HRES 855 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for National Adoption Day (November 22, 2025) and National Adoption Month (November). It promotes awareness about children in foster care awaiting adoption - highlighting that 49,994 U.S. children were waiting for adoptive families in 2023 - and encourages the public to consider adoption. The resolution recognizes that every child deserves a permanent, loving family and urges Americans to support this goal throughout November and the year. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.
The SAFE KIDS Act voids surrogacy contracts between U.S. surrogates and foreign nationals from designated "entities of concern" (like sanctioned countries), with limited exceptions for married U.S. couples. It criminalizes surrogacy brokers who facilitate such contracts, imposing fines or up to one year in prison. If a contract is voided, custody decisions for the child are determined by state courts based on the child's best interests, not the invalid agreement. The law directly affects U.S. surrogates, foreign nationals seeking surrogacy, and surrogacy brokers, targeting exploitation and potential trafficking risks.
This bill requires states to allow eligible voters to register or update their registration at polling places on election day for federal elections, including during early voting periods. It applies to all states except those with existing laws eliminating voter registration requirements for federal elections. The key mechanism mandates that voters can both register and cast their ballot on the same day at designated polling locations. The requirement takes effect for the November 2026 general election and all subsequent federal elections.
This joint resolution designates October 2025 as Head Start Awareness Month to symbolically recognize the program's 60-year impact. It highlights Head Start's service to over 40 million children and families nationwide, emphasizing its role in early childhood development, health screenings, and educational support. The resolution serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the program's legacy and achievements, not as a policy change or funding measure. It was introduced by multiple representatives to honor Head Start's contributions to child well-being and educational outcomes.
HRES 846 is a symbolic resolution designating October 2025 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It expresses the House's support for raising awareness about domestic violence and its impacts, and calls for continued congressional attention to ending domestic violence through existing programs. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any specific groups - it is purely a statement of support. It references statistics on domestic violence prevalence but focuses on awareness rather than policy changes.
HRES 849, the "Ban Crypto Corruption Resolution," would prohibit current and prospective federal elected officials (including the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and their immediate families) from creating, endorsing, or holding digital assets like cryptocurrencies, memecoins, or NFTs. It requires these individuals to place existing digital assets in a blind trust during their service and for two years afterward, mandates full public disclosure of all crypto transactions, and bans foreign investment in politician-linked digital ventures. The resolution also establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations and clarifies that any personal crypto activities would be deemed unofficial acts. This applies broadly to all covered officials, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest, self-enrichment, and foreign influence through digital asset activities.
HRES 842 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's support for placing a statue of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk in the Capitol's House wing. It honors Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a conservative political figure assassinated in 2025, for his advocacy of free expression, civic engagement, and conservative principles. The resolution directs the House Fine Arts Board to accept the statue and display it permanently by January 2, 2027, though actual placement remains subject to the Board's approval. This is a symbolic gesture to commemorate Kirk's legacy, not a new law with policy impacts.
HRES 852 is a non-binding House resolution affirming that Israel maintains sovereignty over Jerusalem's Temple Mount, a site sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It specifically highlights current restrictions on Jewish access - non-Muslims may enter only through one gate with limited hours, excluding Friday and Saturday (Shabbat) - and calls for full Jewish access consistent with religious freedom. The resolution references past U.S. policy, including the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act and prior resolutions supporting Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem. It does not alter U.S. law or policy but expresses the House’s position on religious access at the site. The resolution is formally non-binding, intended to signal congressional support for Israel’s management of the Temple Mount.
This bill ensures that critical firearm-related government operations continue during federal shutdowns. It designates background checks (via the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives enforcement, and firearm export licensing (handled by Commerce and State Departments) as essential services that must remain operational. These functions would be treated as "excepted" under federal law, meaning their employees would continue working even if other government services halt. The bill affects how background checks and firearm export licenses are processed during shutdowns but does not change gun ownership laws or eligibility.
The No Tax Exemptions For Terror Act would deny tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and any organization determined to have ties to terrorism or terrorist groups. This means these organizations would no longer qualify for federal tax-exempt status, requiring them to pay income taxes on their earnings. The provision applies to taxable years ending after the bill's enactment date. The bill directly affects organizations identified by the government as having connections to terrorism.
This bill requires retirement plans to provide clear, standardized disclosures to participants before they use brokerage windows (self-directed investment options outside the plan's recommended choices). It mandates a 4-part notice explaining that non-designated investments aren't monitored by plan managers, may carry higher fees/risks, and includes a graph showing projected retirement balances at 4%, 6%, and 8% annual returns. The disclosure must be provided each time a participant directs funds into, out of, or within a brokerage window. The rule applies to pension plans with individual accounts and takes effect January 1, 2026. It directly affects retirement plan participants who choose investments outside the plan's designated options.
This bill clarifies that retirement plan fiduciaries must prioritize financial factors - such as investment risk and return - when selecting investments or voting on shareholder matters. It prohibits using nonfinancial goals (like environmental or social objectives) to choose investments or votes unless financial factors are equal, requiring detailed documentation for such decisions. For shareholder voting, it allows plans to adopt "safe harbor" policies that limit voting to proposals with material economic impact (e.g., when a plan holds significant stakes in a company), while mandating records of all voting activity. The law applies to ERISA-covered retirement plans (like 401(k)s), taking effect for investment decisions one year after enactment and for shareholder voting starting January 1, 2026.
