Education

National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2025

National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a national strategy to secure elementary and secondary schools from acts of terrorism. DHS must submit this strategy to Congress, annually update the strategy (if appropriate) through 2033, and provide annual briefings to Congress on those updates.

FAFSA Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2025

Freeze Aid For Student Assaulters Act of 2025 or the FAFSA Act of 2025 This bill prohibits an individual who is convicted of a criminal offense of assault against a police officer or rioting (e.g., inciting a riot or participating in a riot) from receiving student federal financial assistance.  Specifically, an individual who is convicted of such an offense shall not be eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). (Title IV financial assistance is the largest source of federal aid to postsecondary students.) Additionally, any grant previously awarded to such an individual must be treated as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that is subject to repayment. Further, interest shall accrue on the converted loan from the date of the original grant award. Converted loans may not be eligible for any loan forgiveness, cancellation, discharge, or reduction programs under the HEA, any other provision of law, or any administrative action or program.

Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2025

Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act This bill revises the application and review process for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to change ownership or for a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) IHE to convert to public or other nonprofit status. Specifically, the bill (1) establishes a pretransaction review application, and (2) requires an IHE to pay an administrative fee to the Department of Education (ED) for change in ownership or conversion transactions or pretransaction reviews. In the case of a for-profit IHE seeking conversion or a pretransaction review for conversion, ED must remit 50% of the administrative fee to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine whether the IHE is exempt from tax and is otherwise in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC). The bill establishes time frames for ED to approve or deny applications. The bill also includes various reporting requirements. An IHE that has been approved for conversion by ED must be subject to a five-year monitoring period and must also pay an annual fee for this monitoring. ED must remit 50% of the annual fee to the IRS for monitoring the IHE's compliance with the IRC. The Government Accountability Office must report on the implementation of this bill's provisions.

SCHOOL Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2025

Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning Act of 2025 or the SCHOOL Act of 2025 This bill allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow the student to the school that they attend (i.e., public, private, or home school), regardless of whether the student is learning in person or remotely. These funds may be used for educational and instructional materials, tutoring, tuition for private school, and extracurricular activities.

To require an institution of higher education that becomes aware that a student having nonimmigrant status under subparagraph (F)(i) or (J) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) has endorsed or supported a foreign terrorist organization to notify the SEVIS, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2025

Pre-Pilot Pathway Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2025

Pre-Pilot Pathway Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an apprenticeship program with flight training providers (e.g., flight schools) in order to establish a commercial pilot pipeline; DOT must issue any necessary regulations to implement the program within one year of the bill's enactment. Each flight training provider participating in the program may select up to eight applicants (or more applicants based on a determination by DOT) per academic year to serve as apprentices. DOT must take appropriate actions to develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired pilots, to become flight school instructors, mentors, or program advisors at participating flight training providers. This includes developing pathway programs for pilots to gain initial qualifications or concurrent qualifications as certified flight instructors. Further, DOT must conduct an annual review of the apprenticeship program’s effectiveness, including the impact on addressing pilot shortages.

National STEM Week Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

National STEM Week Act This bill requires the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM to designate a week each calendar year as National STEM Week. (STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) During this established week, the committee must encourage educational institutions (i.e., elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education) to participate in the week and also encourage families of students attending these educational institutions to participate in STEM activities. Additionally, the committee must encourage STEM industries to (1) engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and (2) support STEM education initiatives at these educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise. The committee must annually report to Congress on the activities conducted during the established week.

A resolution recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

This resolution honors the teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification as of March 2025.

Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025 This bill allows hospitals to receive reimbursement under Medicare for certain costs associated with training nursing and allied health students in settings other than the hospital itself.  Currently, hospitals may receive reimbursement under Medicare for the reasonable costs associated with training nursing and allied health students if certain conditions are met; the criteria vary depending on whether the students are enrolled in an educational program that is operated by the hospital or another entity. If the students are part of a program that is operated by another entity, the training must occur at the hospital itself or in areas immediately surrounding the hospital in order to qualify for reimbursement (among other requirements). The bill allows hospitals to receive reimbursement for these costs if the training is conducted at an entity that is related to the hospital (i.e., common ownership or control). The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update regulations to reflect these changes. Additionally, the CMS may not recoup or reduce payments to hospitals with respect to costs that are allowed under the bill and must refund any such recoupments or reductions that occurred during the six-year period prior to the bill's enactment.

Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for expenses related to security measures along the southern border. Specifically, the local government of a community is eligible for a grant if it is located within 200 miles of the border and is not a sanctuary jurisdiction as defined by the bill. Additionally, no grant may be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, fund legal representation, or provide educational, housing, food, or health care resources to a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law).

Expanding Medical Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act This bill expands support and assistance provided to family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). First, the bill extends the period of medical care coverage for primary family caregivers to include the 180-day period following the removal of their designation as a caregiver under the program, unless such individuals (1) were dismissed from the program for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment; or (2) are entitled to Medicare. Next, the VA must provide bereavement counseling and support to family caregivers following the death of a veteran receiving care under the program. The VA must also provide retirement planning services to primary family caregivers and study the feasibility and advisability of establishing a retirement plan or retirement savings for caregivers. Further, unless they were discharged for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment, the VA must provide to primary family caregivers (1) assistance returning to the workforce upon discharge or dismissal from the program, (2) support in transitioning from caregiving, and (3) specified employment assistance during their tenure as a caregiver and for the following 180-days. The VA must partner with the Department of Labor to study and report on the feasibility and advisability of conducting a program to assist primary caregivers in returning to the workforce. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the VA’s efforts supporting family caregivers in transitioning from caregiving.

Education, Achievement, and Opportunity Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for carrying out a program that supports elementary and secondary students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder. Specifically, LEAs must use these subgrants to train school personnel on seizure awareness and preparedness that covers individualized health care plans and individualized emergency health care plans for students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

National STEM Week Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2025

National STEM Week Act This bill requires the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM to designate a week each calendar year as National STEM Week. (STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) During this established week, the committee must encourage educational institutions (i.e., elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education) to participate in the week and also encourage families of students attending these educational institutions to participate in STEM activities. Additionally, the committee must encourage STEM industries to (1) engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and (2) support STEM education initiatives at these educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise. The committee must annually report to Congress on the activities conducted during the established week.

Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2025

Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for carrying out a program that supports elementary and secondary students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder. Specifically, LEAs must use these subgrants to train school personnel on seizure awareness and preparedness that covers individualized health care plans and individualized emergency health care plans for students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

Smoke Exposure Research Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2025

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 This bill directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research relating to smoke exposure and wine grapes. This research must be done in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities that are located in California, Oregon, and Washington and have researched the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices. Specifically, ARS must conduct research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint, conduct research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes, develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2025

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act This bill modifies how a hospital's residency positions are redistributed after it closes for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare. Under current law, if a hospital with an approved medical residency program closes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must redistribute the hospital's residency positions to other hospitals in the following order: (1) hospitals in the same core-based statistical area as the closed hospital, (2) hospitals in the same state as the closed hospital, (3) hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital, and (4) other remaining hospitals. In order to receive the additional positions, hospitals must demonstrate a likelihood of filling the positions within three years. The bill removes the requirement that the CMS prioritize hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital. It also requires hospitals to demonstrate a likelihood of (1) starting to use the positions within two years, and (2) filling the positions within five years.

Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2025

Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act This bill includes within the responsibilities of Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers the provision of assistance to small businesses in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs and to graduates of such programs in starting small businesses.

Expanding Medical Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

No Tax Dollars for College Encampments Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

No Tax Dollars for College Encampments Act of 2025 This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to report incidents of civil disturbance.  Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to include in its annual security report its current campus policies for responding to incidents of civil disturbance occurring on campus, including with respect to coordination of such response with state, local, and campus law enforcement. The bill defines the term incident of civil disturbance to mean a civil unrest activity (e.g., a demonstration, riot, or strike) that disrupts the community in which it is taking place and requires intervention to maintain public safety and prevent the disruption of learning. Additionally, the bill requires accrediting agencies to monitor an IHE's compliance with these reporting requirements. (Under current law, an IHE must be accredited by an accrediting agency to participate in federal student aid programs.)

Safe Schools Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act of 2025 This bill (1) requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cancel school meal debts, and (2) expands USDA's authority to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Specifically, USDA must cancel and eliminate all household school meal debts (as of the date of the bill's enactment) under the school breakfast and lunch programs. USDA must also pay the amount of the cancelled debt to each local educational authority using CCC funds. The bill also reauthorizes the CSFP through FY2030 and allows USDA to use CCC funds for the program. As background, CSFP works to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. In addition, the bill specifies that USDA may use CCC funds for all aspects of TEFAP. In recent years, USDA has used CCC funds for specific TEFAP activities. As background, through TEFAP, USDA purchases a variety of food commodities. TEFAP provides those food commodities (and cash support for storage and distribution costs) to state agencies that distribute the food to local emergency feeding organizations (e.g., food banks).

PROTECT Students Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025 or the PROTECT Students Act of 2025 This bill sets forth provisions to address financial predatory practices in higher education, including by establishing additional protections for students and student loan borrowers. Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for Department of Education (ED) regulations related to gainful employment, borrower defense to repayment, and closed school discharges. For example, ED's 2023 gainful employment regulations specify that ED considers a career education program to be preparing students for gainful employment if it meets specified debt-to-earnings or earnings premium measures. Additionally, the bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from taking specified actions, such as (1) restricting students' ability to pursue claims against IHEs in court, and (2) withholding official transcripts because of a balance owed by the student. The bill requires IHEs to spend at least 30% of their tuition and fee revenue on instruction. The bill also includes additional oversight measures, such as providing statutory authority for an enforcement unit within ED's Office of Federal Student Aid to assess complaints against IHEs, third-party servicers, and student loan servicers;  establishing the For-Profit Education Oversight Coordination Committee within the executive branch; and requiring ED to establish and operate a system that tracks complaints or reports of suspicious activity by IHEs, third-party servicers, and student loan servicers. The bill makes funding available to ED for the administrative costs of operating student aid programs.

Crucial Communism Teaching Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2025

Crucial Communism Teaching Act This bill directs the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to develop a civic education curriculum and oral history resources for high school students to promote understanding of certain political ideologies (e.g., communism and totalitarianism) that conflict with principles of U.S. democracy.

EDUCATION WITHOUT LIMITS: EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL CHOICE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 11 March 2025

Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program to provide, upon request, a firearm lockbox (or voucher for such item) to eligible individuals. Currently, there is a pilot program under which certain veterans may be prescribed a lockbox by a VA clinician. The VA must also provide information with respect to the benefits of and options for secure firearm storage. The VA must develop an informational video on the secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy and publish the video on its website. Additionally, the VA must publish information to inform individuals who participate in the lockbox program that such lockboxes are not for resale. The VA must also implement a public education campaign to educate eligible individuals about the availability of lockboxes under the program and that participation in the program does not affect the rights of an individual with respect to the lawful ownership of a firearm.

REDI Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act This bill prohibits an individual who is convicted of any federal or state offense related to the individual's conduct at or during the course of a protest at an institution of higher education from receiving certain federal student loan benefits. Specifically, an individual who is convicted of such an offense shall not be eligible to have any covered loan forgiven, cancelled, waived, or modified under the Higher Education Act of 1965, under any executive order, or through any action taken by the Department of Education.  Covered loans refer to Federal Family Education Loans, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and loans under the Health Education Assistance Loan Program. Additionally, an individual who is convicted of such an offense shall not be eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans.

MATE Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Medication Access and Training Expansion Improvement Act or the MATE Improvement Act This bill expands the types of organizations that may provide required training for practitioners registering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dispense (i.e., prescribe or administer) certain controlled substances. Current law requires health care practitioners to register with the DEA and complete a one-time training on substance use disorders from specified entities in order to dispense schedule II-V controlled substances. Practitioners who graduated within the last five years from specified types of schools and whose curriculum included similar training on substance use disorders are exempt from having to receive this additional training. The bill adds several organizations (e.g., the American Academy of Family Physicians) to the list of entities that may provide the required one-time training for physicians or other practitioners. It also expands the types of practitioners who are exempt from this training requirement to include those who graduated from schools of podiatric medicine or schools of pharmacy within the last five years and received similar training as part of their curriculums. The bill applies retroactively, taking effect as if enacted on December 29, 2022.

Fairness in Veterans' Education Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Fairness in Veterans’ Education Act of 2025 This bill modifies the process for repaying service members and veterans who paid to keep benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but later chose to utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue the repayments with the last monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This requirement has limited the repayments to individuals who are receiving stipends. Under the bill, the VA must make such a repayment before the exhaustion of the individual's entitlement to education assistance.

SAFE Bet Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet Act of 2025 or the SAFE Bet Act of 2025 This bill establishes minimum federal standards for sports betting. It also requires federal agencies to evaluate the effects of sports betting on public health. The bill prohibits sports betting unless conducted through an approved state program; violations are subject to civil penalties. States administering a sports betting program must obtain approval of the program every three years from the Department of Justice (DOJ). In providing approval or renewal, DOJ must determine that the state’s program meets minimum standards specified in the bill, including designating a state regulatory entity to regulate sports betting operators and enforce state laws, prohibiting operators from marketing during live broadcasts of sporting events, prohibiting betting by individuals under 21 or members of sports organizations, implementing affordability protections such as certain deposit limits and income verification, requiring operators to allocate funding for treatment and education on gambling disorders, and facilitating a state self-exclusion list (and a national list in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) so individuals may voluntarily restrict or place limits on their sports betting.  Also, the bill requires various federal agencies to expand surveillance of gambling addiction, conduct a nationwide survey annually on the harm caused by online sports betting, and report to Congress on public health challenges related to sports betting.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act This bill expands eligibility for and modifies administration of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. The scholarship allows individuals who are entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance and are pursuing eligible degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or health care to receive up to nine additional months of benefits (capped at $30,000). The bill eliminates the requirement that an individual must have less than 180 days of remaining educational assistance entitlement (or no entitlement remaining) to be eligible for the scholarship. Additionally, the bill reduces by 25% the number of credits an individual must have completed in order to be eligible for the scholarship. In situations where there are insufficient funds available in a fiscal year, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to give priority to individuals who have used the most months of their educational assistance entitlement and those who are using their entitlement to pursue a program of post-secondary education in specified fields (e.g., engineering). The bill specifies that individuals who receive the scholarship benefit may only use the benefit after they have used all of their educational assistance entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

REDI Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 This bill directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to conduct research relating to smoke exposure and wine grapes. This research must be done in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities that are located in California, Oregon, and Washington and have researched the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices. Specifically, ARS must conduct research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke exposure, conduct research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke exposure compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes, develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke exposure, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.

Recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

This resolution honors the teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification as of March 2025.

Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

WISH Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home Act or the WISH Act This bill establishes a federal long-term care insurance benefit and provides specified funds for the program. To be eligible, an individual must have reached retirement age (currently between 65 and 67, depending on the individual’s year of birth) and have had a continual serious functional disability for between one and five years, depending on the individual’s income. Under the bill, an individual has a continual serious functional disability if a licensed health care practitioner has certified that the individual has been unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (including eating, bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom) without substantial assistance for at least 90 days, or has a similar level of disability; or requires substantial supervision to protect them from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment.  The individual must also be expected to remain disabled for at least one year. The bill also establishes a Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Trust Fund and provides specified funds for the initial establishment of the benefit program, benefit payments during FY2026-FY2028, and public education related to the program. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must periodically report to Congress on consumer understanding of long-term insurance offerings, the likelihood of manipulation of eligibility criteria by beneficiaries, and the likelihood of financial exploitation or mistreatment by others on whom a beneficiary is dependent.

