The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a federal program providing funding to states for election administration improvements, increased voter access, and protection of election workers. States must submit detailed plans for using funds to upgrade voting equipment, expand early and mail voting options, secure election infrastructure, and address disparities in voting access for underserved communities. The bill prohibits states from using funds for activities that restrict voting access or suppress participation, and creates an Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation to administer the program. Funded through a $2.5 billion Trust Fund for fiscal years 2026-2035, this legislation directly affects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories receiving federal election funding.
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HR 3278, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Act, increases criminal penalties for attacks on critical infrastructure and authorizes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly access such infrastructure to harm U.S. national security or citizen safety. The bill adds a mandatory minimum 30-year prison term or life imprisonment for offenses involving critical infrastructure (defined in existing law) and requires the President to impose sanctions - including freezing assets and blocking U.S. entry - on foreign persons determined to have accessed infrastructure for harmful purposes. These sanctions apply to foreign individuals or entities, with limited exceptions for U.N. personnel and a 180-day waiver option for national security reasons. The law mandates regulations within 90 days and defines key terms like "critical infrastructure," "foreign person," and "knowingly" to clarify implementation.
This bill requires the State Department to create a strategy within 180 days of enactment to address risks posed by certain Chinese entities to U.S. interests through European academic institutions. The strategy must identify, evaluate, and mitigate relationships between covered European institutions (universities/research centers in Europe) and specific Chinese entities of concern - such as those linked to military-civil fusion, defense industries, Confucius Institutes, or activities involving Uyghur detention. It mandates a country-by-country assessment of these entities’ scale and activities, evaluation of security threats to the U.S. and allies, and recommendations for diplomatic engagement. The plan must be submitted unclassified to congressional foreign affairs committees, with a classified annex permitted.
This bill prohibits large card issuers (with over $100 billion in assets) from requiring credit card transactions to process through only one payment network. It allows merchants to direct transactions to any available network and bans restrictions on security technologies that favor specific networks. The Federal Reserve must issue these rules within one year of the bill's enactment. The law applies broadly to credit card processing but excludes certain 3-party payment systems.
The Rare Earth Magnet Security Act of 2025 creates a tax credit for U.S. manufacturers producing rare earth magnets domestically. The credit pays $20 per kilogram for magnets with less than 90% of component materials sourced in the U.S., and $30 per kilogram if at least 90% of materials are domestically produced. The bill restricts the credit for magnets using components from "non-allied foreign nations" (with a temporary exception for certain materials until 2027) and phases out the credit after 2034 (reducing to 70% in 2035, 35% in 2036-2037, and 0% after 2037). The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
This resolution urges all NATO member countries to commit to spending at least 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. It specifies that 3.5% should cover traditional military spending and 1.5% should address non-military security efforts like cyber resilience and infrastructure. The resolution directly addresses all 32 NATO members, particularly those not meeting prior spending targets, and criticizes current ambiguity in defense commitments. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it formally expresses the U.S. Senate's position without creating new law or altering existing obligations.
HR 5447, the SPACEPORT Act, modifies federal grant programs to fund spaceport infrastructure projects. It sets a 90% cost limit for federal grants (with national interest waivers allowed) and expands eligibility to include projects supporting civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs. The bill requires the Transportation Secretary to submit a report within two years evaluating U.S. space transportation demand and funding options, with updates every four years. It also authorizes $10 million annually in federal funding for these grants, directly affecting state agencies, airport authorities, and commercial space companies building launch infrastructure.
The REPAIR Infrastructure Act (S 3413) reauthorizes a federal program providing $3 billion annually (2027-2031) from the Highway Trust Fund to fund infrastructure projects that restore community connectivity and improve resilience. It allocates $750 million yearly for planning grants and $2.25 billion for capital construction grants, directly affecting state, local, and tribal governments applying for these funds. Key provisions require projects to avoid increasing highway travel lanes and prioritize affordable transportation access, community engagement, and preventing displacement in low-income areas - such as creating safe mobility options to jobs, healthcare, and housing. The program specifically targets "divisive roadway infrastructure" (e.g., highways separating neighborhoods) and mandates applicants demonstrate how projects address historic barriers and support underserved communities.
This bill streamlines how the Department of Defense acquires commercial products and services. It establishes a default presumption that purchased items are commercial (requiring standard procurement rules), eliminates the need for contractors to justify non-commercial status, and allows follow-on contracts to be awarded without additional justification. The bill also simplifies contract requirements by mandating a single clause for commercial contracts instead of multiple clauses, increases advance payments to 30% of contract value, and creates new pathways for nontraditional contractors to develop military capabilities. These changes aim to accelerate procurement while reducing administrative burdens for defense contractors.
This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to create rules allowing covered financial entities (like investment companies, brokers, and advisers) to deliver required regulatory documents - such as prospectuses, annual reports, and proxy statements - electronically to investors. It mandates specific transition steps: initial paper delivery for investors preferring it, a 180-day shift to electronic delivery, and annual paper reminders for two years after transition to maintain opt-out options. The rules must ensure documents are readable, securely delivered, and include clear mechanisms for investors to switch back to paper at any time. The SEC must finalize these rules within one year of the bill’s enactment, while existing document delivery requirements remain unchanged.
