This bill extends the time limit for prosecuting fraud involving pandemic relief funds from 5 years to 10 years. It applies specifically to violations related to major COVID-19 programs like the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, and Paycheck Protection Program. The key provision allows criminal prosecutions, customs forfeitures, and false claims lawsuits to proceed within 10 years of the fraud occurring, rather than the standard shorter timeframe. This change aims to give prosecutors more time to investigate and pursue cases involving misused pandemic funding. It directly affects federal prosecutors, law enforcement, and individuals or entities accused of fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief money.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025 establishes special pay rates for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. It replaces standard General Schedule base pay with increased rates (ranging from 1.5% to 42% higher depending on position grade) and creates 450% daily premium pay for employees deployed during qualifying wildfire incidents. The bill also creates mandatory rest and recuperation leave requirements, including minimum rest periods after incident deployment and limits on work hours during firefighting operations. These provisions apply to employees whose duties primarily relate to wildland fires, as defined in the bill.
Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act or the FIND Act This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm trade associations or businesses that deal in firearms, ammunition, or related products. Specifically, the bill requires a federal agency to include in each contract for the procurement of goods or services awarded by the agency a clause requiring the prime contractor to certify that it (1) has no policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association; and (2) will not adopt a policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association during the term of the contract. The bill establishes (1) a similar requirement with respect to subcontracts, and (2) penalties for violations. The bill makes such prohibition inapplicable to a contract for the procurement of goods or services that is a sole-source contract.
This bill repeals Section 136 of the Clean Air Act, which established an incentive program for reducing methane emissions and waste in natural gas and petroleum systems. It directly affects natural gas and petroleum companies that previously participated in this program by eliminating their eligibility for related incentives. The bill also rescinds any unobligated funds allocated under that program before its repeal. This is a direct policy change removing a specific federal incentive mechanism, not a tax change.
This bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to wildland firefighters collectively, recognizing their service in protecting forests, grasslands, and communities. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal with input from the National Interagency Fire Center, with the medal to be displayed at that center for public access and research. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover production expenses, but does not create new benefits or policy changes for firefighters. The medal honors all federal, state, local, and contract wildland firefighters who serve in high-risk conditions, including those who have died or been injured in service.
Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.
This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.
HR 551, the "Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025," would require U.S. border officials to apply the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) to all eligible asylum seekers at the southern border, rather than allowing discretion. The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to change the language from "may" to "shall" in Section 235(b)(2)(C), meaning officials must send asylum seekers back to Mexico to await their immigration hearings. This directly affects asylum seekers who would no longer have the option of remaining in the U.S. during processing. The key mechanism is a technical legal change to make the existing MPP policy mandatory for all applicable cases.
This bill amends the Antiquities Act to require Congress, not the president, to authorize the creation or expansion of national monuments. It directly affects presidents and federal agencies by ending the current practice of presidentially designating monuments under the Antiquities Act. The key provision replaces the existing authority with a requirement for explicit congressional approval for any new monument or extension. This would change the legal process for establishing protected public lands, shifting decision-making power from the executive branch to Congress.
HR 485, the Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal in recognition of Muhammad Ali's lifetime contributions to sports, civil rights, and humanitarian causes. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal and present it to Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, following his death in 2016. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure with no policy impact, solely honoring Ali's legacy through a symbolic medal.
HR 511 (AMERICANS Act) prevents the military from imposing new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without explicit congressional approval. It prohibits adverse actions like discharge or rank reduction against service members who refuse the vaccine based on personal reasons, and requires the military to reinstate separated members to their prior rank with back pay, expunge related records, and retain unvaccinated personnel equally. The bill also eliminates bonus repayment obligations for members separated over vaccine refusal and mandates equal professional development opportunities for unvaccinated service members. It directly affects military personnel impacted by prior vaccine mandates, focusing on policy changes rather than future outcomes.
