Housing

The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2025

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2025

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025 This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and benefits when there is a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. Under the bill, a  Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs when (1) a bill providing appropriations for the Coast Guard for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year, and no joint resolution providing continuing appropriations for the Coast Guard is in effect; and (2) a bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the fiscal year has been enacted before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution providing continuing appropriation for DOD is in effect.  If a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs, the bill provides appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for military members of the Coast Guard who perform active service or inactive-duty training; pay and benefits for certain civilian employees and contract employees; the payment of a death gratuity; payments for travel related to funerals, the dignified transfer of remains, and unit memorial services; and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The bill generally provides the appropriations to the Coast Guard until the earlier of the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation, the termination of the availability of appropriations for DOD, or two weeks after the beginning of the Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. 

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026

United States · United States Senate · 20 February 2025

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that domiciliary facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and State homes that provide housing to veterans have resident advocates.

United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2025

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to employ a resident advocate in each of its domiciliary facilities. The resident advocate must (1) serve as liaison between veterans in the facilities and the VA; (2) receive complaints from such veterans, transmit the complaints to the directors of the facilities, and respond to such complaints; and (3) submit complaints to the Office of Inspector General of the VA when appropriate. Additionally, state homes must also employ a resident advocate in order to be eligible for payment from the VA for domiciliary care provided to a veteran. A state home is a home established by a state or tribe for veterans who are disabled by age, disease, or otherwise and are incapable of earning a living because of such disability. The term also includes a home that furnishes nursing home care for veterans.

Poverty Line Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2025

Poverty Line Act of 2025 This bill revises the methodology used to calculate the federal poverty guidelines. The federal poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for many federal and state public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the National School Lunch Program. The poverty guidelines are currently calculated by adjusting the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to calculate regional poverty guidelines based on a combination of factors including average household expenditures on food, clothing, utilities, and transportation; the average cost of rental housing; and the average cost of health insurance. These factors must be calculated using regional data as applicable. HHS must make available to the public a tool for determining the poverty guideline applicable to a given household.  The new regional poverty guidelines established by HHS may not be lower than existing, corresponding poverty guidelines as of the date of enactment of the bill. HHS must review and evaluate the poverty guidelines at least every four years and propose changes to this methodology as appropriate.  The bill takes effect three years after its enactment.

Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025

Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and modifies the Weatherization Assistance Program. Under the program, the Department of Energy (DOE) provides grants for low-income households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The bill increases the cap on the average assistance provided per home from $6,500 to $12,000. The bill also directs DOE to include in its annual report to Congress a description of the impacts of enhancement and innovation readiness efforts on eligibility for assistance under the program.

Justice for All Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025

Justice for All Act of 2025 This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or race-related characteristics in schools, businesses, federally funded programs, and other settings. It also provides statutory authority for and expands the types of civil actions that may be brought for violations. For example, the bill expands provisions under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so as to (1) prohibit federally funded programs from discriminating based on sex or religion; and (2) prohibit public accommodations, including stores and transit services, from discriminating based on sex. The bill defines sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. It also expands the definition of race to include traits that have been historically associated with race (e.g., natural hair textures). The expanded definitions apply to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing), and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs). Further, the bill provides statutory authority for disparate impact or intentional discrimination claims under the aforementioned acts, as well as the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (discrimination based on age by federally funded programs) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (discrimination based on disability by federally funded programs). The bill also includes other provisions that address (1) profiling by law enforcement officers, (2) employer liability with respect to civil rights violations, (3) predispute arbitration agreements in civil rights cases, and (4) governmental immunity in suits involving constitutional violations.

