This bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.
HR 1125, the LOCAL Act, mandates that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters relocate to Grand Junction, Colorado, and requires all existing BLM employees stationed there to remain in place. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to study relocating additional BLM positions to Grand Junction or other western states within one year, assessing impacts on Federal land management, community coordination, and activities like tourism and conservation. The study must be reported to Congress within 365 days of the bill's enactment. This legislation directly affects BLM operations and employee locations in western states, with no changes to substantive land management policies.
This joint resolution (SJRES 17) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. The rule, published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2024, established new criminal prohibitions related to law enforcement activities on federal lands. If passed, this resolution would formally disapprove the rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, making the rule legally ineffective and preventing it from taking effect. The resolution directly affects the Forest Service's ability to enforce this particular criminal prohibition rule.
This resolution supports the designation of Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.
Supporting Made in America Energy Act This bill requires oil and natural gas lease sales that include certain public land and waters, prohibits lease sales in other areas, and establishes related requirements. Beginning in FY2025, the Department of the Interior must conduct a minimum of four onshore lease sales annually in each state that has federal land available for oil and natural gas leasing. If a lease sale is canceled, delayed, or deferred, Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year. Beginning in FY2026, Interior must conduct a minimum of two offshore, region-wide lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico Region of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) by specified dates. The sales must include the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. Interior must also conduct a minimum of six offshore lease sales of at least 1 million acres each over a 10-year period in the Cook Inlet Planning Area. The bill sets a 12.5% royalty rate for such leases. Interior must plan and approve the subsequent OCS oil and gas leasing programs by specified deadlines. The bill extends through 2035 a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain eastern and central portions of the Gulf of Mexico and expands the moratorium to include the South Atlantic Planning Area and the Straits of Florida Planning Area. The bill also requires the President to obtain congressional approval before impeding or circumventing certain federal energy mineral leasing processes.
This bill establishes minimum annual funding levels for Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to states, directly affecting rural hospitals and state Medicaid programs. For fiscal years 2025 through 2029, it sets a minimum $20 million DSH allotment per state, and for 2030 onward, it requires states to maintain the prior year's minimum amount adjusted for inflation. The provision prevents states from reducing DSH funding below these specified floors, ensuring consistent support for hospitals serving high numbers of low-income patients. It applies to all states receiving Medicaid DSH payments under federal law.
This bill would require federal agencies to submit detailed reports about new regulations to Congress before they take effect. Major rules (defined as those with an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, or significant effects on competition, employment, or public safety) would need congressional approval via a joint resolution before taking effect, with Congress having 70 days to act. Nonmajor rules would have a different, shorter review process. The bill would also require agencies to publish cost-benefit analyses and other supporting documentation, and would mandate that rules be reviewed and potentially reapproved after 10 years.
This bill amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to allow firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations to move certain civil lawsuits from state courts to federal courts. It gives federal courts the authority to determine if a case falls under the PLCAA's protections and to dismiss it if it does. The key mechanism is automatic removal to federal court for qualified cases, followed by a federal court decision on dismissal. This directly affects gun industry defendants by shifting jurisdiction for specific liability claims away from state courts.
HR 1040, the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act, would stop taxing Social Security benefits for seniors by repealing the current tax rule that includes some benefits in gross income. It directly affects senior citizens who currently pay federal income tax on portions of their Social Security payments. The bill adds a provision stating Section 86 of the tax code (which taxes Social Security benefits) no longer applies after enactment. To offset the lost tax revenue, the bill requires the government to appropriate funds to the Social Security and Railroad Retirement trust funds, ensuring they remain fully funded without requiring tax increases.
HR 1052, the UNPLUG EVs Act, rescinds unobligated federal funds from two electric vehicle infrastructure programs. It targets unused balances from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and charging/fueling grant programs under federal highway law. These rescinded funds will be deposited into the U.S. Treasury's general fund to reduce the federal deficit. The bill does not alter existing program requirements or affect current EV infrastructure projects, only redirecting unspent allocated funds.
The Ending Green Giveaways Act (HR 1066) repeals a Clean Air Act provision (Section 138) that authorized federal funding for environmental and climate justice initiatives. It also cancels any unspent funds previously allocated for these programs. This would terminate the funding stream, preventing future allocations for community-based environmental projects. As a result, the program would end without new resources for communities addressing environmental challenges.
HR 71, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, allows eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare to choose from a broader network of providers, including non-VA facilities, without geographic restrictions. The bill creates a 3-year pilot program in four diverse locations (rural and urban) where veterans can select primary care and specialty providers within a defined "covered care system" (VA facilities and approved community providers), with VA coordinating care through a primary provider. After the pilot, the law permanently requires the VA to offer this same choice of providers to all enrolled veterans, removing current barriers that limited access to non-VA care outside a veteran’s local VA network. The program uses existing VA funding and mandates regular reports to Congress on implementation and results.
