Defence

Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act

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.

Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act This bill permanently extends authorization for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides supportive services to very low-income veterans (and their families) occupying or transitioning to permanent housing.

Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025 This bill limits birthright citizenship by redefining what it means to be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Currently, a person born in the United States and subject to U.S. jurisdiction is entitled to citizenship. Under the bill, a person is subject to U.S. jurisdiction if he or she is born to a parent who is (1) a U.S. citizen or national, (2) a lawful permanent resident residing in the United States, or (3) a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) with a lawful immigration status who is performing active service in the Armed Forces. The bill does not affect the citizenship or nationality status of any person born before the bill's enactment date.

_______ Act of 2024

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

This bill requires the consent of the chief executive officers (e.g., governors) of involved states when the President or Department of Defense orders National Guard units to perform training or other duty in such states. Under the bill, the term state  includes the District of Columbia and territories or possessions of the United States. The bill also subjects the ordered training or duty to the limitations of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the use of the military for civil law enforcement purposes.

Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act This bill establishes a wildfire resilience grant program within the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), expands an existing U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire risk reduction grant program, and requires the USFA and Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce various reports and resources relating to wildfire resilience. Specifically, the bill requires the USFA to award grants to state or local governments, tribes, volunteer fire departments, or groups thereof for developing a community protection and wildfire resilience plan or carrying out projects that support strategies described in such a plan.  Also, under current law, the USFS’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant program provides grants to at-risk communities for implementing wildfire risk reduction, including reducing hazardous fuels and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, but excluding activities such as construction and home hardening (e.g., roof upgrades, fire-resistant siding). The bill expands the eligible project types to include construction or modification of a structure to increase fire-resistance and modification of a structure or the adjacent area to reduce exposure to contact with wildfire.  Additionally, the bill requires the USFA to develop and publish a map depicting communities at risk from wildfire. The USFA must also provide a report evaluating and ensuring public entities have radio communication capabilities adequate for wildfire management. The bill also requires the GAO to publish a study on potential certification for community protection and wildfire resilience plans, and a report assessing impediments for federal wildfire resilience programs.

Keith Bass, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Lester Martinez-Lopez.

United States · United States Senate · 20 January 2025

A resolution honoring the service of women in combat roles in the Armed Forces.

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This resolution recognizes the contribution of women serving in combat roles in the Armed Forces.

Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for 10 years in the Gulf of Mexico Region Program Area, places a moratorium on oil and gas leases in certain areas, and establishes related requirements. Interior must offer at least 74 million acres for each offshore lease sale in such region. The bill stipulates the terms and conditions of such leases. Interior must also carry out the lease sales in accordance with the Record of Decision approved by Interior on January 17, 2017. Interior may waive certain requirements under the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program that would delay final approval of those lease sales. In addition, the bill prohibits such lease sales from being invalidated as a result of lawsuits relating to environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It also limits delays to the lease sales as a result of the lawsuits. Finally, the bill extends through 2035 a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico; (2) any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 miles of Florida's coastline; and (3) certain areas in the Central Planning Area, including specified areas along Florida's coastline. It also places a moratorium through 2035 on oil and gas leasing in the South Atlantic Planning Area or the Straits of Florida Planning Area.

AMERICANS Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2025 or the AMERICANS Act This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate. Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason. DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers. Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions. Members who were separated from the Armed Forces for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are not required to repay any bonuses and must be reimbursed if they repaid any portion of a bonus prior to this bill's enactment. This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.

GATE CRASHERS Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Guarding and Administering Trespass Enforcement, Controlling Restricted Areas, and Stopping High-risk Encroachment Recidivism and Sabotage Act or the GATE CRASHERS Act This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for going onto Department of Defense property that is closed or restricted without authorization.

A bill to rename the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center".

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center.

Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 This bill modifies personnel action procedures regarding certain employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The bill authorizes the VA to remove from civil service, demote, or suspend VA employees that are supervisors or managers if the VA determines by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of such individual warrants such action. This authority does not apply to certain appointees or individuals in their probationary or trial period. Supervisors or managers who are subject to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this bill are entitled to (1) advance notice of the action and supporting evidence, (2) representation by an attorney or representative, and (3) grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process. The bill also provides protections from removal, demotion, or suspension for supervisor or managers who are whistleblowers or are seeking corrective action for an alleged prohibited personnel practice such as discrimination. The bill also modifies the procedures to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees or senior executives based on performance or misconduct, specifically by requiring the VA to determine by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension. Such procedures must apply retroactively, beginning on the date of enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (June 23, 2017).

VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 This bill requires mortgage lenders to include on the Uniform Residential Loan Application (i.e., Fannie Mae Form 1003 or Freddie Mac Form 65) a notification that applicants with military service may qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan. Not later than 18 months after the enactment of the bill, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether at least 80% of lenders using the loan application form have met this requirement.

Subterranean Border Defense Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Subterranean Border Defense Act This bill requires recurring annual reporting by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the implementation of a strategic plan to counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations. Currently, CBP is only required to report once no later than one year after the plan's development. 

Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act of 2025 This bill provides that certain individuals are not prohibited from purchasing, selling, or possessing a firearm or ammunition solely because the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has determined they require a fiduciary or are mentally incompetent (i.e., unable to manage their affairs).  Under current law, it is unlawful to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person who has been adjudicated as mentally defective. The bill provides that a person must not be treated as having been adjudicated as mentally defective solely because the VA determined the person requires a fiduciary or is mentally incompetent per its regulations. Within 30 days of the enactment of this bill, the VA must notify the Department of Justice (DOJ) that the VA's transmittals of certain information that was provided solely on the basis that a veteran's benefits are managed by a fiduciary were improper, do not apply, or no longer apply. This applies to VA transmittals to DOJ on or after November 30, 1993, for use by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for firearm transferees.

Veterans Collaboration Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Veterans Collaboration Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a two-year pilot program to promote and encourage partnerships between the VA and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning. Specifically, the VA must encourage partnerships between (1) veterans service organizations that provide credentialed personnel to assist veterans with legal needs, and (2) law schools that provide pro bono legal assistance and legal services to veterans.

Troops Before Politicians Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Troops Before Politicians Act This bill withholds the pay of Members of Congress if active service members of the Armed Forces are not receiving pay, including as a result of a lapse in appropriations (i.e., a government shutdown). The withheld pay of Members must be deposited into an escrow account and released when the military lapse in pay ends.

MACH Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Act or the MACH Act This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a research program to facilitate the testing of high-speed aircraft and related technologies, to be known as the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program. Within a specified time period, NASA must develop a strategic plan for such research. NASA must also consult with the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration on these efforts.  Under the program, NASA may not (1) fund the development of hypersonic and related technologies; or (2) enter into an agreement with certain foreign entities of concern, including entities owned or controlled by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia. 

ACES Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

ACES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on the prevalence and mortality of cancers among veterans who served on active duty as aircrew members and regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.  

Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 This bill modifies personnel action procedures regarding certain employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The bill authorizes the VA to remove from civil service, demote, or suspend VA employees that are supervisors or managers if the VA determines by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of such individual warrants such action. This authority does not apply to certain appointees or individuals in their probationary or trial period. Supervisors or managers who are subject to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this bill are entitled to (1) advance notice of the action and supporting evidence, (2) representation by an attorney or representative, and (3) grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process. The bill also provides protections from removal, demotion, or suspension for supervisor or managers who are whistleblowers or are seeking corrective action for an alleged prohibited personnel practice such as discrimination. The bill also modifies the procedures to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees or senior executives based on performance or misconduct, specifically by requiring the VA to determine by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension. Such procedures must apply retroactively, beginning on the date of enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (June 23, 2017).

To rename the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center".

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center.

Veteran’s Choice Accountability Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Veteran's Choice Accountability Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to evaluate VA programs that furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to ensure that the most intensively used specialized care programs are maintained as centers of excellence. The bill also requires the VA to submit an evaluation of the VA's implementation of the VA Budget and Choice Improvement Act.

BRAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Be Ready to Assist Veterans in Extremis Act or the BRAVE Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a patient outreach system under which it must ensure that veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have experienced a traumatic or highly stressful event may elect to receive information and resources relating to mental health and available mental health care services. The VA must coordinate the system with the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.

To require the Department of Defense to share best practices with, and offer training to, State and local first responders regarding how to most effectively aid victims who experience trauma-related injuries.

