Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.
Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2025 This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to award competitive grants to state agencies under a home delivery pilot program for participants in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). As background, the CSFP works to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious Department of Agriculture foods. Under the pilot program, a state agency must distribute grant funds to an eligible entity (i.e., a local agency or subdistributing agency) to operate projects that facilitate home delivery of commodities to CSFP participants. Grant funds may be used for costs associated with transportation and distribution of commodities to CSFP participants, staffing required to operate home delivery services, and home delivery outreach to CSFP participants or potential participants. A state agency must prioritize eligible entities that serve CSFP participants who reside in rural areas. A state agency must also submit an annual report to FNS about the project, including best practices regarding the use of home delivery to improve the effectiveness of the CSFP.
SJRES 43 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Congress and state governments to set reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures intended to influence elections. It would permit distinctions between individuals and corporations, including the potential prohibition of corporate spending in political campaigns. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from being restricted by these regulations. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, this change would directly affect candidates, political committees, and organizations that spend money to influence elections.
HJRES 79 is a congressional resolution seeking to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have reclassified certain large industrial facilities emitting hazardous air pollutants as "area sources" under the Clean Air Act. The rule, published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2024, aimed to shift these facilities from stricter regulatory requirements for "major sources" to less stringent standards for "area sources." If approved, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving current regulatory obligations for affected industrial facilities. This bill directly impacts the EPA's authority to regulate air pollution and the specific facilities subject to the proposed reclassification.
SRES 144 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States. It highlights their impact across diverse fields - including science, arts, military service, and the economy - while noting ongoing challenges like the 58-cent pay gap for Latinas compared to White, non-Hispanic men. The resolution honors their historical and contemporary achievements without creating new policies or funding. It was introduced by 28 Senators and serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of Latinas' role in shaping U.S. society.
HRES 261 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States. It celebrates Latinas' historical and ongoing roles in fields like business, military service, science, arts, and public office, while acknowledging persistent challenges like wage gaps and systemic barriers. The resolution specifically highlights that Latinas make up approximately 1 in 6 U.S. women (31 million people) and emphasizes their economic impact (contributing $1.3 billion to GDP in 2021) and cultural achievements. It does not create new policies or allocate funds but formally honors these contributions and calls for continued efforts to address inequities. This resolution directly affects Latinas as a recognized demographic group within U.S. society.
S 1166, the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to fund heat-mitigation projects in high-risk urban areas. It directs at least 75% of annual $30 million funding toward "covered census tracts" (areas with poverty rates ≥20%) and prioritizes projects like tree planting, cool roofs, and community cooling centers. Eligible entities must include community engagement plans and address health/environmental connections in their proposals. The program requires annual reporting on grant recipients and sets a federal cost-share cap of 80% (with 100% possible for economic hardship cases).
S 1172, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025, requires the Department of Agriculture to immediately reinstate funding for all pre-enactment contracts with farmers and agricultural service providers. It mandates rapid payment of all overdue amounts owed under these agreements and prohibits canceling signed contracts unless a farmer or provider violates terms. The bill also prevents the closure of key local offices (like Farm Service Agency or NRCS offices) without 60 days' written notice to Congress. This directly affects farmers, agricultural businesses, and rural service offices by securing existing financial commitments and operational access.
Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025 This bill establishes a new investment tax credit in the amount of 30% of the basis of any hydropower improvement property. The bill defines hydropower improvement property as property that adds or improves fish passage at a qualified dam; maintains or improves the quality of the water retained or released by a qualified dam; promotes downstream sediment transport and habitat maintenance; upgrades, repairs, or reconstructs a qualified dam to meet safety and security standards; improves public uses of, and access to, public waterways impacted by a qualified dam; removes an obsolete river obstruction; or places into service an approved remote dam. Further, written approval for hydropower improvement property must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state or local officials prior to January 1, 2035. The bill also allows an election to claim the investment tax credit for qualified progress expenses for some types of hydropower improvement property in advance of such property being placed into service. Any investment tax credit amount claimed for qualified progress expenses reduces the amount of the investment tax credit that may be claimed once the hydropower improvement property is placed into service. The bill authorizes certain entities, including tax-exempt and governmental entities, to treat the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property as a payment of tax and receive a refund of any overpayment (also known as elective pay). Finally, the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property may be transferred (i.e., sold).
This bill modifies how Medicare calculates rebates for certain drugs to potentially lower costs for beneficiaries. It changes the reference year for rebate calculations from 2021 back to 2016 for both Medicare Part B (outpatient drugs) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) programs. The bill also adjusts how drug units are counted for rebates, excluding units paid for through state Medicaid programs or other existing rebate programs. These changes apply to Part B rebates starting January 2026 and Part D rebates starting October 2025. The policy directly affects drug manufacturers who pay Medicare rebates and impacts Medicare beneficiaries through potential cost reductions in covered drugs.
Fighting Illicit Goods, Helping Trustworthy Importers, and Netting Gains for America Act of 2025 or the FIGHTING for America Act of 2025 This bill makes changes to the de minimis exemption, including by eliminating the exemption for certain U.S. imports. (Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930 allows for U.S. imports under a de minimis threshold of $800 per shipment to enter free of tariffs, fees, and taxes.) The bill prohibits U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from applying the de minimis exemption to certain goods, such as goods that are subject to specified trade remedies, such as safeguard measures (Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974), actions in response to unfair trade practices (Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974), or actions for national security purposes (Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962); designated as import sensitive under the Generalized System of Preferences (e.g., textiles and apparel); or identified as presenting persistent and significant evidence of illegal importation. The bill directs CBP to collect additional information on goods that may qualify for the de minimis exemption. The bill establishes penalties for related violations, including a civil penalty for providing a false statement to CBP and a minimum penalty for aiding unlawful importation. The bill establishes a specific fee for each shipment entering under the de minimis exemption. CBP must designate as a priority trade issue the smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs by abusing entry procedures for goods qualifying for the de minimis exemption.
The America's Red Rock Wilderness Act (S 1193) would designate approximately 3.3 million acres across nine distinct wilderness areas in Utah as protected wilderness. These areas include the Great Basin, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Moab-La Sal Canyons, Henry Mountains, Glen Canyon, San Juan, Canyonlands Basin, San Rafael Swell, and Book Cliffs-Greater Dinosaur regions. The bill would manage these areas under the Wilderness Act, preserving them for recreation, wildlife habitat, and cultural values while allowing continued livestock grazing under existing regulations. It also includes provisions to protect Tribal rights and water rights within the designated wilderness areas, with specific administrative guidelines for roads, land management, and Tribal consultation.
