This bill designates the American mastodon as the national fossil mammal and the Tyrannosaurus rex as the national fossil dinosaur for the United States. It achieves this by amending Title 36 of the U.S. Code to officially recognize these specific species within the legal framework for national symbols. The changes update the relevant chapter heading to include "fossil" and add a new section to formally establish these designations.
HR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
HR 2555, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, protects students who join or form single-sex social organizations (like fraternities or sororities) at colleges. It prohibits colleges receiving federal funds from taking negative actions against these students or organizations solely because they limit membership to one sex - such as denying housing, financial aid, leadership roles, or recognition. The bill ensures students can join such groups without coercion and stops colleges from imposing unfair recruitment rules on single-sex organizations compared to others. It does not require colleges to recognize single-sex groups, allow organizations to set their own membership rules, or override Title IX protections.
# Summary of Digital Commodities and Blockchain Technology Regulatory Framework
This comprehensive legislation establishes a new regulatory framework specifically for digital commodities and blockchain technology, creating a balanced approach that protects investors while fostering innovation.
## Key Components
1. **New Regulatory Structure**:
- Creates new categories for digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- Establishes "qualified digital asset custodians" as a new regulatory category
- Defines "mature blockchain systems" with special regulatory treatment
2. **Core Requirements**:
- Mandates segregation of customer assets and strict custody requirements
- Requires robust risk management systems
- Sets capital requirements for digital commodity brokers and dealers
- Establishes new disclosure and reporting obligations
- Defines "blockchain control persons" with special restrictions on selling digital commodities
3. **Innovation-Focused Provisions**:
- Creates a "Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology" (FinHub) at the SEC
- Establishes "LabCFTC" as a dedicated innovation lab within the CFTC
- Provides exemptions for SEC-registered entities from certain CFTC requirements
- Includes provisions for expedited hiring of digital commodities experts
4. **Studies and Research**:
- Mandates studies on decentralized finance (DeFi)
- Requires a study on non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
- Directs a study on financial literacy among digital commodity holders
- Requires a study on tokenized securities and derivatives
5. **Exclusions**:
- Excludes decentralized finance activities from regulation
- Excludes certain blockchain-related activities from regulatory requirements
The legislation aims to create a functional regulatory framework that acknowledges the unique benefits and risks of digital commodities while ensuring investor protection, preventing market manipulation, and promoting the responsible development of this emerging technology within the United States. It seeks to prevent the shift of digital commodity development to less regulated countries by establishing a clear, balanced regulatory path.
The ARCH Act requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a records preservation program for specific Afghan individuals who served with U.S. forces between 2001 and 2021. This program allows eligible applicants, including former military personnel, intelligence operators, and justice sector officials, to submit applications through a secure online portal to have their service records and biometric data preserved by the Department of Defense. The bill mandates that these records be kept for potential future use by the applicant or their designee, while prohibiting fees for the application process. Applicants who are denied classification based on eligibility or derogatory information are granted the right to file one written appeal and may request to reopen their case to provide additional clarifying information.
The USPS Executive Benefit and Bonus Removal Act restricts specific perks for high-ranking Postal Service executives, including the Postmaster General and senior career officials. It prohibits these individuals from receiving exclusive benefits such as personal financial planning services, premium travel amenities, and certain wellness or parking allowances that are not offered to all employees on equal terms. Additionally, the bill caps the total compensation of any Postal Service worker at the salary level of the President and bans first-class or business-class air travel for executives. Finally, it prevents the Postmaster General from receiving performance bonuses in any fiscal year where the Postal Service's expenses exceed its revenues.
The Affordable Housing Credit Carryback Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to claim a five-year carryback for unused low-income housing tax credits. This provision enables developers and investors who have not fully utilized their allocated credits in the current year to apply them against taxes owed in previous years. By extending this refund mechanism, the bill provides financial flexibility to entities involved in affordable housing projects, potentially accelerating the development of such units.
The Pennington County Land Conveyance Act directs the transfer of approximately 8.97 acres of federal land from the Black Hills National Forest to Pennington County, South Dakota. This transfer is made without payment and includes any existing improvements on the property. Upon completion, the boundary of the national forest will be adjusted to reflect the change in ownership. The county is authorized to use the land for a public works facility or other necessary purposes determined by local officials.
This Senate resolution commemorates the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union and recognizes the resilience of the Ukrainian people in pursuing sovereignty and democracy. The text affirms U.S. support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, specifically rejecting the annexation of Crimea, while condemning Russia’s 2022 military invasion. It encourages the U.S. government to provide strong security guarantees to facilitate a lasting peace agreement and to integrate lessons from Ukraine’s defense innovations into American military readiness. Additionally, the resolution urges Ukraine to continue implementing reforms related to anti-corruption measures, free markets, and the rule of law.
This resolution authorizes employees of Senator Elizabeth Warren's office to provide testimony in a criminal threat investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. It directs the Senate Legal Counsel to represent these employees regarding the production of testimony and documents related to their official duties. The measure relies on existing Senate rules and the Ethics in Government Act to permit the release of evidence while allowing the Senate to assert privileges where appropriate.
This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján in a federal lawsuit involving the Federal Trade Commission. The legal action stems from subpoenas issued by defendants in the case requesting documents related to the senators' official duties. By invoking specific provisions of the Ethics in Government Act and Senate rules, the resolution ensures that the Senate’s legal team handles these requests on behalf of the affected members.
