funding limit.

The "Farm to Fly Act of 2025" aims to boost the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels by including them in Department of Agriculture bio-energy programs. It amends existing definitions to recognize sustainable aviation fuel and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promote its development through collaborative initiatives and manufacturing assistance. This act supports U.S. agriculture, enhances energy security, and promotes clean energy in the aviation sector by utilizing sustainable biomass resources.

The Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for investments in innovative agricultural technology, aiming to boost the production, storage, and processing of specialty crops through precision and controlled environment agriculture. This credit covers 30% of qualified investments in projects using technologies like precision agriculture and controlled environment agriculture, effective for construction starting after January 1, 2025, and includes options for direct payment or transfer of the credit.

The "Grown in America Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for businesses that use domestic agricultural commodities in their products for human consumption. This credit, capped at $100,000,000, aims to incentivize the use of U.S.-produced agricultural inputs by offering a tax benefit based on the percentage of domestic agricultural commodities used. The percentage of domestic inputs required to receive the full credit increases over time, with the Secretary of Agriculture maintaining a list of agricultural commodities that cannot be produced domestically. These provisions will be effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

The Technology for Energy Security Act extends the tax credit deadline for "quality fuel cell property" from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2033. This extension applies only to fuel cell property where construction begins after December 31, 2024. The bill aims to promote energy security by incentivizing the development of fuel cell technology.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.

The "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act" amends the Social Security Act to revise eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It ensures these individuals are eligible for SSI regardless of their spouse's income and resources. This change allows eligible individuals to receive the standard individual SSI rate, reduced only by their own income.