The Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2025 aims to help cities and communities across the United States implement smart technologies that improve services, safety, energy efficiency, and resilience. The bill establishes a federal council to coordinate agency efforts, creates a resource guide with best practices for local governments, and provides $100 million annually for demonstration grants to test smart city technologies in various communities. It also creates a cybersecurity working group to develop evaluation tools, a workforce training program focused on smart city technologies, and a voucher program to connect cities with national laboratories. The act requires a study on innovative financing for smart city projects and promotes international cooperation to expand U.S. exports of smart city technologies while ensuring privacy and security standards.
Closing Loopholes for Oil and other Sources of Emissions Act or the CLOSE Act This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise requirements for hazardous air pollutants. Specifically, the bill allows (1) emissions from oil or gas exploration or production wells and emissions from pipeline compressors or pump stations to be aggregated with emissions from other similar sources and regulated as a major source of toxic air pollutants, (2) emissions from those wells to be aggregated for purposes of emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants, and (3) emissions from oil or gas production wells to be regulated as an area source of toxic air pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency must (1) issue a final rule adding hydrogen sulfide to the list of hazardous air pollutants; and (2) revise the list of air pollution sources within 365 days after issuing the rule to include categories and subcategories of major sources and area sources of hydrogen sulfide, including oil and gas wells.
This bill amends federal energy conservation law to require federal agencies to consider mechanical insulation as a standard energy-saving measure during building evaluations. It defines "mechanical insulation property" as materials that reduce energy loss in mechanical systems while meeting ASHRAE 90.1 standards, including insulation placed in service with those systems. The law adds mechanical insulation to the list of measures agencies must evaluate for potential installation in federal buildings as part of their required energy and water assessments. This directly affects federal agencies managing buildings, ensuring they formally assess this specific efficiency measure during routine evaluations.
The Federal Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 would create a new Federal Infrastructure Bank to provide financing for infrastructure projects across the United States. The bank would offer loans, equity investments, and loan guarantees to eligible entities like state governments, corporations, and public-private partnerships for projects including roads, bridges, ports, airports, and energy systems. The bill requires at least 10% of the bank's funding to support rural infrastructure projects and prohibits funding for projects influenced by China or located outside the United States. The bank would maintain risk-based capital at no less than 10% and would be regulated by the Federal Reserve System.
The All Aboard Act of 2025 provides $3.5 billion annually for 5 years to fund state rail plans and infrastructure, with specific goals to achieve zero-emission locomotives by 2047 and electrify 50% of trains by 2030. It establishes a $50 billion Green Railroads Fund to support rail electrification projects, prioritizing initiatives that reduce pollution in environmental justice communities and expand high-performance rail service. The bill requires states and rail entities to develop workforce transition plans to protect rail workers during the shift to electrified rail and to engage communities affected by rail infrastructure projects. It also includes provisions for climate-resilient infrastructure and $500 million for rail workforce training programs. The legislation directly affects states, rail operators, and communities across the U.S., particularly those in environmental justice communities and rail-dependent regions.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 establishes a federal pilot program to fund home repairs for affordable housing. It provides grants to eligible homeowners (with income at or below 80% of area median income) and forgivable loans to eligible landlords (who own 10 or fewer rental properties with majority affordable units) for repairs addressing accessibility, habitability, energy efficiency, and safety. The program requires landlords to maintain affordability by capping rent increases at 5% annually for three years after repairs and to comply with accessibility standards. The pilot will operate until 2031 with $30 million in funding, administered by local governments or qualified nonprofits, and will track outcomes through annual reporting on units served and demographic data.
The Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026 authorizes $20 billion annually from 2027 to 2031 to improve public school facilities nationwide. The bill provides grants to states to fund school construction, renovation, and modernization projects that focus on safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility, with priority given to schools serving high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Funds cannot be used for routine maintenance, athletic facilities, or vehicles, and must meet specific environmental, safety, and energy efficiency standards. The bill also includes specific provisions for repairing school foundations affected by pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes concrete deterioration, and requires use of American-made materials for construction projects.
The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 sets new federal standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial shipping in U.S. waters. It requires vessels over 400 gross tons operating on covered voyages (between U.S. ports or U.S. ports and foreign ports) to gradually lower the carbon intensity of their fuel, aiming for 100% reduction by 2050 through phased targets (e.g., 30% reduction by 2030, 58% by 2034). Ship owners must report annual fuel carbon intensity and emissions data, while the EPA must develop consistent reporting methods aligned with international standards. The law applies directly to commercial shipping companies operating eligible vessels and includes flexibility for feasibility adjustments if technological or economic challenges arise.
HR 2897 expands eligibility for Small Business Administration disaster loans to cover damages from prolonged power outages. It defines a "prolonged power outage" as affecting at least 25 homes or businesses in a county (with 40% property damage) or requiring 48+ hours of power loss. Borrowers can use loan funds to purchase energy resilience systems (like solar panels or generators) or replace lost food/drinks due to the outage. This directly affects small businesses in areas impacted by extended power disruptions meeting the specified criteria.
This bill amends a federal rail safety funding provision (Section 22907 of Title 49, U.S. Code) to expand eligibility for projects developing regenerative braking and energy storage technologies. It specifically allows commuter rail operators - defined under federal law (49 U.S.C. §24102) - to apply for these grants, which were previously limited to other rail entities. The key change is adding commuter rail services as eligible applicants under existing infrastructure funding, without creating new funding streams. This directly affects commuter rail providers seeking federal support for energy-saving technology upgrades.
