HR 5697, the Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act of 2025, sets the effective date for adjustments to the liability cap for passenger rail operators. Specifically, any adjustment to the liability cap under federal law that occurs during 2026 must take effect 90 days after a required notice is issued. This procedural bill does not change the liability cap amount itself but establishes a clear timeline for when such adjustments become effective. It directly affects passenger rail operators subject to the liability cap under 49 U.S.C. § 28103.
The RIDE FAST Act extends the deadline for using federal grants supporting intercity passenger rail projects from 2026 to 2032. This change directly affects states and rail operators eligible for these grants, giving them six additional years to plan and implement rail improvements. The bill amends Section 22106(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to adjust the authorization period without creating new funding. It focuses solely on extending existing grant availability for rail projects.
HR 5566, the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, extends deadlines for three existing federal water infrastructure programs by five years. It amends the Clean Water Act to extend the deadline for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program from 2026 to 2031, and updates the Safe Drinking Water Act to extend deadlines for both the general Drinking Water System Infrastructure Program and the Midsize/Large Drinking Water System Program from 2026 to 2031. These changes directly affect state and local governments administering these programs, giving them more time to complete eligible projects. The bill makes no new funding commitments or policy changes - only adjusts the timeline for existing program requirements.
HR 4802, the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025, bans the use of federal funds for certain foreign-made LiDAR technology in transportation projects. It prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from procuring, obtaining, or contracting for LiDAR technology from specified "covered foreign countries," "covered LiDAR companies," or "covered LiDAR technology" starting June 30, 2026. Contractors must certify they will not use banned technology, and the Secretary may grant limited waivers for national security reasons, requiring congressional notification. This directly affects transportation infrastructure projects funded by the Department of Transportation, including grants and contracts.
Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act or the SCORE Act This bill provides a framework for the compensation of student athletes for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). This includes addressing certain elements of the court approved agreement to settle the In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement ). Specifically, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)) from restricting the ability of a student athlete to enter an NIL agreement. The bill also requires institutions of higher education that generate $20 million or more in annual revenue from the institution's intercollegiate athletics activities to (1) provide counseling and medical benefits to student athletes, and (2) establish and maintain at least 16 varsity sports teams. Further, the bill authorizes interstate intercollegiate athletic associations to establish rules with respect to athletic eligibility, transfers, recruitment, and the disclosure of NIL agreements. Under the bill, student athletes may not be considered employees of an institution, conference, or interstate intercollegiate athletic association. The bill also preempts state laws with respect to compensation, payments, benefits, employment status, eligibility, and academic standards applicable to student athletes. Compliance with the provisions of this bill is considered lawful under federal and state antitrust laws.
The FRESHER Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of the Interior to study stormwater runoff impacts from oil, gas, and mining operations on groundwater and aquifers. It mandates a specific analysis of measurable contamination, groundwater resources, and aquifer susceptibility to contamination in affected areas. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, with results reported to Congress. This bill directly affects oil, gas, and mining operations by establishing new federal study requirements for their stormwater runoff.
This bill authorizes the use of the U.S. Capitol rotunda for the Congressional National Prayer Breakfast on February 5, 2026, including food and beverage service. It requires preparations to follow conditions set by the Architect of the Capitol, but does not create new law or affect any specific group beyond the event organizers.
HRES 915 formally recognizes the 1932-1933 Ukrainian famine, known as the Holodomor, as a genocide perpetrated by the Soviet Union. The resolution directly affects Ukrainian victims, survivors, and communities by affirming historical truth and condemning Soviet policies that intentionally starved millions. Key provisions include declaring the Holodomor a genocide, commemorating its victims, and condemning ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, including Vladimir Putin’s denial of Ukrainian sovereignty. This symbolic resolution aims to educate the public and align U.S. policy with historical facts about Soviet repression.
HR 6328, the Main Street Home Builders Act of 2025, creates a pilot program (the "505 Pilot Program") allowing the Small Business Administration to provide loans to small housing businesses for building or managing rental properties. The bill removes standard SBA loan requirements like job creation targets and restrictions on leasing, specifically for projects constructing or renovating build-to-rent multifamily housing (housing built solely for renting). It sets annual funding limits of $1 billion for 2026, $2 billion for 2027, and $3 billion each year from 2028-2030, with the program ending after five years. This directly affects small housing developers/managers who build or renovate rental units, requiring them to create at least one new rental unit per project.
This bill requires Medicare to cover lung cancer biomarker testing for beneficiaries diagnosed with lung cancer, starting January 1, 2027. It defines the testing as procedures analyzing tissue, blood, or bodily fluids to identify specific biomarkers (like genes or proteins) for treatment planning. Medicare will pay 100% of reasonable charges for these tests, removing out-of-pocket costs for patients. The policy directly affects Medicare patients with lung cancer who need this specialized testing to guide personalized treatment options.
HR 6326 requires the Secretary of Defense to create a plan within 180 days to speed up private companies' access to classified facilities used for national security work. The bill directs the plan to include specific actions like allowing parallel processing of construction and security reviews, evaluating standardized templates for faster approvals, and creating a digital platform to manage facility requests using AI tools. It directly affects private-sector entities seeking to work with the Department of Defense on classified projects. Key provisions focus on streamlining bureaucratic steps - such as reducing construction security plan review times and designating shared facilities for all classified work - to accelerate innovation and manufacturing in national security. The bill proposes administrative changes to the process, not new funding or policy shifts.
HR 6325 requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a detailed report to Congress within 180 days of enactment about how the Department of Defense uses a special contracting authority for follow-on production contracts. The report must cover all such contracts awarded between October 2020 and October 2025, including the number of prototype projects, follow-on contract status, contractor performance, and any challenges or recommendations for improvement. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense (as the reporting entity) and Congress (as the recipient of the report). It does not change existing laws or create new programs, but mandates a specific review of current contracting practices under Section 4022 of Title 10, U.S. Code.
