United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This resolution supports the goals of National Catholic Schools Week, an event cosponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and established to recognize the contributions of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This resolution recognizes and honors Gold Shield Families for their sacrifices and support of their loved ones in service to our nation. Gold Shield Families consist of the families of fallen police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), correction officers, emergency dispatch officers, and emergency service providers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his contributions to civil rights, his loyalty and patriotism to the nation, and his dedication to justice and equality.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025 This bill elevates the current position of the Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 This bill modifies the Energy Act of 2020 to expand the definition of critical minerals to include critical materials designated by the Department of Energy (DOE). Under current law, DOE's critical materials list contains certain materials that are essential for energy, including those on the critical minerals list of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS's list, which contains certain minerals that are essential to the nation's economic or national security, is not required to include the materials on DOE's list. Currently, both lists include minerals with a high risk of supply chain disruptions, and both DOE and USGS must conduct a variety of efforts to ensure a secure and reliable supply chain of the minerals. By expanding the definition of critical minerals , this bill requires the USGS to include on its list the materials on DOE's list. Within 45 days of DOE adding a mineral, element, substance, or material to its critical materials list, the USGS must update its list to include such mineral, element, substance, or material.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Making Advances Kinetic Education, Research, and Skills Act or the MAKERS Act This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education to support research and development related to makerspaces. Under the bill, makerspaces are defined as community spaces that provide learners and entrepreneurs with tools, technology, and knowledge, and support educational opportunities for personal growth, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Grant funds may be used to support research on the effectiveness of makerspaces in engaging students and communities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), among other functions. In awarding grants, the NSF must prioritize certain applicants, including (1) community colleges and minority-serving institutions; and (2) institutions that apply in partnership with workforce development entities, high-need local educational agencies, or independent nonprofit or academic makerspaces.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This resolution recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year. The resolution expresses, in observance of this Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, the deepest respect of the House of Representatives for Asian Americans and all individuals throughout the world who celebrate this significant occasion. The resolution wishes Asian Americans and all individuals who observe this holiday a happy and prosperous new year.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement Act of 2025 or the FIRE Act of 2025 This bill establishes certain programs to improve wildfire forecasting and detection within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Specifically, NOAA is directed to establish one or more weather research testbeds with industry and academic partners. (Testbeds are collaborative spaces where researchers and forecasters work together to integrate new observation systems into models, test and streamline data assimilation methods, and otherwise improve weather products and services for the benefit of the public.) Further, NOAA is directed to establish an additional program to develop and extend accurate wildfire forecasts and warnings in order to reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage. Through this program, NOAA may develop, test, and deploy satellite detection, fuel moisture and danger assessments, and atmosphere and fire modeling, among other tools.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill temporarily reinstates the election to expense environmental remediation costs paid or incurred in connection with the cleanup of certain business property (also known as the brownfields redevelopment tax incentive). (The election to expense allows a taxpayer to deduct such costs in the year incurred rather than treat such costs as capital expenses that are depreciated over a period of time.) The brownfields redevelopment tax incentive allows a taxpayer to elect to expense costs that would otherwise be capitalized and are paid or incurred before 2012 in connection with the abatement or control of a hazardous substance on property (1) used in a trade or business, (2) for the production of income, or (3) held by the taxpayer primarily for sale in the ordinary course of a trade or business. (Some limitations apply.) Under the bill, a taxpayer may elect to expense such environmental remediation costs paid or incurred in 2025-2028.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies serve as a private economic and social support system, providing benefits to their members is necessary to support the charitable and fraternal activities of the volunteer chapters, and their work should continue to be promoted.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration to issue or update guidance to minimize the risk for contamination of breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, juice, and related products that are subject to re-screening or additional screening, including by ensuring adherence to hygienic standards. Related products include ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, and other accessories required to cool breast milk, baby formula, and juice. In addition, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to audit compliance with these requirements and submit a report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
All Aboard Act This bill requires Amtrak to issue refunds to rail passengers for the purchase price of rail passenger transportation that is cancelled or delayed due to a failure of Amtrak. Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue regulations requiring Amtrak to issue full refunds to passengers for the purchase price of the covered rail passenger transportation if there is a cancellation or a delay of more than three hours in the journey completion time that is due to a failure of Amtrak. Under the bill, covered rail passenger transportation means (1) rail passenger transportation provided by, or on behalf of, Amtrak; or (2) commuter rail passenger transportation that travels over Amtrak-owned rails, regardless of whether it is provided by Amtrak or other rail carriers. The regulations must include procedures for (1) determining if a cancellation or delay is due to a failure of Amtrak, and (2) Amtrak to dispute that a cancellation or delay is subject to the refund requirements. The bill prohibits Amtrak from receiving federal funds for any period during which DOT determines that Amtrak is noncompliant with these requirements. Amtrak must submit a report to Congress on alternative asset maintenance strategies to replace the run-to-fail maintenance model (i.e., using passenger rail equipment and infrastructure until it no longer works or exceeds its estimated lifespan), including the cost of the strategies. Within two years of this bill's enactment, Amtrak must (1) stop using a run-to-fail maintenance model, and (2) implement a new asset maintenance strategy.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Charitable Act This bill allows an individual taxpayer who does not itemize their tax deductions to claim a tax deduction for charitable contributions and eliminates the tax penalty for overstating charitable contributions. (Some limitations apply). Under the bill, for tax years beginning in 2026 or 2027, an individual taxpayer who does not itemize their tax deductions may deduct charitable contributions of up to one-third of the standard deduction allowed to such individual. (Under current law, an individual taxpayer generally must itemize their tax deductions to deduct charitable contributions.) The bill also eliminates the tax penalty for an underpayment of taxes attributable to overstated charitable contributions by taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. (Under current law, taxpayers who claim a deduction under this bill may be assessed a tax penalty in the amount of 50% of the portion of an understatement of tax liability attributable to overstated charitable contributions.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's Act This bill increases compensation and establishes additional benefits and programs for federal wildland firefighters. (These individuals are employed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, or tribal governments.) The bill increases the minimum rate of basic pay for wildland firefighters at General Schedule (GS) levels 1 through 15 by percentages specified in the bill, with smaller increases for higher GS levels. The bill also requires comparable increases to the hourly rates paid to prevailing rate employees who are wildland firefighters. It also establishes premium pay for wildland firefighters who respond to certain prolonged fire incidents and are deployed outside of their normal duty stations or to an area adjacent to the incident. These changes take effect after other temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters expire. The bill also (1) establishes paid rest and recuperation leave; (2) allows certain prior service to be credited for retirement purposes; and (3) provides housing allowances, tuition assistance, and other benefits for wildland firefighters. Further, the bill directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries and illnesses correlated to fire response are compensated and to expedite related claims. The bill also establishes programs to (1) assist the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and fire support personnel who are critically injured or killed while in the line of duty, and (2) support the mental and physical health of wildland firefighters.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The NWSS provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities. Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially implemented to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A, mpox, and RSV.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to take certain actions to increase mathematical and statistical modeling education in elementary and secondary schools. First, the NSF must make competitive awards to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations for research and development to support high-quality mathematical modeling education (e.g., data science and computational thinking) in schools. This authority to provide awards expires on September 30, 2029. Second, the NSF must seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on mathematical and statistical modeling education in schools.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
This bill requires the President to submit to Congress a determination, including a detailed justification, of whether specified Hong Kong officials meet the criteria for the imposition of sanctions under certain U.S. laws or executive orders, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
This resolution commends the role of the U.S. government in improving access to quality, inclusive education, and improved learning outcomes for the poorest and most marginalized children and adolescents around the world. The resolution calls on the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to use all diplomatic, humanitarian, and developmental means to promote access to such quality education.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025 This bill increases the income limit and makes other modifications to the above-the-line tax deduction for business expenses of qualified performing artists. (Above-the-line deductions are subtracted from gross income to calculate adjusted gross income.) Under current law, a qualified performing artist (who may deduct certain business expenses from gross income) is defined as an individual who (1) performs services in the performing arts as an employee for at least two employers during the tax year and receives at least $200 from each employer (minimum payment), (2) has business deductions attributable to such services exceeding 10% of the gross income received from such services, and (3) has adjusted gross income of $16,000 or less. The bill modifies the definition of a qualified performing artist (for purposes of the business expense deduction) to eliminate the $16,000 adjusted gross income limitation and increase the minimum payment amount to $500 (adjusted for inflation beginning in 2026). However, under the bill, the tax deduction for business expenses of qualified performing artists phases out for individuals with gross income exceeding $100,000 (or $200,000 for joint filers) such that the tax deduction completely phases out for individuals with gross income exceeding $120,000 (or $240,000 for joint filers). (The phase-out threshold is adjusted for inflation beginning in 2026.) Finally, the bill provides that commissions paid to a manager or agent by a qualified performing artist are deductible business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
This resolution reaffirms the importance of the alliance between the United States and South Korea, particularly with regard to security in the Indo-Pacific. The resolution also celebrates the important contributions of Korean Americans to American society and supports the goals of Korean Culture-Kimchi Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 This bill increases the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Dependency and indemnity compensation is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors (i.e., spouses, parents, or children) of (1) certain veterans who died as a result of a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed while on active military duty or active or inactive duty for training; or (3) veterans who did not die from a service-connected condition, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period of time. The bill also (1) reduces, from 10 years to 5 years, the period of time that certain veterans must have been rated totally disabled due to a service-connected disability in order for a survivor to qualify for benefits; and (2) specifies the amount that is payable to survivors of veterans who were rated totally disabled for a period of less than 10 years before their death.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, schools participating in the program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; USDA regulations require milk to be fat-free or low-fat and allow milk to be flavored or unflavored. The bill modifies these restrictions and instead permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or nonorganic. Further, USDA may not prohibit a participating school from offering students any of these milk choices. Further, schools currently must provide a substitute for fluid milk, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician, for students whose disability restricts their diet. Under the bill, a parent or legal guardian may also provide the written statement. In addition, schools currently participating in the program must provide meals that meet certain nutrition requirements; USDA regulations require that the average saturated fat content of the meals offered must be less than 10% of the total calories. Under the bill, fluid milk is excluded from the saturated fat content calculation; milk fat included in any fluid milk provided by the program must not be considered saturated fat for the purposes of measuring compliance with USDA regulations. Finally, the bill prohibits schools participating in the program from purchasing or offering milk produced by Chinese state-owned enterprises.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Main Street Tax Certainty Act This bill makes permanent the qualified business income (QBI) tax deduction. Under current law, individuals, estates, and trusts may deduct the lower of (1) 20% of QBI from a qualified business, qualified real estate investment trust dividends, and qualified publicly traded partnership income; or (2) 20% of taxable income less net capital gain. (Some limitations apply.) However, under current law, the QBI tax deduction expires after December 31, 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Military Firefighters Compensation Fund to provide compensation to current and former military firefighters, or survivors of such firefighters, for illnesses incurred in the line of duty due to exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. Under the bill, current and former military firefighters are presumed to have been exposed to PFAS (in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary) if the firefighter was employed at a military installation, facility of the National Guard, or formerly used defense site during a period when PFAS would have been present at such facility. The bill provides that in cases where a military firefighter is deceased at the time of payment of compensation, the surviving spouse must receive the payment. If there is no surviving spouse, the bill provides for the order of distribution to other surviving parties (e.g., a child or parent of the firefighter). The bill also provides that a survivor of a firefighter may file a claim for compensation if the firefighter dies before filing a claim. DOD must furnish the services, appliances, and supplies prescribed or recommended to a military firefighter who is receiving medical benefits for an illness related to PFAS exposure. Additionally, such firefighter may be furnished necessary and reasonable transportation and expenses incident to securing care for such illness.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes On Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN Act This bill generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence. Specifically, the bill prohibits the online publication of intimate visual depictions of an adult subject where publication is intended to cause or does cause harm to the subject, and where the depiction was published without the subject’s consent or, in the case of an authentic depiction, was created or obtained under circumstances where the adult had a reasonable expectation of privacy; or a minor subject where publication is intended to abuse or harass the minor or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. Violators are subject to mandatory restitution and criminal penalties, including prison, a fine, or both. Threats to publish intimate visual depictions of a subject are similarly prohibited under the bill and subject to criminal penalties. Separately, covered platforms must establish a process through which subjects of intimate visual depictions may notify the platform of the existence of, and request removal of, an intimate visual depiction including the subject that was published without the subject’s consent. Covered platforms must remove such depictions within 48 hours of notification. Under the bill, covered platforms are defined as public websites, online services, or applications that primarily provide a forum for user-generated content.