United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2025
This resolution recognizes the significance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2025
Chip Security Act This bill requires covered integrated circuit products (e.g., advanced computing chips) to incorporate certain security mechanisms. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Commerce to require any covered integrated circuit product to have chip security mechanisms that implement location verification before the product is exported, reexported, or in-country transferred to or in a foreign country. Commerce must require any person that has received a license or other authorization under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to export, reexport, or in-country transfer a covered product to promptly report to Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security if the person obtains credible information that the product has been diverted away from its intended location or has been subjected to tampering. Commerce must, in coordination with the Department of Defense (DOD), conduct an assessment and report to Congress on whether additional chip security mechanisms should be adopted. If Commerce determines additional security measures are necessary, then Commerce must require any covered product to include the secondary chip security mechanisms before the product is exported, reexported, or in-country transferred to or in a foreign country. The bill authorizes Commerce to take certain enforcement actions, such as verifying the ownership and location of a covered product that has been exported, reexported, or in-country transferred to or in a foreign country. Commerce must coordinate with DOD, within two years of the bill's enactment and annually thereafter for three years, to assess new chip security mechanisms and report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2025
Medicaid VBPs for Patients Act or the MVP Act This bill provides statutory authority for regulations that allow for the use of varying best price points under value-based purchasing arrangements for purposes of the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. ( Value-based purchasing arrangements refer to arrangements in which the price of a drug is linked to clinical outcomes; such arrangements are particularly used for new high-cost treatments, such as gene therapies.) The Government Accountability Office must study the impact of value-based purchasing arrangements on federal health care programs, including with respect to the bill's changes. Additionally, the bill (1) exempts sales of drugs that are made under value-based purchasing arrangements from calculations of the manufacturer average sales price for purposes of payments under Medicare medical services, if the manufacturer reports multiple best prices under Medicaid in accordance with the bill's changes; and (2) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance on how state Medicaid programs may cover drugs in inpatient settings via value-based purchasing arrangements.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2025
Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies Act or the Improving Police CARE Act This bill requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Department of Justice to develop and publish performance standards for trauma kits that are eligible to be purchased using funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. Additionally, the BJA must develop and publish best practices for the use, deployment, and maintenance of trauma kits by law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2025
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025 This bill requires standardized financial aid terminology and offer forms. Specifically, the Department of Education (ED) must develop standard terminology and a format for financial aid offer forms based on recommendations from representatives of certain groups, including students, veterans, and institutions of higher education (IHEs). The consumer-friendly form must include specified details and disclosures, including the estimated cost of attendance, the net price that a student or family is estimated to pay, and the terms and conditions of financial aid. In addition, ED must (1) test the form with representatives of students, students' families, IHEs, secondary school and postsecondary counselors, and nonprofit consumer groups; and (2) use the results to develop the final form. Each IHE that participates in federal student aid programs must (1) use the standard form when offering financial aid to students, and (2) use the standard terminology and definitions developed by ED for all communications related to financial aid offers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2025
Veterans Opportunity Act of 2025 This bill establishes the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration to administer economic opportunity assistance programs for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Specifically, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration must administer the following Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs: vocational rehabilitation and employment programs, educational assistance programs, veterans' housing loan and related programs, the responsibilities of the VA with respect to the Transition Assistance Program, and any other VA program that the VA determines is appropriate. Prior to the transfer of administrative responsibilities, the bill requires the VA to certify that (1) the transition of the provision of services will not negatively affect the provision of such services to veterans, and (2) such services are ready to be transferred.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 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 · 30 April 2025
Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2025
Claiming Age Clarity Act This bill changes certain terms that are used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to describe the ages at which a worker may claim Social Security retirement benefits. First, the SSA must use minimum monthly benefit age instead of early eligibility age . This refers to the earliest age (62 under current law) at which a worker may claim benefits. (Currently, the benefit amount of a worker who claims benefits early is reduced to account for the longer period during which the worker is expected to receive benefits.) Second, the SSA must use standard monthly benefit age instead of full retirement age and normal retirement age . These terms refer to the age at which a worker may claim benefits without a reduction in the benefit amount. (Currently, this age ranges from 65 to 67, depending on the worker's year of birth.) Finally, the SSA must use the term maximum monthly benefit age for any reference to age 70 as the maximum age at which a worker may receive delayed retirement credits. The SSA may not use the term delayed retirement credit. These terms refer to the mechanism that increases the benefit amount of a worker who delays claiming benefits after reaching the full retirement age. (Currently, a worker receives a credit for each month between the full retirement age and age 70 that the worker delays claiming benefits. Each credit increases the benefit amount that the worker will receive after claiming benefits by a specified percentage.)