Natural GAS Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025

Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2025 or the Natural GAS Act of 2025 This bill limits what the Department of Energy (DOE) may include in future energy conservation rules related to water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens. Energy conservation rules establish standards that set minimum energy efficiency levels or maximum energy usage for certain consumer products, such as appliances. Specifically, the bill requires DOE to certify that the rules are not likely to result in a significant shift from gas appliances to electric appliances. As part of the rulemaking process, DOE must require a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards. In addition to measuring energy use at the site where the appliance is operated, a full fuel cycle analysis estimates the energy consumed in the extraction, processing, and transport of primary fuels; energy losses in thermal combustion in power-generation plants; and energy losses in transmission and distribution to homes and commercial buildings. Further, such rules must require energy efficiency labels to disclose the full-fuel-cycle efficiency. Currently, the labels only disclose point-of-use energy consumption, which is based on the amount of energy used at the site where the appliance is operated. In addition, the bill exempts certain small major household appliance manufacturers from future energy conservation rules for such appliances. The bill also prohibits any future energy conservation rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens from limiting the features and functionality (e.g., quick-to-boil times) available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency titled Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models and published on August 7, 2024. The rule requires the implementation of quality control standards for automated valuation models used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers when determining the value of real estate securing a mortgage. 

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency titled Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models and published on August 7, 2024. The rule requires the implementation of quality control standards for automated valuation models used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers when determining the value of real estate securing a mortgage. 

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency titled Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models and published on August 7, 2024. The rule requires the implementation of quality control standards for automated valuation models used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers when determining the value of real estate securing a mortgage. 

START Housing Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025 This bill establishes a unified application system for disaster assistance, expands disaster assistance for individuals and households, and requires related studies and reporting. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must establish an interagency electronic information sharing system known as the unified disaster application system to carry out disaster assistance, including administration of a universal application for federal disaster assistance for individuals. The bill expands FEMA's assistance to individuals and households by (1) changing the eligibility standard for housing assistance from residences rendered uninhabitable to residences damaged by a disaster, (2) allowing direct (i.e., non-financial) assistance for home repair and hazard mitigation for residences, and (3) allowing hazard mitigation assistance for residences separate from assistance for home repairs. FEMA may (1) provide funding for state agencies to establish websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources; and (2) reimburse state, tribal, or local governments for certain costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel. The bill extends FEMA's authority to implement state-managed housing assistance as a pilot program. FEMA must establish an online dashboard displaying certain information relating to the Individual Assistance program for each major disaster declaration. FEMA must also conduct a study and report to Congress on challenges for renters seeking disaster assistance. The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) identity theft and fraud in federal disaster assistance, (2) preliminary damage assessment practices under the Individual Assistance program, and (3) challenges in obtaining assistance under Public Assistance alternative procedures.

Long-Term Care Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

Long-Term Care Transparency Act This bill requires the Administration on Aging to submit to Congress an annual report that (1) aggregates reports submitted to the administration by state long-term care ombudsman offices for the year, and (2) summarizes the findings of such reports.   (State long-term care ombudsman programs investigate and respond to complaints by and on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other adult care homes. Each state long-term care ombudsman office is required to submit an annual report to the administration including data related to complaints and conditions in long-term care facilities and an evaluation of the problems experienced by long-term care residents.) 

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency titled Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models and published on August 7, 2024. The rule requires the implementation of quality control standards for automated valuation models used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers when determining the value of real estate securing a mortgage. 

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Credit Union Administration relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency titled Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models and published on August 7, 2024. The rule requires the implementation of quality control standards for automated valuation models used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers when determining the value of real estate securing a mortgage. 

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Housing Finance Agency relating to "Quality Control Standards for Automated Valuation Models".

United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025

Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025

Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025 This bill removes certain requirements, including measuring methane emissions, for grants to states under the State Orphaned Wells Program. Under the program, the Department of the Interior provides grants to states for the following purposes: (1) plugging, remediating, and reclaiming orphaned wells located on federal land; (2) identifying and characterizing undocumented orphaned wells; (3) measuring and tracking emissions of gases (e.g., methane) or contamination of water associated with orphaned wells; or (4) conducting certain other related activities. Generally, orphaned wells are oil and gas wells without solvent owners or operators responsible for cleaning up leaks from the wells.  In 2024, Interior issued guidance for the grant program that requires states to conduct certain measuring and tracking activities related to the orphaned wells before and after receiving grants. However, the bill specifies that states are not required to provide such information in order to receive a grant. Instead, the bill makes measuring and tracking optional. The bill also directs Interior to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the effect of the plugging and remediation activity on economic development, housing trends, and other potential benefits in areas where the plugging and remediation activity reclaimed a high number of well sites.

End of GSE Conservatorship Preparation Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025

End of GSE Conservatorship Preparation Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to report to Congress on the status of proposals to establish a timeline and process (1) to end the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and (2) for Treasury to resolve its investment in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (As a result of the financial crisis, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac entered into a conservatorship in 2008 with the Federal Housing Finance Agency. As part of this agreement, Treasury provided funds to support the solvency of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)   

Let’s Get to Work Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025

Let's Get to Work Act of 2025 This bill modifies and expands work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and certain housing programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Specifically, the bill expands the applicability of the work requirements for SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). As background, SNAP recipients who are ABAWDs have work-related requirements in addition to the general SNAP work registration and employment and training requirements. The bill applies the work requirements for ABAWDs to adults who are not over 60 years old, whereas these requirements currently apply to adults who are not over 55 years old. Further, the ABAWD exemption for a parent or household member with responsibility for a dependent child is restricted under the bill to a dependent child under the age of six. Currently, the child must be under the age of 18.  The bill allows a member of a household with responsibility for a dependent child to participate in SNAP for up to 6 months (currently 3 months) over a 36-month period without meeting the ABAWD work requirements. The bill also includes an exception for an individual who (1) is responsible for a dependent individual, and (2) is married to and resides with an individual who complies with the SNAP work requirements. Additionally, the bill establishes work requirements for families residing in public housing by applying the SNAP work requirements for ABAWDs to the HUD public housing and tenant-based rental assistance (voucher) programs.

CAREER Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2025

Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry Act of 2025 or the CAREER Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes and expands programs to assist individuals in substance use disorder treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant Program, which provides employment training and recovery support services in coordination with state and local stakeholders. The bill further authorizes using 5% of such grant funds for transportation services and requires grantees to report on the employment and earnings outcomes of program participants. The bill also reauthorizes through FY20230 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Recovery Housing Pilot Program, which assists states in providing individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder with stable, temporary housing for up to two years.

Repeal Community Development Block Grants Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2025

Respect State Housing Laws Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025

Respect State Housing Laws Act This bill eliminates a provision that requires a 30-day notice period before a landlord may begin eviction proceedings against a tenant in federally assisted or federally backed housing.

Respect State Housing Laws Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025

Respect State Housing Laws Act This bill eliminates a provision that requires a 30-day notice period before a landlord may begin eviction proceedings against a tenant in federally assisted or federally backed housing.

Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025

Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025 This bill establishes a grant program for certain hazard mitigation measures for homes in disaster risk areas and provides a tax credit for up to 30% of expenditures on such mitigation measures. It also excludes from taxable income certain payments for residential hazard mitigation and federal emergency agricultural assistance.  The bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to award grants to states and Indian tribal governments for specified hazard mitigation activities on residential properties at a high risk of experiencing a major disaster. FEMA must establish and periodically update disaster risk areas in which homes are eligible for the grant funding. Individual residential households, subject to certain income limitations, may receive up to $10,000 (adjusted for inflation) for eligible hazard mitigation activities, such as reinforcing a roof, installing a flood control system, or reducing flammable vegetation near the home. The bill also provides an income tax credit to individuals and businesses for up to 30% of expenditures on the specified residential mitigation activities eligible under the grant program. Additionally, under current law, payments for disaster relief and payments under federal hazard mitigation programs are excluded from taxable income. The bill specifically excludes from taxable income payments to an individual for hazard mitigation improvements to their residence under any program established or administered by a state or local government. The bill also excludes certain federal emergency and disaster agricultural assistance from taxable income as a type of disaster relief payment.

Project Turnkey Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025

An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025

Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Mortgage Insurance Tax Deduction Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Mortgage Insurance Tax Deduction Act of 2025 This bill reinstates and makes permanent the itemized tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums. Under current law, only premiums paid before 2022 (and after 2006) for qualified mortgage insurance (mortgage insurance provided by Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Housing Administration, the Rural Housing Service, and certain private mortgage insurers) in connection with obtaining a mortgage may be deducted as an itemized tax deduction. (Some limitations apply.).

