Washington Congressional Bills

in committee · Washington · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 6056: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025

HR 6056, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy at the State Department to lead U.S. foreign policy efforts addressing discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the U.S. government to develop and update a biannual global strategy to prevent criminalization and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals, mandate detailed reporting on such abuses in annual country reports, and ensure all U.S. foreign assistance programs include inclusive nondiscrimination policies. This legislation directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation, federal agencies receiving funding, and LGBTQI+ communities facing persecution worldwide. The bill aims to coordinate U.S. government efforts across departments and with international partners to advance LGBTQI+ rights globally through concrete policy mechanisms.

Robert Garcia (D) · 150 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 6011: VA Work-Study Improvement Act

HR 6011, the VA Work-Study Improvement Act, expands opportunities for veterans and military members participating in the VA's work-study program. It allows them to work on activities with state/local governments or nonprofits that benefit veterans (e.g., community service or job training), and sets a new wage standard requiring payments to be the highest of federal employee rates, state minimum wage, or local minimum wage. The bill also requires electronic tracking of work hours and annual public reporting on program participation, including demographics, wages, hours worked, and participating schools. These changes apply to work-study payments made on or after January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 5981: VA Billing Accountability Act

HR 5981, the VA Billing Accountability Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to stop billing veterans for care or medications if the VA delayed sending payment notices due to its own errors. Specifically, it creates a two-year window (ending two years after enactment) where veterans won’t have to pay if they received care or medications but weren’t notified of required payments more than 180 days later for VA facilities or more than 18 months for non-VA care. The bill also sets strict deadlines for VA to send billing notices and mandates that veterans receive clear options to apply for waivers or set up payment plans if notices are late. This directly affects veterans who received delayed billing notices due to VA administrative errors, ensuring they aren’t charged for delays the VA caused. The law terminates after two years, with the VA required to review billing procedures within 180 days of enactment.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · House Nov 13, 2025

HRES 876: Recognizing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

HRES 876 is a non-binding House resolution calling on the U.S. government to formally recognize Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide under the Genocide Convention. It directs the U.S. to cease arms transfers to Israel where genocide is suspected, ensure Israel complies with International Court of Justice orders, investigate potential genocide-related crimes, and support UNRWA funding. The resolution specifically cites findings from the UN Commission of Inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and major human rights organizations regarding Israel's conduct. It affects U.S. foreign policy and military aid decisions toward Israel, requiring the administration to take concrete steps to fulfill U.S. legal obligations under the Genocide Convention. The resolution does not alter U.S. law but sets a policy stance for congressional action.

Rashida Tlaib (D) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Nov 10, 2025

HR 6010: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the enhanced premium tax credit, and for other purposes.

This bill extends and modifies the premium tax credit (subsidy) for health insurance purchased through the marketplace, applying to coverage for 2026 and 2027. It raises the income threshold for full subsidy eligibility from 400% to 600% of the federal poverty level, meaning more low-to-moderate-income households (up to 600% of poverty) will pay lower monthly insurance costs. The bill also adds new penalties for agents or brokers who provide false information during enrollment, including civil fines up to $50,000 per person and criminal charges for intentional fraud. These changes directly affect individuals buying health insurance through marketplaces and the agents/brokers who assist them.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Nov 8, 2025

HR 5983: National Resilience and Recovery Fund Act

This bill creates a National Resilience and Recovery Fund financed by specific taxes on crude oil and natural gas production. The fund will be supported by taxes from Gulf of Mexico offshore oil production, environmental taxes on crude oil, and a new windfall profits tax on large crude oil producers exceeding 300,000 barrels per day in 2023. The money will directly support four existing federal disaster resilience programs: Hazard Mitigation Grants, Building Resilient Infrastructure, Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loans, and Flood Mitigation Assistance. The bill also clarifies that certain oil types (including oil from tar sands and oil shale) will be subject to these taxes, with the windfall tax applying to producers exceeding specified production thresholds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation