The "Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025" proposes to significantly expand and strengthen U.S. sanctions against the Russian Federation and its supporters. The bill mandates blocking property and restricting visas for Russian government officials, state-owned financial institutions, and entities supporting Russia's defense industrial base or war efforts in Ukraine, including those involved in kidnapping Ukrainian children. Key provisions prohibit U.S
HR 6854, the "No Welfare for Non-Citizens Act," would remove all federal public benefit eligibility for non-citizens under current law. It amends the 1996 welfare law by eliminating exceptions that previously allowed certain non-citizens (like "qualified aliens") to access benefits such as cash assistance and unemployment benefits. The bill repeals existing provisions that permitted limited eligibility and explicitly states non-citizens are ineligible for all federal public benefits. This change would directly affect non-citizens without specific immigration statuses, removing their access to programs like SNAP (food stamps) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) that were previously available under limited circumstances.
The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vapes Act establishes a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes. Co-chaired by the Attorney General and Health Secretary, the task force includes representatives from agencies like the FDA, Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI, and must meet monthly to coordinate enforcement efforts. It will submit semiannual reports to Congress detailing agency actions against illicit e-cigarette operations and recommend improvements to address public health concerns. The task force is set to expire 10 years after its establishment.
The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 defines reproductive coercion as controlling a person's reproductive choices through force, threats, sabotage of contraception, or pressure to become pregnant or terminate a pregnancy. It creates a federal civil right of action, allowing victims to sue in court for damages if the coercion involved interstate activities - such as travel across state lines, interstate communication (e.g., email or phone), or payments. The bill does not override state laws or court jurisdictions, preserving existing state definitions of domestic violence and reproductive coercion. It specifically targets cases where abusers sabotage mail-order birth control or force victims to travel for reproductive health care, addressing gaps in current protections.
HR 6882 (the SAFE Services Act) requires the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize U.S. companies for federal contracts involving professional services like engineering, architecture, legal work, and financial consulting. It mandates that contracting officers favor U.S. businesses - defined as entities organized under U.S. law, with U.S. headquarters, and not foreign-controlled - unless a waiver is granted. Waivers may be issued for urgent national security needs or if no U.S. company can deliver cost-effectively, but must be documented and reported to Congress. This bill directly affects defense contractors bidding on professional services contracts under the Department of Defense.
The RESTRICT Act (HR 6879) requires U.S. companies to obtain a license before exporting advanced computer chips to countries listed in a specific export control group (as of January 2025) and to regions like Hong Kong and Macau. It also blocks licenses for exports to entities primarily located in countries of concern (including those same nations plus Hong Kong and Macau). U.S. companies may avoid the license requirement if they meet strict conditions, such as limiting foreign ownership to 10% and implementing security measures to prevent misuse. The law expires five years after enactment.
HR 6870, the GRACE Act, sets a minimum annual refugee admission floor of 125,000 for the U.S., replacing prior flexible caps. It creates a new pathway allowing community groups or private sponsors to provide resettlement services (like housing and support) for refugees, reducing reliance on traditional resettlement agencies. The bill requires the President to submit quarterly public reports to Congress detailing actual admissions, progress toward annual goals, regional allocations, processing times, and security checks. This directly affects refugees seeking admission, resettlement agencies, and federal agencies managing refugee processing, with transparency mechanisms to track compliance.
HR 6895, the Debt Solution and Accountability Act, requires the Treasury Secretary to submit detailed reports to Congress before increasing the debt limit. These reports must include current and projected debt levels, drivers of future debt, plans to reduce debt growth (short, medium, and long-term), and analyses of how debt limit actions affect government spending, debt service, and the dollar's global role. The bill also mandates a progress report within 180 days after any debt limit increase or suspension, and requires public posting of all reports on Treasury's website for six months. Additionally, it grants congressional committees specific access to Treasury financial data upon request, including cash flow details and debt transaction information. The bill focuses solely on transparency and reporting requirements, without altering debt policy or spending levels.
The Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to combat rising antisemitism through evidence-based policies rather than political weaponization. It requires universities to designate Title VI coordinators to handle civil rights complaints, establishes a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism within the Department of Justice, and creates a Hate Crime Reporting Center at the FBI to improve data collection on hate crimes. The bill prohibits using antisemitism accusations to restrict diversity programs, political advocacy, or immigration policies, and ensures nonprofit security grants for Jewish community centers cannot be tied to unrelated political conditions. The legislation authorizes $280 million annually for the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and $50 million for the Hate Crime Reporting Center from 2027-2032.
Aviation Funding Solvency Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if (1) an appropriations bill for the FAA has not been enacted before a fiscal year begins, or (2) a law making continuing appropriations for the FAA is not in effect. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations from the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The FAA may use the balance of the fund, minus $1 billion. If the FAA determines that the amounts from the fund are insufficient to continue all programs, projects, or activities, then the FAA must prioritize compensation payments for employees of the Air Traffic Organization (e.g., air traffic controllers). The bill provides the appropriations until the date on which either (1) specified appropriations legislation for the fiscal year becomes law, or (2) a bill making continuing appropriations becomes law. Finally, the bill permanently extends the FAA Non-premium War Risk Insurance Program. This program provides aviation insurance without a premium to eligible air carriers at the request of the Department of Defense or another federal agency, provided that the agency agrees to indemnify the FAA from all losses covered under the insurance. Eligible air carriers include those whose operations are under a federal contract and are necessary for national security or to carry out U.S. foreign policy.
HR 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, makes it a federal crime to perform genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on minors under 18, except for specific medical reasons. The bill broadly defines prohibited procedures to include gender transition-related surgeries (like hysterectomies or mastectomies) and medical treatments such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones administered to minors. It criminalizes these acts when they occur across state lines, involve payments, or use interstate commerce, while explicitly banning religious tradition as a defense. Exceptions include medically necessary procedures for health emergencies, childbirth, or conditions certified by a physician.
This bill, titled "Pet and Livestock Protection Act," is misleading; it actually focuses on gray wolf management. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of enactment. The bill also prohibits courts from reviewing this reissuance. This directly affects gray wolf populations and management policies in states where wolves are present, shifting regulatory control away from federal endangered species protections.
