S 2915, the SPUR Housing Act, establishes a new $50 million annual grant program (2026-2030) to support emerging developers of affordable housing. The bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award competitive grants to nonprofit housing organizations and community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which must use funds to provide emerging developers - defined as those with limited experience, capital, or focus on distressed communities - with financing (like predevelopment loans), capacity-building training, and technical assistance. Key provisions require grantees to help developers secure capital, manage budgets, navigate tax credits, and build partnerships with institutions of higher education. The program prioritizes support for developers targeting affordable housing projects in distressed communities and high-opportunity areas.
HR 5521, the Peace Corps Volunteers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025, authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to the Peace Corps organization. The medal recognizes all volunteers who served between August 1961 and December 2026, commemorating their 65-year contributions to global development and international relations. The award, to be presented by September 22, 2026, will be displayed at Peace Corps headquarters and other relevant locations. This symbolic honor acknowledges volunteers' work in sectors like education, health, and community development across 140+ countries.
This bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther, a volunteer firefighter and equities trader who died saving others during the September 11, 2001, attacks. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be given to Crowther’s mother, Alison Crowther, following a formal presentation by congressional leaders. The bill also permits the U.S. Mint to sell bronze duplicates of the medal at cost to cover production expenses. It is a purely commemorative measure with no legislative or regulatory impact.
HR 5520, the Portal for Appraisal Licensing Act of 2025, creates a central online portal for appraisers and appraisal management companies (AMCs) to submit and renew licenses, certifications, and registrations. The portal will connect state licensing agencies, handle background checks through the FBI, process fees, and store education records, while allowing states to maintain final authority over licensing decisions. It requires appraisers and AMCs to use the portal for applications, background checks, and payments, with states retaining control over their own licensing standards. The bill also establishes an advisory committee and allows user fees to cover portal costs, ensuring no additional burden on states.
The POJA Act of 2025 amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to explicitly prohibit age discrimination against job applicants, not just current employees. It directly affects job seekers aged 40 and older who face bias during hiring. The bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to conduct a study within one year of enactment, counting age discrimination claims filed since 2015 (including closed cases), and issue a public report with prevention recommendations for employers. This study aims to address gaps in protecting applicants during the hiring process.
The MAP Roads Act establishes a federal pilot program to fund states in digitizing county road records and creating publicly accessible digital maps. It directly affects rural counties and state transportation departments by providing grants to convert paper maps into standardized digital formats, ensuring datasets distinguish public vs. private roads and work with mapping platforms. States must use funds for digitization, training, and building centralized repositories updated annually, with $20 million authorized yearly from 2026-2031. The program aims to improve rural commerce, safety, and navigation without altering road jurisdiction or ownership under existing law.
The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures continued operation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs during government funding gaps. It allows the FAA to use unspent funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to maintain critical services - including air traffic control, airport infrastructure, and safety research - at the previous fiscal year's funding level if Congress fails to pass a new budget. This prevents shutdowns for up to 30 days or until a new budget is enacted, with spending limited to prior-year rates and subject to existing program rules. The bill directly affects all FAA operations, keeping airports and air traffic systems running during budget delays.
HR 5452, the Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act, modifies the existing Safe Streets and Roads for All program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It requires at least 20% of annual program funds starting in fiscal year 2024 to support projects focused on pedestrian and cyclist safety, and extends funding authorization with $5 billion allocated for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill directly affects local governments and communities applying for grants to improve street safety infrastructure. Key changes include mandating specific funding allocations for walkable/bikeable projects and securing long-term financial commitments for the program. This is a procedural funding amendment, not a new policy initiative.
This resolution (SRES 405) symbolically designates September 22-28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week" to honor institutions serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. It recognizes these institutions' role in enrolling over 46% of such students despite representing only 7.1% of U.S. higher education institutions. The resolution encourages eligible schools to seek funding and promotes public awareness of their contributions through activities during the designated week. It has no funding or policy changes - only a symbolic acknowledgment of these institutions' educational impact.
HRES 746 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning all political violence - including attacks on elected officials, candidates, and public figures - and rejecting rhetoric that dehumanizes opponents. It specifically urges law enforcement to investigate and prosecute such violence, calls on public officials and media to avoid inflammatory language, and references recent incidents like the 2025 assassination of activist Charlie Kirk and targeted shootings of Minnesota legislators. The resolution does not create new laws but formally expresses the House’s commitment to protecting public servants and promoting peaceful political discourse. It directly affects the House’s public stance and serves as a call to action for officials, media, and communities to foster civil engagement.
S 2861, the "Protecting the USMCA from Harmful Chinese Investment Act," directs the U.S. Trade Representative to work with Canada and Mexico during their first joint review under the USMCA to adopt national security investment review frameworks similar to the U.S. CFIUS system. It specifically aims to align Canada and Mexico’s processes for reviewing foreign investments (especially from nonmarket economies like China) in critical sectors, to strengthen shared security coordination. The bill requires the Trade Representative to coordinate with Treasury and State to provide technical assistance - including training, expert advisors, and grants - to help Mexico and Canada establish these frameworks. This bill does not impose new restrictions but focuses on procedural alignment among USMCA partners to address shared security concerns.
This bill extends the deadline for the annual U.S. defense report on China's military activities from 2027 to 2030 (Section 2(a)). It requires the Department of Defense to add specific new reporting topics, including China's nuclear/drones cooperation, foreign farmland acquisitions linked to Chinese investments, cyber capabilities' role in potential U.S. conflicts, and biotechnology advancements (Section 2(b)). The report must now detail the Chinese military's strategic intent regarding Taiwan and its plans for cyber-enabled economic warfare or blockades (Section 2(b)(5)(B)). These changes directly affect the Department of Defense (as the reporting entity) and Congress (as the recipient of the updated report).
