This bill would exclude certain union-provided payments to workers during strikes from taxable income. Specifically, it adds a new tax code section (139M) to exempt "qualified strike benefits" - payments from tax-exempt labor organizations (like unions) that replace lost wages during strikes, lockouts, or work stoppages arising from labor disputes - from gross income calculations. The change applies to compensation received after December 31, 2025, and also updates the Earned Income Tax Credit rules to include these excluded benefits. It directly affects union members who lose wages due to labor disputes and rely on union financial support during work stoppages.
S 2778, the Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2025, expands a program under the National School Lunch Act to require states to procure domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables for school meals. It increases the number of participating states from 8 to 14, mandates states to support small/local farmers, Tribal producers, and socially disadvantaged communities, and allocates $25 million annually (2026-2030) for implementation. The bill requires states to demonstrate commitments to these groups, track procurement costs and benefits, and report on program challenges. The program includes $10 million yearly for administrative costs and technical assistance, with a minimum $500,000 per participating state, and mandates a federal evaluation of the program's impact on procurement, school meals, and agricultural producers.
This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to strengthen federal efforts addressing harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia across marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. It establishes a new Task Force required to develop a comprehensive Action Strategy every five years, examining causes, ecological impacts, and economic consequences of HABs in diverse environments including the Great Lakes, coastal waters, and freshwater systems. The bill authorizes $19.5 million annually for NOAA and $8 million annually for the EPA (fiscal years 2026-2030) to implement these provisions, creates a national monitoring network for HABs, and establishes an incubator program to develop innovative prevention strategies. It mandates consultation with states, tribes, local governments, and affected industries like fisheries and agriculture to address HABs impacts on public health, ecosystems, and communities.
The PARTNERS Act would provide federal funding to states to support regional industry partnerships that connect small and medium-sized businesses with workers through registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs. These partnerships would help businesses develop training programs while offering workers paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, particularly targeting in-demand industry sectors. The bill requires partnerships to serve workers with barriers to employment and provide at least 12 months of support services, including job placement assistance and retention support. States would allocate funds to local partnerships that must track performance metrics related to program participation and outcomes, with specific reporting requirements for different demographic groups. The legislation aims to expand access to quality training pathways while connecting businesses with skilled workers in targeted industries.
HR 5309, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, authorizes a posthumous Congressional gold medal for Constance Baker Motley, a pioneering civil rights attorney and judge. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal with her image and name, to be presented to her son, Joel W. Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover expenses, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, honoring Motley’s legacy as the first African-American woman appointed to a federal judgeship.
The ACCESS Act (HR 5295) requires states to run public awareness campaigns - including social media - to inform secondary students about career and technical education programs and skilled trade opportunities. It also mandates that local workforce programs provide career counseling and exploration services that include information on high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs available in the local area. These provisions directly affect secondary students, community-based organizations, and state workforce agencies administering federal job training programs. The bill focuses on connecting students with training pathways in growing industries through concrete policy changes.
The BUILDS Act establishes competitive federal grants to fund industry partnerships in infrastructure sectors like energy (including clean energy), construction, transportation, information technology, and utilities. It directly affects workers in these industries, particularly those facing employment barriers (such as individuals receiving food assistance or unemployment benefits), by requiring partnerships to develop paid on-the-job training programs, align education with industry needs, and provide support services like childcare and mentorship. Key mechanisms include $2.5 million grants for new partnerships (up to $1.5 million for renewals) to cover planning, business engagement, and 12-month support services for participants. The bill mandates partnerships to recruit diverse workers, address employment barriers through labor market analysis, and align training with nationally portable credentials. It authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to implement these workforce development activities.
The FLAME Act requires the U.S. Fire Administration to provide Congress 60 days' notice before canceling 25% or more of the National Academy’s annual courses, including details on affected departments and justifications. It mandates notifying enrolled firefighters and fire chiefs at least 45 days before cancellations, with reimbursement for fire departments’ travel and staffing costs (like overtime) unless cancellations are due to "good cause" (e.g., facility closures or national emergencies). The bill also directs a GAO study by March 2026 to analyze how large-scale cancellations impact fire department readiness, interoperability, and the Academy’s role in training. This directly affects fire departments nationwide that send personnel to the Academy for in-person or virtual training.
This bill imposes a corporate tax penalty on large companies where CEO pay exceeds 50 times the average worker's pay. Specifically, corporations with a pay ratio above 50:1 face a tax rate increase of 0.5% to 5% (depending on how high the ratio is), effective for taxable years starting after 2025. It applies only to corporations with average annual revenue of at least $100 million over the prior three years, exempting smaller businesses. The penalty is calculated using a 5-year average of compensation data from SEC filings, and the Treasury will issue rules to prevent avoidance tactics like shifting to contractor workforces.
HRES 697 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing suicide as a preventable public health issue and supporting the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10, 2025, as "World Suicide Prevention Day." It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally expresses congressional support for these designations to raise awareness. The resolution cites statistics showing suicide as a leading cause of death across age groups, including among veterans and adolescents, and emphasizes mental health as equally important as physical health. It acknowledges the need for diverse prevention strategies without specifying new policies or programs. This resolution is purely declarative, aiming to bolster public awareness rather than enact concrete changes.
This is a symbolic House resolution (HRES 690) expressing support for designating September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month." It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements. The resolution acknowledges the importance of workforce development programs - like those under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - and supports federal initiatives that help workers gain skills, reduce unemployment, and strengthen the economy. It specifically urges recognition of workforce development’s role in job training, economic growth, and supporting workers with barriers to employment.
S 2758 creates a 10% federal tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace qualified freight railcars, directly affecting railroad operators and freight railcar owners. The credit covers expenses for new railcars meeting specific performance standards (8% capacity increase or AAR/HM-251 safety standards) or modernizing existing cars, with a limit of 1,000 qualifying railcars per taxpayer annually. To qualify, railcars must replace two scrapped cars from the previous 48 months and be built in approved facilities. The credit applies only to railcars placed in service after December 2024, expiring three years after enactment, and requires annual reporting on credit usage and railcar replacement impacts.
