This bill, S 2263 (Control Tower Continuity Act), changes rules for air traffic controllers aged 61 or older. It removes the mandatory retirement age of 61, allowing controllers to continue working past that age. It also requires the FAA to update medical clearance rules so that for controllers 61+, medical clearance expires after six months instead of being valid longer. These changes directly affect current and future air traffic controllers who reach age 61. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.
The Head Start for Our Future Act amends Section 441(c)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace "literacy training" with "child development and early learning (including Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act), literacy training." This technical change formally integrates Head Start and Early Head Start programs into the federal definition of early learning initiatives under the Higher Education Act, while maintaining a separate reference to literacy training. The bill directly affects how federal grants for early childhood education are categorized and administered under the Higher Education Act. It does not alter funding levels, program requirements, or operations but updates administrative terminology to explicitly include Head Start services.
HR 4343, the United States-Greece Security Cooperation Reporting Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress within 120 days of enactment detailing U.S.-Greece security cooperation. The report must cover U.S. military activities and investments under the 2021 Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, future infrastructure needs at bases like Alexandroupolis, potential for additional bases (including Greek islands), and assessment of existing security cooperation mandates. This procedural bill does not create new policy but mandates a formal review for congressional oversight. It directly affects U.S. defense planning and congressional decision-making regarding military engagement with Greece.
HR 4334, "Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act," amends federal sentencing rules for gun crimes. It requires a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence (with no probation or suspended sentence) for individuals convicted of violating gun laws who have three or more prior serious felony convictions. A "serious felony conviction" is defined as a prior offense punishable by at least 10 years in prison, including consolidated convictions totaling 10+ years. The bill applies to offenses committed after its enactment and does not create a right to challenge existing sentences under the new rules. It directly affects gun offenders with multiple prior violent or serious felony convictions.
The PBM Reform Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and fairness in pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) operations within Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs. The bill requires Medicare Part D plans to allow any pharmacy meeting standard terms to join their networks, establishes "essential retail pharmacies" in underserved areas (with limited pharmacy access), and mandates detailed reporting on drug pricing, rebates, and reimbursement rates. It creates a process for pharmacies to report PBM violations of reasonable contract terms and prohibits "spread pricing" in Medicaid, where PBMs retain the difference between what they pay pharmacies and what they charge plans. These provisions aim to improve pharmacy access for Medicare beneficiaries and ensure fairer reimbursement practices for pharmacies.
The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025 requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to eliminate helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft use in rounding up wild horses and burros over a two-year phase-out period. It mandates that any remaining aircraft used for these operations must have cameras recording the process, with footage made public in BLM reports. The bill addresses findings that helicopter roundups cost taxpayers over $69.5 million since 2012 and that the BLM spends less than 1% of its budget on fertility controls - a more humane, cost-effective alternative. The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to report on humane alternatives, job opportunities, and aircraft impacts on horse populations within one year of enactment.
This bill restores a rule limiting tax deductions for gambling losses to the amount of gambling winnings. It affects individuals and businesses engaged in wagering activities, such as sports betting or casino gambling. The key provision requires that losses from wagering transactions can only offset gains from those same transactions, eliminating deductions for excess losses. The rule applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
S 2225, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025, allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement therapists (locum tenens) under Medicare for outpatient physical therapy services. The bill amends Medicare rules to apply the same provisions currently used for physicians' services to physical therapy services, meaning therapists can now fill in gaps during staff shortages without disrupting patient care. This directly affects physical therapists providing Medicare-covered outpatient therapy and Medicare beneficiaries receiving those services. The change takes effect after the bill is enacted, ensuring continuity of care when therapists are unavailable.
This bill requires drug manufacturers to pay rebates to Medicare when their "selected drugs" (cancer and complex therapies subject to negotiated maximum fair prices) are used. Manufacturers must calculate rebates based on the difference between current Medicare payment rates (ASP+6) and new negotiated rates (MFP+6), covering the gap for beneficiaries. This lowers patient coinsurance from the current 20% of ASP+6 to 20% of MFP+6 for these specific drugs during the negotiated price period. The rebates are paid to the Medicare trust fund and apply to Medicare Part B beneficiaries using these drugs, directly affecting drug manufacturers and patients covered under Medicare Part B.
S 2207 defines digital assets for tax purposes and creates a de minimis rule allowing taxpayers to exclude small gains or losses from digital asset transactions (under $300 per transaction, with a $5,000 annual limit). The bill amends tax treatment for digital asset lending agreements, wash sales (with specific exceptions for payment stablecoins), and creates a mark-to-market election for dealers and traders in digital assets. It also defers income recognition for digital asset mining and staking activities until the assets are sold, and allows charitable contributions of actively traded digital assets. These provisions apply to taxable years beginning after 2025 and will terminate after December 31, 2035.
The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to help high-need schools hire and retain mental health professionals like counselors, psychologists, and social workers. It targets schools in the top 15% of need (based on student poverty or counts) that lack required staff ratios, such as one counselor per 250 students. Grants fund recruitment incentives (e.g., student loan repayment), retention programs, and evidence-based mental health services, with recipients required to contribute 25% of costs from non-federal funds. Schools must report annually on staff numbers, student-to-staff ratios, and retention rates to track progress toward improved mental health access.
This bill directs the Secretary of State to lead negotiations for at least 20 new nuclear cooperation agreements (commonly called "123 agreements") by 2029, while also seeking to renew or renegotiate expiring agreements. It directly affects U.S. nuclear suppliers, investors, and lenders seeking to compete globally for nuclear projects in foreign countries. Key provisions include creating a cross-agency program to remove regulatory barriers for U.S. nuclear exports, expedite international agreements, and promote adherence to global nuclear liability standards. The law mandates specific actions to enhance U.S. competitiveness in the international nuclear energy market, focusing on concrete policy changes like streamlining export processes.