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2025
Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act of 2025 or the POWER Act of 2025 This bill authorizes electric utilities receiving certain emergency assistance for the restoration of power to also carry out cost-effective hazard mitigation activities in combination with the power restoration activities. Additionally, the bill specifies that electric utilities receiving such assistance for a facility may, if otherwise eligible, also receive hazard mitigation assistance for the same facility under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2025
Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025 or the SAVES Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a five-year pilot program to award grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit entities to provide service dogs to veterans who have certain disabilities, conditions, or diagnoses (e.g., a visual impairment). Under the program, the VA may provide up to $2 million to a nonprofit entity in a fiscal year. The VA must provide a veterinary insurance policy to veterans who receive a service dog through a grant under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2025
This resolution recognizes April 14, 2025, as World Quantum Day and encourages schools and educators to observe the day with activities that teach students about quantum physics.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2025
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access to address the accessibility of the VA for individuals with disabilities. Prior to establishing the advisory committee, the VA must take action to abolish or consolidate advisory committees that are currently inactive.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2025
America's First Fuels Act This bill increases the federal energy efficient home improvement tax credit amount allowed for installing a biomass stove or biomass boiler in a principal residence. The bill also establishes a new federal tax credit (as part of the general business tax credit) for investments in open-loop biomass heating property. Specifically, the bill increases to $10,000 the annual maximum amount of the energy efficient home improvement tax credit allowed for installing a biomass stove or biomass boiler in a principal residence. (Under current law, taxpayers may claim a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to an annual maximum of $2,000, to install a biomass stove, a biomass boiler, or certain other energy-efficient property in a principal residence.) The bill also establishes a new business tax credit for 30% of the cost of any property which (1) uses open-loop biomass to produce thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, hot air, or steam; and (2) is used for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat (or any combination of such uses). (Conditions apply.) However, the tax credit is reduced for open-loop biomass heating property financed with tax-exempt bonds. Finally, under the bill, businesses may elect to claim the tax credit for qualified open-loop biomass heating property progress expenses (expenses incurred in advance of placing such property in service) if the normal construction period for such property is two years or more and certain other conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act This bill requires the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to establish the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program to identify deceased members of the Armed Forces who were Jewish and buried in a U.S. military cemetery located outside of the United States under a marker indicating the member was not Jewish. The program must contact survivors and descendants of such members. The ABMC must seek to enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization to carry out the program during the first 10 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Strong Communities Act of 2025 This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to make competitive grants for local law enforcement agencies to provide training to officers and recruits who agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2025
Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government. If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2025
This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2025
Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act This bill expands eligibility for the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program to the spouses of certain veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Such program is administered by the Department of Labor and generally provides career and employment services to disabled veterans. The bill expands eligibility for the program to spouses of persons who died while members of the Armed Forces; persons who died of a service-connected disability; members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, for more than 90 days, are listed as missing in action, captured by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government power; persons who have a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability; and persons who died while an evaluated total disability was in existence.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2025
Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act This bill permits individuals to enroll in a dental benefits plan on a health insurance exchange without also enrolling in a qualified health plan.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2025
Strengthen American Competitiveness Against Harmful Subsidies Act of 2025 This bill requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to regularly monitor and report on industrial subsidies provided by the Chinese government. First, the USTR must coordinate with specified federal agencies to regularly monitor (1) industrial subsidies provided by the Chinese government; and (2) plans by the Chinese government to implement new, or expand existing, industrial subsidies. Second, the USTR must coordinate with specified federal agencies to submit an annual report to Congress that identifies current and expected industrial subsidies provided by the Chinese government that pose a significant risk to (1) employment in the United States, including employment in strategically critical industries; and (2) manufacturing in the United States, including production of strategically critical goods. This report must also include recommendations for legislative, administrative, or other actions that could mitigate the risks posed by industrial subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2025
Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of ultrasound tests performed at a beneficiary's home. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must provide for separate payments for portable ultrasound services in the same manner and to the same extent as for portable X-ray services.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001076_200.jpg)