HRES 68 is a non-binding House resolution expressing strong disapproval of the President’s announcement to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. It commends states, businesses, and citizens supporting the Agreement, urges the President to reverse the withdrawal decision, and calls for Congress to prioritize U.S. climate leadership. The resolution does not create new laws or affect specific groups but formally states the House’s position against withdrawing from the international climate accord. It was introduced by 115 co-sponsors and reflects broad congressional concern about reversing U.S. climate commitments.
This bill creates a new above-the-line tax deduction for performing artists (like musicians, actors, and dancers) to deduct work-related expenses directly from their gross income, rather than itemizing deductions. It sets a $100,000 income threshold (adjusted annually for inflation), phasing out the deduction by 10% for every $2,000 earned above this amount. The bill also explicitly includes commissions paid to an artist’s manager or agent as deductible expenses and raises the $200 "nominal employer" threshold for expense deductions to $500 (with inflation adjustments). These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
S 213, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes the qualified business income deduction permanent for small business owners. It directly affects pass-through business owners (like sole proprietors and small partnerships) who currently benefit from this tax break. The bill removes the temporary expiration of Section 199A of the tax code, providing long-term certainty for these taxpayers by ensuring they can continue deducting up to 20% of their qualified business income.
The DTC Act of 2025 requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply (or typical treatment course) of prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer advertisements. This applies to drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid, excluding those with a WAC under $35 per 30-day supply. The bill mandates clear, conspicuous display of the WAC in ads, along with a note that actual patient costs may vary based on insurance coverage. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and includes penalties for noncompliance, such as civil fines up to $100,000 per violation. The law aims to increase price transparency for consumers seeing drug ads, particularly affecting patients with high-deductible plans or Medicare beneficiaries.
HR 674 prohibits new commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (a specific fishing zone in the Gulf of Maine critical to the New England lobster and seafood industry). The bill directly affects commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and coastal communities dependent on this area’s fisheries, which support thousands of jobs and generate over $500 million annually in lobster harvest alone. Key provisions include banning new wind energy leases in the area and requiring a federal study within 120 days to evaluate how current environmental reviews for Gulf of Maine wind projects consider impacts on marine life, fishing industries, and coastal communities. The study will assess existing agency processes for reviewing wind projects, not change those processes.
HR 669, the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025," requires Congress to declare war before the U.S. can conduct a first-use nuclear strike. It directly affects the President (who currently has sole authority to authorize such strikes), military commanders, and Congress by mandating that federal funds cannot be used for a first-use attack without a congressional declaration of war. The bill defines a "first-use nuclear strike" as an attack launched without prior confirmation that the U.S., its territories, or allies were first hit with nuclear weapons. This law changes policy by creating a constitutional check on presidential nuclear authority, requiring explicit congressional approval for the initial use of nuclear weapons.
HR 609, the Assuring Medicare's Promise Act of 2025, directs revenue from the net investment income tax (currently applied to investment income) into the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. It expands the tax base to include certain business income for high-income individuals with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $400,000 ($500,000 for joint filers), with a phase-in to limit the tax increase. The bill ensures this tax revenue directly supports Medicare's hospital insurance program, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The changes do not alter the tax rate but broaden the income types subject to the tax for high earners.
This bill amends the legal definition of "firearm silencer" and "firearm muffler" under federal law. It clarifies that these terms include any device designed to reduce firearm noise, as well as the outer tube or primary housing component that serves as the main structure for noise-reduction parts. The definition specifically covers devices intended to attach to a firearm (directly or via mounts) and excludes other firearms. This change affects how silencers are legally categorized under federal regulations, not who can own them. It does not create new restrictions but refines the scope of existing definitions.
This bill would require the U.S. Secretary of State to re-designate Yemen's Houthi group (Ansarallah) as a foreign terrorist organization within 90 days of enactment. It mandates the President to impose existing sanctions under two executive orders - blocking property under E.O. 13224 and restricting travel under E.O. 13780 - on Ansarallah and its members, agents, affiliates, or entities they own or control. These sanctions would apply to the group and its associated individuals or organizations, directly affecting the Houthi leadership and their operational networks. The bill does not create new sanctions but directs the re-imposition of existing measures previously revoked by the Biden administration.
S 167, the "Protect and Serve Act of 2025," creates new federal criminal penalties for individuals who assault law enforcement officers causing serious injury or attempt to do so under specific circumstances. It directly affects law enforcement officers (including federal, state, and local officers) and those who commit violent acts against them. Key provisions include enhanced penalties (up to life in prison if death or kidnapping occurs) when the crime involves crossing state lines, using interstate commerce, weapons that traveled across state lines, or interfering with the officer's duties. Federal prosecution requires certification from the Attorney General or designee, ensuring states are notified or have declined jurisdiction before federal action. The bill aims to strengthen federal authority to prosecute such offenses when they impact interstate commerce or involve federal officers.
This bill provides federal grants to states and tribal entities to address "child care deserts" - areas with insufficient affordable, quality child care - by funding two key initiatives. It offers grants for workforce development (helping child care providers earn portable credentials and supporting training for new workers, especially those without college degrees) and facility construction/expansion (funding building or renovating centers and family child care homes in underserved areas). Grants cover 50% of eligible costs, including tuition, equipment, and facility improvements, while requiring states to coordinate with existing workforce programs and prioritize nontraditional hours and affordability. The law aims to increase access to quality child care for families in underserved communities by directly supporting providers and infrastructure.
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill protects and preserves approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from certain mining, such as sulfide-ore copper mining. (The area is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) Specifically, the bill withdraws those acres from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. However, the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States must be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.
