This bill amends the Clean Air Act to prevent states from imposing standards that limit the sale or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles. It adds a new requirement that state standards must not directly or indirectly restrict such vehicles, and it prohibits the EPA from considering pre-2025 state standards as valid under existing waivers. The bill also requires the EPA to revoke certain existing waivers granted between January 2022 and the bill's enactment date if those waivers don't comply with the new standard. This directly affects states with their own vehicle emission rules (like California's ZEV program), limiting their ability to regulate internal combustion engine vehicles through EPA-approved standards.
The SOIL Act of 2025 requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review certain foreign purchases of agricultural land and real estate near military bases. It specifically targets transactions involving foreign entities from countries designated as nonmarket economies (like China or Russia under trade law) or identified as national security risks in the annual intelligence threat report. The bill prohibits federal subsidies for agricultural land held by such foreign entities and updates disclosure rules to include long-term leases of agricultural land. It also mandates annual public reports detailing foreign ownership of U.S. farmland by country, including holdings near military installations within 50 miles.
This joint resolution seeks to block a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that would have prohibited creditors and credit reporting agencies from using medical debt in credit reports. The CFPB rule, published in January 2025, aimed to prevent medical information from affecting consumers' credit scores. If approved, this resolution would nullify the rule, meaning creditors and credit bureaus could continue using medical debt in credit decisions. The measure directly affects credit reporting practices and consumer credit evaluations.
This resolution urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, citing ongoing violence against religious minorities. It specifically calls for Nigeria to protect religious minorities, prosecute perpetrators of attacks, and address displacement of millions caused by religiously motivated violence. The resolution also recommends increased U.S. diplomatic engagement with Nigeria and targeted sanctions against those responsible for religious freedom violations. This follows the State Department's omission of Nigeria from its CPC list in 2021-2023 and its 2024 failure to release an annual report.
S 929, the GATE Act of 2025, prohibits U.S. national laboratories from admitting or granting access to foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba for more than 30 days. The bill directly affects these foreign nationals seeking to access laboratory facilities, information, or technology, with exceptions for permanent residents or U.S. citizens. Key provisions require national laboratories to block such access immediately upon the bill's enactment, though the Energy Secretary may grant waivers if they certify national security benefits outweigh risks, with mandatory congressional notification within 30 days. The law aims to limit potential technology transfers to countries deemed security risks under U.S. policy.
This bill changes federal gun laws to directly benefit spouses of active-duty military members stationed overseas. It amends laws to explicitly allow spouses to receive firearms or ammunition from their service-member spouses at overseas duty stations (previously only the service member could). It also updates residency rules so spouses are treated as residents of the state where their service member is stationed for firearm law purposes, rather than their home state. These changes simplify legal firearm access for military families living abroad and take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
This bill amends federal gun law to clarify what constitutes a "State of residence" for gun purchasers traveling across state lines. It defines "State of residence" to include a person's actual home state, a military member's duty station state (or commute home), or a mailbox state for those without a physical residence. The bill requires background checks to include either a physical address or a mailbox address on transfer forms. This directly affects gun buyers traveling between states, particularly military personnel and individuals without fixed homes, by allowing them to use their "state of residence" address for background checks instead of the state they're visiting. The change modifies how federal background checks verify a purchaser's residence.
The Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2025 creates a Space National Guard as a reserve component of the Space Force, composed exclusively of existing units from seven states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Ohio. It transfers specific Air National Guard units (like the 213th Space Warning Squadron in Alaska and the 137th Space Warning Squadron in Colorado) to the new Space National Guard without adding new personnel or facilities. The bill mandates that the Space National Guard must operate within existing military infrastructure, prohibiting new construction or modifications to accommodate it. It also amends military law to formally define the Space National Guard and its role within the Space Force structure.
S 970, the Helping More Families Save Act, creates a 10-year pilot program allowing families receiving Section 8 or 9 housing assistance to save rent increases from earned income in interest-bearing escrow accounts. Covered families (earning under 80% of area median income) must opt-in, with funds becoming accessible after 5 years (or up to 7 years with continued participation) for approved self-sufficiency goals like education or housing. The program ensures these savings don’t reduce eligibility for other benefits, and participants must be fully informed about the opt-in process. The pilot will be evaluated after 8 years to assess its effectiveness in helping families achieve economic independence.
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 establishes new rules for disciplining VA supervisors and management officials (excluding senior executives and political appointees) for poor performance or misconduct. It requires the VA Secretary to use specific, written criteria - like the offense's severity, the employee's role, and past record - when deciding on removal, demotion, or suspension, and mandates decisions within 15 business days. The bill creates an internal grievance process for affected employees and strengthens whistleblower protections by requiring Special Counsel approval before disciplining someone who disclosed wrongdoing. It also limits judicial review to cases of arbitrary or capricious decisions and explicitly prohibits courts from reducing penalties. The law applies to VA employees covered under the bill's definition, effective from the 2017 VA Accountability Act's enactment date.
Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.