Crucial Communism Teaching Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2025

Crucial Communism Teaching Act This bill directs the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to develop a civic education curriculum and oral history resources for high school students to promote understanding of certain political ideologies (e.g., communism and totalitarianism) that conflict with principles of U.S. democracy.

Disclose GIFT Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2025

Disclose Getting Involved in Foreign Transactions Act or the Disclose GIFT Act This bill requires certain institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources. This bill applies to an IHE that (1) is an eligible institution for purposes of federal student aid programs, and (2) has received more than $50 million in federal funds in any of the previous five calendar years (with at least part to support research and development) or that receives certain other federal funds. Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to maintain a policy requiring covered individuals employed at the IHE to annually disclose gifts received from, or contracts entered into with, a foreign source; a publicly available and searchable database with the disclosed information, excluding personally identifiable information; and  a plan to identify and manage potential information gathering by foreign sources through espionage targeting covered individuals that may arise from such gifts or contracts. The bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Additionally, ED must maintain a single point of contact to, among other duties, receive and respond to inquiries and requests for technical assistance from IHEs regarding compliance with the requirements of the bill. IHEs must also establish policies and designate compliance officers. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on ways to improve intergovernmental agency coordination for implementing and enforcing disclosure reporting requirements.

To direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy to treat obesity as a disease and reduce the prevalence of obesity in certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2025

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop a strategy to align its obesity-related programs with the classification of obesity as a medically accepted disease. Additionally, DOD must conduct an educational campaign to promote awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity as a disease in the Armed Forces (the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force). The bill also requires DOD to include information regarding unmet weight standards in any reports it submits to Congress regarding disqualifications for enlistment in, disabilities incurred in, or medical discharges from the Armed Forces. DOD must submit a report to Congress on the effects of obesity on the readiness of the Armed Forces, including legislative recommendations to address such effects. The Defense Health Agency within DOD must report on the effectiveness of the obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs of DOD in reducing obesity and improving military readiness. The Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress an analysis of the existing obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs of DOD.

American Teacher Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2025

American Teacher Act This bill establishes grants to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and secondary school teachers. It also authorizes a national campaign regarding the value of the teaching profession. First, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award four-year grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies to establish a minimum annual salary of $60,000 (to be adjusted annually for inflation) for these teachers. Second, the bill directs ED to award grants to eligible SEAs to provide cost-of-living adjustments to the annual base salary of teachers. Finally, the bill authorizes ED to carry out a national campaign to (1) increase awareness about the importance of teachers and the value of the teaching profession, (2) encourage secondary school and college students to consider teaching as a professional career, and (3) diversify the pool of individuals who enter the teaching profession.

Affordable Loans for Students Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2025

Affordable Loans for Students Act This bill sets the interest rate at 2% for new and existing federal student loans. (Currently, interest rates on federal student loans range from 6.53% to 9.08%, depending on the loan type.) Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish and implement procedures to modify the terms of federal student loans held by ED so the applicable rate of interest shall be 2% on the unpaid principal balance of the loan. ED must modify the interest rate without any action from the borrower. Additionally, ED must establish and implement procedures to (1) refinance eligible loans that are not held by ED (e.g., privately held Federal Family Education Loans and Perkins Loans) as consolidation loans, and (2) allow a borrower to opt out of this loan refinancing. The bill outlines the terms and conditions of these refinanced loans, including by prohibiting ED from charging origination fees and by setting the interest rate at 2% on these loans. The bill applies the 2% interest rate to new loans (i.e., federal student loans made beginning on the first July 1 after the bill's enactment) and also applies this rate retroactively to existing loans.

Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2025

Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program to provide, upon request, a firearm lockbox (or voucher for such item) to eligible individuals. Currently, there is a pilot program under which certain veterans may be prescribed a lockbox by a VA clinician. The VA must also provide information with respect to the benefits of and options for secure firearm storage. The VA must develop an informational video on the secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy and publish the video on its website. Additionally, the VA must publish information to inform individuals who participate in the lockbox program that such lockboxes are not for resale. The VA must also implement a public education campaign to educate eligible individuals about the availability of lockboxes under the program and that participation in the program does not affect the rights of an individual with respect to the lawful ownership of a firearm.

Fair College Admissions for Students Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

Fair College Admissions for Students Act This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to applicants based on their relationships to donors or alumni of the IHE.

Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

Rural Wellness Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

Rural Wellness Act This bill prioritizes behavioral and mental health treatment services under certain rural development grant and loan programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 the set-asides and prioritizations for substance use disorder treatment services under the Department of Agriculture's (1) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, (2) Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, and (3) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. Under the community facilities program, the bill prioritizes direct loans and grants for the development of behavioral and mental health services facilities, including facilities that provide treatment services. Further, loans and grants provided under the program may be used to develop facilities and systems to provide telehealth services for behavioral and mental health treatment. Under the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, the bill prioritizes grants for behavioral and mental health education and treatment. Under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, the bill includes a 17% set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services (currently a 20% set-aside).   

A resolution designating March 6, 2025, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise awareness about pervasive scams and to promote education to prevent government imposter scams and other types of scams.

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

This resolution designates March 6, 2025, as National Slam the Scam Day to raise awareness and amplify the messaging about scams involving individuals impersonating government employees, encourage policies and programs to prevent such scams, recognize those who work to prevent such scams, and encourage the public to report and share information about such scams.

Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 This bill addresses wildfires by expanding emergency and disaster assistance, establishing scientific monitoring, and increasing assistance for firefighting personnel. The bill is based on recommendations in a 2023 report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, a congressionally established group of public and private experts. The bill expands and expedites federal assistance for wildfire response, recovery, and mitigation by expanding presidential wildfire emergency and major disaster declarations to include natural hazard events stemming from the wildfire (e.g., landslides, floods) within three years after the fire, requiring payment to recipients within 90 days for certain emergency land restoration and disaster assistance for wildfires, and requiring increased accessibility of wildfire risk reduction and recovery grants. Additionally, it authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow certain emergency and disaster grant recipients to use unexpended management cost funds for five years, including for capacity-building. The bill requires federal agencies to enhance scientific wildfire monitoring and analysis by establishing a Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center to provide information and services to support community decision-making, establishing a national smoke monitoring and alert system for wildfire smoke, and developing dynamic risk maps. The bill increases assistance for wildland firefighting personnel by establishing grants to colleges and training programs for educational or vocational programs in wildfire emergency management, increasing flexibility for wildland firefighters to retain retirement benefits, and establishing assistance (e.g., notification, counseling) for families of wildland firefighting personnel who are critically injured or killed.

Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research and Data Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2025

Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research and Data Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee and a Rural Climate Alliance Network.  The advisory committee, within USDA's Office of the Chief Scientist, must review and make recommendations on the agency's long-term and short-term national policies and priorities for (1) data collection for climate-specific agricultural research, extension, education, and economics; and (2) agricultural climate research. The Rural Climate Alliance Network must coordinate the provision of agriculture climate research, climate data, extension, and technical assistance for agricultural producers, the food and agricultural industry, nonprofit organizations, and researchers. The bill defines an  agricultural producer as an individual who is engaged in farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, or another occupation relating to agriculture. USDA must also submit a report to Congress that includes a long-term strategy for responding to the challenges faced by agricultural producers that may impact agricultural producers' climate change resilience. The report must also include recommendations for further action by federal departments and agencies that are based on best practices.