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2033 and expands the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) under which the Forest Service carries out watershed protection and restoration projects on federal land. It also requires the Forest Service's Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land to ensure certain activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of the health of a watershed. The bill authorizes the WSPP to support projects on state, local, or private land that is adjacent to projects on National Forest System land, so long as (1) the adjacent land is within the same watershed as the project on federal land, and (2) the owner of the adjacent land supports the project. Further, the bill expands the types of end water users that may participate in the program to include (1) an acequia association (an organization that manages traditional irrigation systems found in the Southwest); (2) a public entity that manages water infrastructure, such as stormwater or wastewater resources; (3) certain land grant entities in New Mexico called land-grant mercedes; and (4) a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority. The bill requires projects under the program to (1) protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure; (2) protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or (3) advance any combination of those purposes. Additionally, the bill reduces the cost share for nonfederal WSPP participants.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025 This bill expands the allowable uses of grant funds under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program administered by the Department of Justice. Specifically, the bill allows grants to be used for purchasing containment devices for first responders and training first responders on the use of containment devices to prevent secondary exposure to fentanyl and other potentially lethal substances.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2025 or the 911 SAVES Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification system no later than 30 days after the enactment of this bill. (The Standard Occupational Classification system is a federal statistical standard used by federal agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct an epidemiological study and report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in veterans who served in the Vietnam theater of operations during the Vietnam era. The study must identify the rate of incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in such veterans and in U.S. residents. The bill also requires the VA to track and report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma using the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry. Additionally, the VA must periodically submit follow-up reports to Congress regarding the epidemiological study and information collected from the cancer registry regarding the prevalence of bile duct cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 or the BEACH Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and expands an existing program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that awards grants to states and local governments to (1) monitor the water quality of coastal recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public; and (2) notify the public, local governments, and the EPA when the water is not safe for recreational activities. Specifically, the bill expands the program to allow the EPA to award grants for identifying sources of contamination (i.e., pathogens) for coastal recreation waters. It also allows grants to be used for monitoring and notification of contamination in (1) shallow waters upstream from recreational waters, and (2) recreational waters on beaches.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states and tribal entities with grants to increase access to licensed child care services. The grants may be used to develop and expand the child care workforce or child care facilities in locations with insufficient available child care. Specifically, grants cover 50% of the cost of programs to support the education and training of caregivers or projects to build, expand, or renovate child care facilities in these areas.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Defending American Jobs and Investment Act This bill provides for the enforcement of remedies against foreign countries that have extraterritorial or discriminatory taxes. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury to periodically submit a report to Congress that lists each foreign country that has one or more extraterritorial or discriminatory taxes. Treasury must commence enhanced bilateral engagement with each foreign country included in the report. This engagement must (1) express the concern of the United States with respect to the adverse trade and economic effects of tax policies that violate bilateral tax treaties and international tax norms, (2) urge the repeal of extraterritorial and discriminatory taxes that target U.S. persons, and (3) advise the foreign country of remedial actions (as outlined by this bill). The bill increases income tax and withholding tax rates on certain foreign citizens, corporations, and partnerships of any foreign country listed in Treasury's report. The bill provides the executive branch with additional tools to enforce against extraterritorial and discriminatory taxes. These tools include authorizing the President to prohibit government contracting for or procurement of goods or services from a foreign country listed in Treasury's report, directing Treasury to consider these taxes in assessing whether to enter into or update a bilateral tax treaty with the foreign country, and requiring the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to consider these taxes in assessing whether to enter into any free trade agreement or executive agreement with the foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2025
Auto Theft Prevention Act This bill establishes a grant program to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking. Specifically, the bill directs the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants for state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. The bill also allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to combat auto thefts and stolen automobile trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2025