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This bill requires the Department of Defense to ensure that it shares best practices with, and offers training to, state and local first responders regarding how to most effectively aid victims who experience trauma-related injuries.

Recognizing that article I, section 10 of the United States Constitution explicitly reserves to the States the sovereign power to repel an invasion and defend their citizenry from the overwhelming and "imminent danger" posed by paramilitary, narco-terrorist cartels, terrorists and criminal actors who seized control of our southern border.

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

This resolution declares that every state within the United States has the sovereign right to exclude any person who does not have the right to be there. It also declares that the states along the southern border (1) were invaded by terrorists, narco-terrorist cartels, and criminal actors from 2021 through 2024; and (2) have the sovereign and unilateral authority to defend themselves against such an invasion.

HONDURAS Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Honduras Obstinately Neglects Defense and Risks Alienating Security Act or HONDURAS Act This bill authorizes the President to suspend all assistance to Honduras if U.S. military and civilian personnel redeploy from Soto Cano Air Base as the result of the Honduran government's refusal to host such personnel at the base.

Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act This bill addresses the standards for eligibility for service in the Armed Forces. Specifically, the bill provides that any qualifications established or applied relating to eligibility for service in any of the Armed Forces must not include any criteria relating to the race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics) of an individual. Additionally, any personnel policy developed or implemented by a military department with respect to members of the Armed Forces must ensure equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics).

Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures With DOD Doctors Act This bill addresses the sharing of medical information and disability examination procedures between the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires that if a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination upon separation from active duty has or is believed to have a medical condition that may make the member eligible for veterans' disability compensation and benefits, the examination must be performed by a VA-certified health care provider. If the condition is discovered during the physical examination and the examining health care provider is not VA-certified, the examination must be completed by a VA-certified provider. An eligibility determination made as part of such an examination shall be binding on the VA and be used as the basis for assigning the member's disability rating. The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a system to share data and maintain the medical and personnel records of Armed Forces members and veterans.

No Child Tax Credit for Illegals Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

No Child Tax Credit for Illegals Act of 2025 This bill extends and expands the Social Security number (SSN) identification requirements for claiming the child tax credit. The bill also provides that the omission of a correct SSN related to a child tax credit claim is to be treated as a mathematical error for certain purposes. Under current law, to claim the child tax credit, a taxpayer must provide a work-authorized SSN (issued prior to the due date of the federal income tax return) for each qualifying child. Beginning in 2026, to claim the child tax credit, a taxpayer must provide a valid taxpayer identification number (issued on or before the due date of the federal income tax return) for each qualifying child. Under the bill, to claim the child tax credit, a taxpayer must provide a work-authorized SSN (issued before the due date of the federal tax return) for (1) each qualifying child; and (2) the taxpayer, the taxpayer and the taxpayer’s spouse (if filing jointly), or either the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse (if either is a member of the Armed Forces). Finally, the bill provides that the omission of a correct SSN related to a claim for the child tax credit is a mathematical error for purposes of certain tax assessment and collection procedures. 

AMERICANS Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2025 or the AMERICANS Act This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate. Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason. DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers. Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions. Members who were separated from the Armed Forces for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are not required to repay any bonuses and must be reimbursed if they repaid any portion of a bonus prior to this bill's enactment. This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.

FAITH in Small Business Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Fair Assistance and Impartial Treatment of Help In Small Business Act This bill implements a proposed rule by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that allows certain faith-based organizations to access business loan and disaster assistance programs.  The programs include the Intermediary Lending Program (ILP), Business Loan programs (7(a), microloan, and 504 programs), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) program, and Immediate Disaster Assistance Program (IDAP).  Current SBA regulations generally prohibit access to these programs if an organization is principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs. Recent Supreme Court opinions have found it unconstitutional to deny an otherwise qualified recipient access to a public benefit based solely on the organization's religious character (e.g., Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, 582 U.S. 449 (2017)).

Parris Island Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Parris Island Protection Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to close or realign Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in South Carolina, or to conduct any planning or other activity related to such closure or realignment.

Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025 This bill extends for an additional five years the time period during which an eligible Alaska Native veteran may apply for a land allotment under the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program. The program makes Alaska Native veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Vietnam between August 5, 1964, and December 31, 1971, or their heirs eligible to receive up to 160 acres of federal land in Alaska. Under the current program, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management may accept applications through December 29, 2025. This bill extends this time period for an additional five years to December 29, 2030.

PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program to make grants to eligible entities for peer-to-peer mental health programs for veterans. Eligible entities include (1) a nonprofit organization that has historically served the mental health needs of veterans; (2) a congressionally chartered veteran service organization; or (3) a state, local, or tribal veteran service agency, director, or commissioner. The VA shall establish an advisory committee to create appropriate program standards.

Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025 This bill expands eligibility for care under the Foreign Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by removing certain eligibility requirements. The program authorizes the VA to furnish care and services to veterans abroad (i.e., outside any state) for the treatment of service-connected disabilities or as part of a Veteran Readiness and Employment rehabilitation program. The bill expands eligibility for care by removing the requirement that a veteran have a service-connected disability or be participating in a rehabilitation program. The bill also requires the VA to update its payment system to allow for reimbursements through electronic fund transfer. Under the bill, the VA must assess the feasibility and implications of contracting with an appropriate non-VA entity to build a network of non-VA entities to provide hospital care and medical services abroad under the Foreign Medical Program.

Parris Island Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Parris Island Protection Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to close or realign Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in South Carolina, or to conduct any planning or other activity related to such closure or realignment.

Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish hospital care and medical services abroad (i.e., outside any state) to a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as permanent and total who is otherwise eligible for such care if the VA determines certain requirements are met. Specifically, the VA must furnish such care to an eligible veteran if it determines (1) the hospital care or medical services are consistent with the standard medical practice in the United States, and (2) any prescription medication furnished is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. For any care provided abroad, the VA must ensure (1) reimbursements made to veterans and medical providers can be made by direct deposit; and (2) the VA’s mobile applications provide for digital submission, real-time tracking of required forms, and the availability of specified documents associated with care or services, such as a benefits authorization letter.

STAND Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Securing Taxpayer Assistance during Natural Disasters Act or the STAND Act This bill prohibits the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development from obligating or expending federal funds for bilateral, multilateral, or humanitarian non-defense foreign assistance within the first 60 days following a presidentially declared major disaster. The prohibition may be waived if a joint resolution of Congress providing for such a waiver is enacted into law. 

Eliminate DEI in the Military Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Eliminate DEI in the Military Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion activities (e.g., training) of the Armed Forces, national service academies, or the Department of Defense.

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude employees of the offices of Members who serve on certain committees of the House from the allotment of the number of employees of the office who may hold security clearances processed by the Office of House Security if such employees are members of the armed forces who hold a security clearance issued by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

This resolution creates an exception to the House limit on the number of employees who may hold security clearances within certain Member offices. Specifically, any member of the Armed Forces who holds a security clearance issued by the Department of Defense does not count toward the number of employees of a Member who may hold security clearances issued by the Office of House Security. The exception applies to employees of Members on the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, or Homeland Security; the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; or specified subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations.

Religious Insignia on Dog Tags Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Religious Insignia on Dog Tags Act This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow trademarks owned or controlled by DOD to be combined with religious insignia on commercial identification tags (i.e., dog tags) and to be sold by lawful trademark licensees. The bill applies retroactively to September 13, 2013.

Safe Bases Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Safe Bases Act of 2025 This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow a service member to carry a concealed firearm while on any military installation. DOD must establish a single authority within the department to issue permits for this purpose. To be eligible for a permit, the service member must be on active duty and must not be prohibited under federal law from purchasing, owning, or possessing a firearm.

To acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war and formally apologize for the treatment they received upon returning home.

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

This joint resolution recognizes the sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam War and commends them for their sacrifice to the United States. The joint resolution also urges the President to formally acknowledge the widespread mistreatment of such veterans as part of the ongoing Vietnam War Commemoration and issue a formal apology to the veterans and their families. Additionally, the joint resolution expresses urgent support for increased education to better reflect the sacrifice and treatment of Vietnam veterans.

