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.
HR 510, the Regulatory Cooling Off Act of 2025, requires federal agencies to delay the effective date of new regulations by six months and extends public notice periods. It mandates agencies to submit finalized rules to Congress six months before implementation, provide 60 days of public comment before finalizing rules, and post rules online 24 hours prior to Federal Register publication. This bill directly affects federal agencies creating regulations by adding significant timeframes for congressional review and public input. Key provisions include extending the rule-making timeline from 30 days to six months and requiring formal congressional referral before rules take effect. The changes aim to slow the regulatory process, giving Congress and the public more time to review proposed rules.
This bill updates federal reporting requirements for subawards (funds given by a recipient of federal funding to another entity). It directly affects federal agencies and recipients of federal awards (like universities, nonprofits, and contractors) by requiring them to track and report second-tier subawards (sub-sub-recipients) starting in 2025. Key provisions include standardizing reporting across agencies, reducing paperwork burden through simplified certifications for no-subaward cases, and improving public access to subaward data. The bill mandates annual progress reports to Congress and requires agencies to implement changes within two years of enactment.
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.
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a valid Social Security Number (SSN) for all qualifying children claimed on the Child Tax Credit. Specifically, it mandates that taxpayers must include the SSN of both the taxpayer (or both spouses on a joint return) and each qualifying child on their tax return to claim the credit. The requirement applies to all taxpayers except members of the Armed Forces (who may use a spouse's SSN), and excludes individuals without an SSN issued to a U.S. citizen or under specific Social Security Act provisions. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.
HR 526, the Declaration of Energy Independence Act, reduces costs for oil and gas leaseholders on federal lands. It lowers royalty rates from 16.67% to 12.5%, cuts minimum bids from $10 to $2 per acre, and adjusts annual rental rates (from $3-$15 to $1.50-$2 per acre). The bill also creates new noncompetitive leasing options for existing leases meeting production thresholds (e.g., 15 barrels/day oil or 60,000 ft³/day gas), allowing continued operation without bidding. These changes directly affect companies holding federal oil/gas leases, particularly those with older leases or low-production sites.
HRES 47 is a House resolution calling on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to revoke its current policy allowing biological males who identify as transgender to compete on women's sports teams. The resolution states this policy discriminates against female athletes and violates Title IX by jeopardizing women's competitive opportunities and safety. It specifically urges the NCAA to implement a biological sex-based policy, requiring only individuals assigned female at birth to compete in women's sports, and to ensure all member conferences comply. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests the NCAA change its eligibility rules.