Expanding Labor Representation in the Workforce System Act This bill increases from 20% to 30% the workforce representation on state and local workforce development boards. Workforce development boards perform a variety of functions to carry out the programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, including by developing and implementing plans for workforce development and investment activities. Current law specifies that boards must include representatives of labor organizations, among others with relevant expertise. The bill specifies that labor organizations include organizations that are considered labor organizations based on the definition included in the National Labor Relations Act (e.g., unions); are composed of labor organizations (e.g., a labor union federation or a state or municipal labor body); or would be considered labor organizations but for the fact that the organization represents agricultural laborers or individuals employed by a federal agency, a government corporation, a Federal Reserve Bank, a state or local government, or an employer that is subject to the Railway Labor Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2025
Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act or the BLUE Pacific Act This bill requires or authorizes activities to strengthen U.S. relations with Pacific Islands countries, which include the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. The bill authorizes various activities in the Pacific Islands, including to assist in improving public health outcomes and build public health capacity; assist in promoting the dissemination of free and accurate information; promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals; provide assistance to promote sustainable and quality basic education; assist with workforce development; build the capacity of local civilian and national security institutions; expand trade and promote regional development; enhance preparedness for and resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies; support sustainable fisheries policies and marine biodiversity conservation; support expanded access to broadband and telecommunications infrastructure; and support cybersecurity, including by assisting with development and implementation of incident response plans. The bill also requires (1) the Department of State to help Pacific Island countries access development support from international organizations, (2) the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to prioritize efforts to enter into investment incentive agreements with Pacific Islands countries, and (3) the Department of Commerce to expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service and increase the number foreign commercial service officers in the Pacific Islands. The President may extend certain diplomatic privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum, an international organization of 18 countries in the Pacific.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act of 2025 This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a competitive grant program to fund satellite monitoring of wildfires. The entities eligible to receive the grants are state foresters, emergency managers, and equivalent state officials. Grant recipients must use the funds for purchasing and integrating satellite data on wildfire monitoring and for using the data to detect and manage wildfires.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to carry out a program for post-disaster reforestation and restoration. Interior must identify covered lands requiring reforestation and restoration following unplanned disturbances that are unlikely to experience natural regeneration without assistance. Covered land means (1) any federal land or interest in land administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Forest Service, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (2) any Indian Forest Land or Rangeland. Interior must propose a list that prioritizes projects for reforestation and restoration for each fiscal year. Interior may (1) carry out priority projects through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements; and (2) support any grant contract or cooperative agreement that may be necessary to ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling availability to further the objectives of priority projects.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal education funds if the IHE receives gifts from certain countries. Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from receiving a gift from (1) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran; or (2) a country that has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as determined by the Department of State. The bill also requires an IHE, as a condition of eligibility for federal education funds, to report any offer of a gift from such a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
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.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
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.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that knowingly participate in the construction, maintenance, or repair of a tunnel or bridge that connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula. The bill provides exceptions to these sanctions in certain circumstances (such as providing humanitarian assistance or to comply with international obligations). The President may also waive such sanctions on the basis of U.S. national security interests.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Equal COLA Act This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase. Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year. Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2025 or the 911 SAVES Act of 2025 This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider revising the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system to establish a separate code for public safety telecommunicators as a subset of protective service occupations. (The SOC system is a federal statistical standard used by federal agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data.) OMB must consider the separate code for public safety telecommunicators as part of the first revision process of the SOC system occurring after this bill is enacted. If OMB decides not to establish the separate code, OMB must submit a report to Congress explaining why the code was not established.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_pa_1_fitzpatrick_brian_200.jpg)