HR 82, the Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025, prohibits the use of federal funds for specific programs administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). It blocks funding for Section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, which covers grants supporting humanities projects like historical research, library programs, and educational initiatives. This bill directly affects the NEH’s ability to fund these programs starting in the first fiscal year after its enactment. The change would apply to future funding cycles, not current allocations, and does not eliminate all NEH funding.
HR 2272, titled the "FAFSA Act of 2025" (though unrelated to the FAFSA application), would terminate federal student aid eligibility for individuals convicted of specific violent offenses. It directly affects students convicted of assault against police officers or certain riot-related crimes (like inciting violence or participating in riots), requiring them to repay any grants received under the Higher Education Act and converting those grants into unsubsidized loans. Key provisions include automatic loss of future aid, repayment of past grants as loans, and exclusion from all loan forgiveness or discharge programs. The bill takes effect for the first aid year after its enactment, impacting only those with convictions meeting its defined criteria.
S 360 would automatically reduce nonsecurity federal spending by specific percentages each fiscal year: 1% for 2026, 2% for 2027, and 5% annually starting in 2028. It directly affects nonsecurity discretionary programs like education, transportation, and scientific research (excluding defense and intelligence), as defined by the bill. The reductions apply pro rata across all such programs funded through annual appropriations. The Office of Management and Budget must report these cuts to Congress annually after each fiscal year ends.
HR 3765, the FALCONS Act, prohibits federal funding for curricula or training at five U.S. service academies based on critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The bill directly affects the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy by banning the use of federal funds for such educational content. Its key mechanism is a funding restriction, preventing the use of federal money to develop or implement programs related to these concepts at the specified institutions. The law focuses solely on restricting federal funding for specific educational approaches, without altering academy admissions or academic standards.
HR 6487, the SECURE STEM Act, prohibits U.S. visa issuance and admission for nationals of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba seeking certain STEM-related visas (including H-1B, J-1, and student visas). It also bans these individuals from working at federal national research laboratories. The law allows limited national interest waivers for specific cases, requiring joint approval from the State and Homeland Security Secretaries. It mandates biannual reports to Congress detailing waiver approvals, justifications, and recipient information. The bill directly affects foreign nationals from the specified countries pursuing STEM education or research roles in the U.S. federal labs.
This bill limits the Secretary of Education's authority to create new student loan regulations or executive actions that could increase taxpayer costs. Specifically, it requires the Secretary to determine if a proposed rule would raise subsidy costs before moving forward; if it would, the rule cannot proceed. The restriction applies to any "economically significant" rule (costing $100 million+ annually or materially affecting the economy, jobs, or other key areas). The bill directly affects the Department of Education's regulatory process, not student loan borrowers or lenders.
S 2111, the American Students First Act of 2025, limits foreign student enrollment at U.S. universities participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. It requires universities to cap nonimmigrant students (on F and M visas) at 10% of their total student population each academic year. Universities may request a waiver from the President or Homeland Security Secretary to increase this cap to 15% for national security reasons or U.S. interests. This bill directly affects all U.S. universities certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program by altering their foreign student enrollment rules.
This bill declares parental authority over a child's education, upbringing, and health care as a fundamental constitutional right. It requires government agencies at all levels to demonstrate a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means before interfering with these parental decisions - defining a "substantial burden" as actions like withholding benefits or imposing penalties that constrain parental choices. Exceptions apply only when parental decisions risk serious physical harm or end a child's life. The law applies to all federal and state government actions affecting these rights, adding parental claims to existing legal frameworks like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
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This bill imposes a 50% excise tax on the fair market value of "listed investments" acquired by large private colleges and universities during a taxable year, and a 100% tax on net income from such investments. It defines "listed investments" as any stock, debt, or derivatives held in entities on government security lists (like the Commerce Department's Entity List or FCC Covered List). The tax applies to private institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion that aren't state universities, targeting investments in entities deemed national security threats. The law requires the Treasury to establish a consolidated list of these entities within 60 days of enactment, with taxes taking effect for acquisitions and income after the first calendar year following enactment.
HR 6035, the Second Amendment Restoration Act of 2025, would repeal specific firearm-related provisions from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022), including rules on background checks and gun sales, and restore federal gun laws as they existed before that law was enacted. It also reverses an education-related provision affecting school safety grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill directly affects federal regulations governing gun ownership and school safety funding by reverting to pre-2022 legal standards. It does not create new gun laws but undoes specific changes made by the 2022 law.