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2025

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025  This bill addresses wildfires by authorizing post-fire recovery activities, supporting adoption of technology, and requiring additional federal coordination. The bill authorizes federal wildfire response and recovery activities by providing statutory authority for Burned Area Emergency Response Teams to coordinate emergency stabilization and erosion planning, and establishing an account to fund federal rehabilitation projects in areas impacted by a wildfire (e.g., ecosystem restoration, replacing infrastructure critical for land management). Additionally, for all hazard types, the bill includes post-disaster assistance in the federal disaster preparedness program and authorizes assistance to states for operating websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources. The bill requires federal agencies to develop and utilize technologies for managing wildfires by expediting the permitting and use of wildfire detection equipment (e.g., sensors, cameras); providing funding to Indian tribes for slip-on tanker units that convert vehicles into fire engines; performing research and development on wildfire response applications of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones); studying radio communications systems, situational awareness tools, and wildland fire predictive modeling; and administering a prize competition for technological innovation for managing wildfire-related invasive species. The bill directs federal agencies to plan and coordinate on wildfire management by incorporating the best available science and planning tools into spatial fire management policies for federal lands,   collaborating with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression (including reimbursing states for suppressing fires caused by military operations), and  studying training gaps for integrating structural (e.g., local) firefighters into wildfire response.

Telework Reform Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Telework Reform Act of 2025 This bill establishes additional terms and conditions for executive agency telework policies. It also authorizes agencies to noncompetitively hire qualified covered veterans, military spouses, and spouses of law enforcement officers for remote telework (i.e., full-time telework from an approved alternative worksite). The bill provides, among other requirements, that agencies limit telework agreements to a period of one year, review telework agreements at least annually, ensure that telework policies address the extent to which telework may be restricted based on performance or disciplinary action, and  establish systems to confirm that employees are working solely at approved worksites. The bill also authorizes agencies to noncompetitively appoint veterans, military spouses, and spouses of law enforcement officers with appropriate qualifications to remote telework positions. The authority for hiring spouses of law enforcement officers is a seven-year pilot program. Further, the bill requires the (1) Office of Management and Budget to issue guidelines to protect the security of information and systems used while teleworking, and (2) the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study comparing the processing time for constituent services provided by agencies as of the study's date with the average processing times in 2019.

A resolution recognizing the 4th anniversary of the Trump administration's Secretary of the Air Force announcing Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for United States Space Command Headquarters.

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

This resolution expresses recognition that the Air Force’s Strategic Basing Action process complied with law and policy and was justified in identifying Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred permanent location for Space Command Headquarters.

Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025 This bill requires standard operating procedures for reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, which are agreements between federal, state, and local governments to share the costs of suppressing wildfires that occur across multiple jurisdictions.  The Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense must establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act. The departments must also review each agreement that is in operation within a year of this bill's enactment and modify an agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures. The standard operating procedures must require that (1) each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement, and (2) the federal paying entity reimburse a local fire department if the fire department submits an invoice in accordance with cost settlement procedures.

Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act This bill modifies provisions related to military retired pay. Specifically, the bill authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation. The bill also makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.

States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

States' Education Reclamation Act of 2025 This bill abolishes the Department of Education (ED) and repeals any program for which it has administrative responsibility. The Department of the Treasury must provide grants to states, for FY2025-FY2033, for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education purposes permitted by state law. The level of funding is set at the amount provided to states for federal elementary and secondary education programs and the amount provided for federal postsecondary education programs, respectively, for FY2025, minus the funding provided for education programs that the bill transfers to other federal agencies. States must contract for an annual audit of their expenditures or transfers of grant funds. Program administrative responsibility and delegation of authority are transferred as follows: ED's job training programs to the Department of Labor, each special education grant program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ED's Indian education programs to the Department of the Interior, each Impact Aid program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to the Department of Defense, the Federal Pell Grant program and each federal student loan program to Treasury, and programs under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Education Sciences or the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to HHS. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on (1) the feasibility of reducing the federal tax burden and eliminating federal involvement in providing grants for education programs, and (2) the feasibility of successor federal agencies maintaining transferred education programs.

Recognizing the 4th anniversary of the Trump administration's Secretary of the Air Force announcing Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for United States Space Command Headquarters.

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

This resolution expresses recognition that the Air Force’s Strategic Basing Action process complied with law and policy and was justified in identifying Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred permanent location for Space Command Headquarters.