HRES 988 is a procedural resolution that allows the House of Representatives to consider five specific bills related to labor and retirement laws. It waives procedural objections and sets debate rules for bills that would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and National Labor Relations Act. These bills address topics including how retirement plans consider different factors, how work hours are calculated, overtime pay calculations, the definition of tipped employees, and how multiple employers are treated under labor laws.
The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates civil legal remedies for individuals harmed by non-consensual digital forgeries depicting them in sexually intimate situations without their consent. It defines "intimate digital forgery" as fabricated images or videos that appear authentic to a reasonable person, even with disclaimers, and allows victims to sue those who create, possess, or disclose such content. Key provisions include fixed damages of $150,000 (or $250,000 for severe cases like sexual assault-related forgeries), court-ordered privacy protections (like pseudonyms and redacted filings), and a 10-year statute of limitations. The law applies to interstate or online disclosures and explicitly preserves existing state laws, ensuring it does not override stronger state protections.
This bill creates new federal criminal penalties for intentionally coercing minors (under 18) through interstate means (like mail or online platforms) to engage in harmful acts. It specifically prohibits forcing minors to commit self-harm (including suicide attempts), animal cruelty, abusive nonsexual conduct, sexually explicit acts, or obscene speech. Violations carry fines and prison terms of up to 10 years, with harsher penalties (up to 20 years or life) if serious injury or death results. The law directly protects minors from coercion by perpetrators using interstate communication or commerce, with enforcement under existing federal criminal code.
This bill amends U.S. Code sections 2251(a), 2260(a), and 2256 to clarify and strengthen laws against child sexual exploitation. It explicitly adds "or be depicted engaging in" to definitions of sexual exploitation and sexually explicit depictions involving minors, making it a crime to distribute material showing minors in such conduct - even if the minor did not physically participate. The law directly affects prosecutors, defendants accused of distributing child sexual abuse material, and minors depicted in such images. The key change ensures that intentionally including minors in sexually explicit visual depictions (via photos or videos) is prosecutable under existing federal law.
This bill extends duty-free import benefits for Haitian apparel under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until December 31, 2028. It maintains a 60% minimum eligibility rate for apparel imports and limits duty-free treatment to 1.25% of total U.S. apparel imports. The bill also restores eligibility for certain Haitian apparel previously excluded due to tariff schedule changes and allows retroactive refunds for eligible imports made between September 30, 2025, and the bill's enactment date. These changes directly affect Haitian apparel exporters and U.S. importers of Haitian goods.
Save Local Business Act This bill provides that a person may be considered a joint employer of the employees of another employer under federal labor law only if such person directly, actually, and immediately exercises significant control over the essential terms and conditions of employment. Such control may by demonstrated by hiring and discharging employees; determining individual employee rates of pay and benefits; day-to-day supervision of employees; assigning individual work schedules, positions, or tasks; or administering employee discipline.
HR 2683, the Remote Access Security Act, amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to regulate how foreign entities remotely access U.S.-controlled technology. It defines "remote access" as foreign persons accessing U.S. items (like sensitive technology) via internet or cloud services from outside the item's physical location. The bill updates existing export control rules to include remote access as a regulated activity, requiring oversight similar to physical exports or in-country transfers. This primarily affects foreign companies, cloud providers, and technology firms handling U.S.-jurisdiction items.
HR 909, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025, modifies how funds from the False Claims Act are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. It specifies that from 2025 through 2029, certain False Claims Act proceeds (specifically those for qui tam plaintiff payments and government damage reimbursements) cannot be deposited into the fund. This change directly affects the composition of the Crime Victims Fund by excluding these specific revenue streams during the specified period. The bill does not create new benefits or alter victim services; it only adjusts fund allocation rules for existing False Claims Act revenues.
SRES 570 designates November 2025 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, with the first week of November as National Women's Lung Cancer Awareness Week and the second Saturday of November as National Lung Cancer Screening Day. The resolution expresses congressional support for increasing public awareness about lung cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment options. It encourages educational activities to promote understanding of lung cancer screening and research, particularly for high-risk groups including minorities and non-smokers. This is a symbolic resolution with no new funding or policy requirements.
This bill repeals federal energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing that were set to take effect in 2022. It specifically nullifies a Department of Energy rule published in May 2022, removing requirements for energy conservation in manufactured homes. The change directly affects manufacturers and buyers of manufactured housing by eliminating these new efficiency mandates. The bill does not establish new standards but removes existing ones from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
SRES 580 is a resolution directing the Architect of the Capitol to display a plaque honoring law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a publicly accessible area of the Senate wing until it can be placed permanently on the Capitol's western front. The plaque recognizes officers from the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and other federal, state, and local agencies who responded during the January 6th incident. This action implements a prior requirement from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (section 214), which mandated the plaque's creation. The resolution does not create new policy but specifies the temporary display location for an existing plaque.
This Senate resolution (SRES 577) commemorates the one-year anniversary of the 2025 Southern California wildfires. It honors the 31 people who died in the fires, recognizes the bravery of over 7,500 first responders from multiple states, countries, and tribal nations who fought the fires, and affirms the Senate's commitment to supporting ongoing rebuilding efforts in affected communities like Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The resolution has no policy or funding provisions - it is a symbolic gesture of remembrance and support. It was introduced by Senators Schiff and Padilla on January 8, 2026.
