HJRES 28 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently fix the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court at nine. This would require ratification by 38 state legislatures (three-fourths of states) within seven years to become part of the Constitution. The amendment directly affects the structure of the Supreme Court, which has had nine justices since 1869 but could otherwise be altered by future congressional action. It does not change current court operations or create new laws, but instead seeks to make the nine-justice composition a permanent constitutional requirement.
SRES 30 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Mississippi's Gestational Age Act, introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and others on January 22, 2025. It expresses gratitude to Mississippi State Representative Becky Currie for introducing the 2018 law that banned abortions after 15 weeks gestation, which later became central to the Supreme Court's 2022 *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health* decision overturning *Roe v. Wade*. The resolution does not create new laws or alter abortion access but formally recognizes Mississippi's role in the legal shift. It is purely symbolic, with no policy impact, and acknowledges the state law as a catalyst for the Supreme Court's ruling.
HRES 56 is a non-binding resolution proposing to memorialize unborn children by encouraging the public to lower the U.S. flag to half-staff on January 22 each year. It cites the anniversary of Roe v. Wade's 1973 ruling and the 2022 overturning of that decision, referencing the claim that over 62 million unborn children have "perished" since 1973. The resolution specifically urges the public to observe this day as the "Day of Tears," encourages flag lowering to "mourn and honor" those affected, and promotes legislative efforts to "affirm the sanctity of life" regarding abortion. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new law but seeks to influence public observance. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Oversight Committee.
This bill prohibits federal funds from being used for abortions or health plans covering abortion. It amends the Affordable Care Act to block premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for health plans that include abortion coverage (except for rape/incest cases or life-threatening conditions), and requires clear disclosure of abortion coverage and related surcharges in plan materials. The law explicitly exempts abortions performed due to rape, incest, or to preserve a mother's life, and allows separate abortion coverage using non-federal funds. It applies to all federal health programs and ACA marketplace plans, effective for plan years beginning after 2025.
S 177, the Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act, prohibits federal funding from being provided to Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates, clinics, subsidiaries, or successors. This directly affects Planned Parenthood as a recipient of federal funds for women's health services. The bill ensures that funds previously allocated to Planned Parenthood will instead be made available to other eligible providers like community health centers, hospitals, and clinics serving women. It explicitly states this prohibition does not reduce overall federal funding for women’s health care or affect existing abortion-related funding restrictions in appropriations acts.
S 6, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, requires healthcare providers at facilities performing abortions to provide the same medical care to infants born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any newborn, including immediate hospital admission. The bill mandates that any provider or facility employee who witnesses a failure to provide this care must report it to law enforcement, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. It also allows women who undergo abortions to pursue civil lawsuits for damages if providers fail to comply, including three times the abortion cost plus punitive damages. The bill defines "abortion" as procedures intended to kill the unborn child or terminate pregnancy without preserving the child's life after viability.
This bill prohibits federal funding from being provided to Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its related clinics. It redirects funds previously allocated to Planned Parenthood to other eligible providers like community health centers, hospitals, and clinics that offer women's health services. These services include contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care, STI testing, and family planning - particularly in underserved areas. The bill explicitly states it does not reduce overall federal funding for women's health care or affect existing abortion-related funding restrictions.
HR 612, the Health Care Providers Safety Act of 2025, provides federal funding to help health care facilities improve safety. It authorizes the Secretary to award grants to hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers to cover costs for physical security (like structural improvements) and cyber security (such as data privacy tools and video surveillance systems). These grants directly help health care providers protect their facilities, staff, and patients from security threats. The bill creates a new funding mechanism under the Public Health Service Act, making specific security upgrades eligible for federal support.
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.
HR 632 prohibits federal funding (directly or indirectly) for colleges and universities that host or are affiliated with campus health clinics providing abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. Institutions must annually certify to federal education and health agencies that no such services are offered at their campus sites. The bill defines "abortion drugs" broadly as any medication intended to terminate pregnancy (excluding cases for live birth, miscarriage management, or ectopic pregnancy treatment). This policy directly affects institutions receiving federal funds, requiring them to ensure campus health services comply with the prohibition to maintain eligibility.
The COVER Now Act allows cities, counties, or other local governments in states that have not expanded Medicaid to provide health coverage to Medicaid-eligible residents. Local governments in non-expansion states can apply for a federal demonstration project to cover these residents, with the federal government paying 90-100% of costs over seven years (starting at 100% for the first three years). The bill prohibits states from retaliating against localities that participate, such as by shifting costs, reducing funding, or blocking healthcare provider participation. This directly affects uninsured residents in non-expansion states and local governments seeking to fill coverage gaps.
