The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 strengthens protections for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by expanding definitions of abuse to include psychological abuse and kidnapping, and by imposing new reporting requirements on internet service providers. The bill requires providers with over 1 million monthly users to report apparent child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline within 60 days, with penalties for noncompliance including fines up to $1 million for large providers. It creates new civil remedies allowing victims to sue providers who host or promote child pornography, and establishes protections for "covered persons" (children under 18 who are victims or witnesses) by limiting public disclosure of their personal information. The bill also enhances law enforcement's ability to investigate online child exploitation while maintaining privacy safeguards for victims.
Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence Act of 2025 or the CREATE AI Act of 2025 This bill establishes a national program to provide U.S. researchers, educators, and students with access to artificial intelligence (AI) data, computational resources, educational tools and services, and testbeds. The program, to be known as the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR), must be established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve U.S. AI research capacity and spur the strategic development of AI capabilities. NAIRR may accept and use donated resources from the private sector and federal agencies. Those eligible to use NAIRR resources are (1) researchers, educators, and students based in the United States and affiliated with a U.S. institution of higher education, nonprofit, executive agency, or other specified entity; and (2) employees of U.S. executive agencies or federally funded research and development centers with a demonstrable mission need. NSF must select a nongovernmental organization to operate NAIRR (i.e., an operating entity ) through a competitive and transparent process. The operating entity must ensure that a significant percentage of the annual allotment of computational resources is provided to projects primarily focused on AI privacy, ethics, safety, security, risk mitigation, or trustworthiness. The operating entity must also establish minimum security requirements for all individuals interacting with NAIRR. The operating entity may establish a fee schedule for access to NAIRR, which must include a free tier of access and must ensure that the primary purpose of NAIRR is to support research.
The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 modifies the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to adjust leverage limits for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). It reduces the maximum leverage ratio from 300% to 200% and sets new dollar caps ($175 million for most SBICs, $350 million for commonly controlled groups), adjusted annually for inflation. The bill expands eligibility for favorable leverage treatment to include investments in rural areas, critical technology sectors, and small manufacturers. These changes directly affect SBICs that provide financing to small businesses, altering how they structure debt and private capital.
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S 3184, the Tribal Internet Expansion Act of 2025, amends federal law to expand eligibility for universal service funds that support affordable internet access. It directly affects Native American communities in Indian country (as defined by federal law) and areas with high populations of Indian people. The bill modifies the Communications Act to explicitly include these communities within the existing framework for funding high-cost rural internet service. This change ensures federal internet subsidy programs specifically cover tribal lands and high-population Indian areas, streamlining access to funding for broadband infrastructure.
The TRAIN Act (S.2455) allows copyright owners to request court-issued subpoenas requiring developers of generative AI models to disclose records showing whether their copyrighted works were used to train the model. It directly affects AI developers who create or substantially modify generative AI systems (like those producing text, images, or audio) by making them subject to these disclosure requests. To obtain a subpoena, a copyright owner must submit a sworn declaration showing a good-faith belief that their specific works were used in training, and the records can only be used to protect their copyright. The bill includes safeguards, such as prohibiting requests for others' works, requiring confidentiality of disclosed records, and imposing sanctions for bad-faith requests.
The Advanced AI Security Readiness Act requires the National Security Agency to develop an AI Security Playbook to protect advanced AI systems that pose national security risks if stolen. The playbook must identify vulnerabilities in AI infrastructure, critical components (like models or training insights) that could be exploited, and strategies to prevent cyber threats from nation-state actors. It mandates both a classified version for government use and an unclassified version for sharing security best practices with private sector AI developers. The NSA must submit an initial report within 90 days and a final report within 270 days after the bill's enactment to Congress.
The SECURE American Telecommunications Act establishes new licensing requirements for submarine and terrestrial telecommunications cables connecting the United States to foreign countries. It prohibits issuing licenses for cables connecting to "foreign adversaries" or using equipment on a specific FCC list, and shifts licensing authority from the President to the Federal Communications Commission. The bill requires cable operators to report cybersecurity incidents within 24 hours and follow minimum physical and cybersecurity standards for cables and landing stations. It also creates a study on establishing submarine cable protection zones and increases penalties for damaging submarine cables, with violations potentially resulting in up to 25 years in prison.
HR 2037, the Open RAN Outreach Act, requires the Commerce Department's Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information to provide outreach and technical assistance to small communications network providers. The bill focuses on raising awareness about Open RAN networks - standardized wireless networks using multi-vendor equipment that follow open industry standards - and directing providers to the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program. It does not create new regulations but offers support to help small providers understand the benefits, challenges, and grant opportunities related to Open RAN technology. This assistance is intended to help small providers navigate adopting open network architectures.
The ANCHOR Act requires the National Science Foundation to develop a plan within 18 months to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet - comprising university- and lab-operated oceanographic research vessels. The plan must assess each vessel's specific needs for internet speed, data transfer, telemedicine, and remote expert access during missions, alongside cost estimates for upgrades like satellite equipment and staff training. It also mandates evaluating shared solutions to reduce costs and outlining funding strategies involving NSF, Navy research offices, and vessel operators. The bill directly affects research vessels conducting ocean science, aiming to modernize their digital infrastructure without altering scientific methods.
HRES 328 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide to communities across the United States. It recognizes libraries as critical infrastructure for community access to information, internet, social services, and safe spaces - especially for underserved groups - and calls for full federal, state, and local funding to sustain these services. The resolution reaffirms the public’s right to free access to information, supports library workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain, and defends staff from threats like book bans or intimidation for upholding library missions. It specifically endorses National Library Week and urges protection of civil rights for library workers. (Note: As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support.)
