Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority with respect to research on rare pediatric diseases, including by permitting the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to satisfy pediatric study requirements and by reauthorizing programs that support pediatric research. Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved, provided certain conditions are met; permits the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to comply with pediatric study requirements, if such sponsors demonstrated a lack of due diligence in satisfying the requirement; renews the FDA’s authority to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2029; and reauthorizes through FY2027 certain funding for the National Institutes of Health to support priority pediatric research. The bill also provides statutory authority for the FDA’s interpretation of the orphan drug exclusivity period. The bill specifies, consistent with FDA regulations, that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drugs) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. (In Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra , a court rejected the FDA’s interpretation and held that orphan drug exclusivity extends to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.)
This bill amends the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to clarify that the District, not federal law, will establish the timing for special elections to fill vacancies in local offices. It updates provisions for special elections for the Council Chair, Council members (both ward and at-large), Mayor, and Attorney General, specifying that election procedures - including timing - will be set by D.C. law. The change applies to vacancies occurring more than one year after the bill's enactment. This is a procedural adjustment to strengthen D.C.'s home rule authority over its local election processes.
This bill prohibits federal funding for White House construction or renovations during any government shutdown (funding gap), except for projects directly related to health or safety. It directly affects White House maintenance and development projects by blocking non-essential work when Congress fails to pass a budget. The key provision bans all non-essential spending on White House grounds during budget lapses, with explicit health/safety exceptions. The bill aims to prevent new projects from starting during shutdowns without altering existing contracts or ongoing work.
HR 5652, the Wildfire Recovery Act, increases federal reimbursement for wildfire response by setting a minimum 75% federal cost share under Section 420 of the Stafford Act, directly benefiting states, local governments, and Tribal governments that deploy firefighting resources. It requires FEMA to develop rules within three years to determine when the federal share could exceed 75% based on a state's financial impact from wildfires. The bill also updates FEMA policy to allow reimbursement for predeployment of fire assets (like crews or equipment) before a fire occurs. These changes aim to provide more predictable and timely federal support for wildfire recovery efforts.
The Water Preservation and Affordability Act of 2025 amends the Clean Water Act to require federal water infrastructure funding recipients to prioritize "resource preservation techniques," defined as water efficiency (reuse, conservation), energy efficiency, stormwater mitigation, sustainable design, and environmental innovation. It mandates that projects receiving loans for treatment works repairs or expansions must evaluate and use these techniques to the maximum extent practicable. The bill increases annual funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency Program from $25 million to $50 million (2026-2031) and authorizes $40 million yearly for a wastewater efficiency pilot program (2026-2031). These changes directly affect municipal water systems and wastewater treatment facilities receiving federal grants or loans under the Clean Water Act.
HR 5566, the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, extends deadlines for three existing federal water infrastructure programs by five years. It amends the Clean Water Act to extend the deadline for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program from 2026 to 2031, and updates the Safe Drinking Water Act to extend deadlines for both the general Drinking Water System Infrastructure Program and the Midsize/Large Drinking Water System Program from 2026 to 2031. These changes directly affect state and local governments administering these programs, giving them more time to complete eligible projects. The bill makes no new funding commitments or policy changes - only adjusts the timeline for existing program requirements.
This bill establishes a federal program to help low-income households pay for drinking water and wastewater services. It provides $500 million annually (2026-2030) in grants to states and tribes that already administer energy assistance programs, allowing them to cover past-due bills or other costs for households meeting specific income criteria (e.g., receiving certain federal benefits or earning ≤150% of the poverty level). The program prohibits using these funds to replace existing assistance and requires technical help to streamline eligibility. It directly affects low-income households in participating states and tribes, particularly those facing water affordability challenges.
Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025 This bill provides statutory authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) courtroom sharing policy and limits construction of new courthouses. Under the bill, GSA must ensure courtroom sharing by magistrate, bankruptcy, and senior district judges. Specifically in courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, GSA must provide two courtrooms per 3 active district judges (except such courthouses may contain not less than 9 courtrooms for active district judges); in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges; in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 magistrate judges. GSA is prohibited from constructing a new courthouse that does not comply with the courtroom sharing requirements. Additionally, if a new courthouse will add capacity in the GSA inventory, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or relinquished from such inventory. GSA must update the U.S. Courts Design Guide to reflect these requirements within 180 days after the bill's enactment. (The Design Guide sets forth the federal judiciary’s requirements for the design, construction, and renovation of court facilities and is intended for use by individuals involved in federal court construction projects.)
The FRESHER Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of the Interior to study stormwater runoff impacts from oil, gas, and mining operations on groundwater and aquifers. It mandates a specific analysis of measurable contamination, groundwater resources, and aquifer susceptibility to contamination in affected areas. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, with results reported to Congress. This bill directly affects oil, gas, and mining operations by establishing new federal study requirements for their stormwater runoff.
HR 6318, the No GOUGE Act, prohibits large businesses from excessively raising prices on goods affected by tariffs or planned tariffs (e.g., imports subject to new tariffs) for five years after the tariff takes effect. It specifically targets companies with over $100 million in U.S. revenue, banning price hikes that exceed the actual cost of the tariff plus legitimate operational expenses (excluding executive pay or stock buybacks). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces this by presuming violations if large firms (over $1 billion revenue) raise prices beyond pre-tariff averages during "tariff shock" periods, though companies can rebut this by proving costs were genuinely tied to the tariff. The law aims to prevent price gouging by ensuring tariff costs - not profit motives - drive price changes for consumers.
This bill directs the Librarian of Congress to obtain and install a stained glass panel depicting the District of Columbia's seal among the existing panels showing state seals in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. It does not create new policy or affect residents, but alters the physical display within a federal building. The key action is adding DC's seal to the collection of state seals already displayed there. This is a procedural measure with no substantive policy changes.
The Hunger Clearinghouse Enhancement Act of 2025 updates the National School Lunch Program's information clearinghouse to better support communities combating hunger. It requires the clearinghouse to provide new information about volunteer programs and resources for preventing hunger, expanding its existing role in sharing food assistance details. The bill also increases annual funding for the clearinghouse from $250,000 to $750,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2032. These changes directly affect schools, community organizations, and local governments using the clearinghouse to access resources for hunger prevention and food assistance programs.