Student Empowerment Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Student Empowerment Act This bill expands the education-related expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a qualified tuition program (also known as a 529 plan) to include certain expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education. Under current law, distributions from a 529 plan are excluded from gross income if they are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which includes up to $10,000 (per year and per beneficiary) for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. The bill expands the education-related expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a 529 plan to include tuition related to homeschooling and the following expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education: curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities.

Disaster Assistance Fairness Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Disaster Assistance Fairness Act This bill makes common interest communities, such as housing cooperatives (co-ops) and condominiums, and manufactured housing communities eligible for the same assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as other homeowners. Specifically, the bill adds definitions of residential common interest community, condominium, housing cooperative, and manufactured housing community to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; requires FEMA to issue rules for the removal of debris or wreckage from real estate owned by a residential common interest community, condominium, co-op, or manufactured housing community resulting from a major disaster and deems such removal to be in the public interest when a state or local government determines in writing that such debris or wreckage constitutes a threat to life, public health or safety, or the economic recovery of such community; and provides for the repair of essential common elements of a condominium, co-op, or manufactured housing community damaged by a disaster under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program.

Housing Innovation Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Housing Innovation Act This bill establishes the Office of Housing Innovation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The office must establish grant programs to support (1) planning efforts that address housing needs in urban areas; (2) research and studies to support, inform, and advise local governments on their plans for new housing and community development; and (3) outreach programs focused on issues related to housing, community development, and regional planning. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the grant programs.

Mortgage Rate Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Mortgage Rate Reduction Act This bill authorizes the federal guarantee, or insurance, of certain second mortgages. Specifically, this applies to properties with a first mortgage guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For a second mortgage to qualify, the first mortgage on the property must be guaranteed under the same authority. The bill also requires the publication of mortgage guarantee information by the FHA, VA, and Department of Agriculture. For each mortgage guaranteed, these agencies must publish the address of the property and the date of the loan.

Pro-Housing Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Deliver Housing Now Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Aviation-Impacted Communities Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Aviation-Impacted Communities Act This bill increases access to noise mitigation measures for aviation-impacted communities.   Under the bill, an aviation-impacted community is a community that is located not more than one mile from any point at which a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or less above ground level. The bill expands noise mitigation program funding under the Airport Improvement Program to include aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 day-night average sound level (DNL) standard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct outreach to aviation-impacted communities to inform them of the opportunity to be a designated community. A designated community must form a community board to provide information to airport operators and the FAA concerning aviation impacts (e.g., aircraft noise). A community board may petition the FAA to conduct a community assessment and, based on the assessment, the FAA must devise an action plan that alleviates or addresses the community’s concerns. In addition, the FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide the FAA with a framework and diagnostic tool for conducting community assessments. The FAA must provide grants for necessary noise mitigation in a designated community for residences, hospitals, nursing homes, adult or child day care centers, schools, and places of worship. Further, the FAA and airport operators must provide (1) noise mitigation grants for communities subject to significant frequency of overhead flights, and (2) noise mitigation for residences impacted by significant nighttime aircraft noise.

Working Families Housing Tax Credit Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025

Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025

Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025 This bill establishes additional support for forest restoration, the power needs of critical facilities (e.g., hospitals) during extreme weather events, and wildfire mitigation and management. The bill directs the Forest Service to conduct a 10-year pilot program to carry out up to 20 conservation finance projects to protect, restore, or improve National Forest System land. Such conservation finance projects must (1) leverage other federal or nonfederal investments in addition to funds provided by the Forest Service; and (2) use loaned capital from an investor to cover up-front project costs, with the loaned capital repaid over time by conservation finance project beneficiaries. The Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program to improve the energy resilience and energy efficiency of critical facilities (e.g., hospitals). The bill expands DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program to include support for the use of fire-resistant materials and to increase the amount of financial assistance that may be provided to households for increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. The bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to take certain actions related to detecting and monitoring wildfires. The Forest Service and Interior must also establish one or more centers in western states to train individuals in methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk. Additionally, the Forest Service must establish a grant program to support workforce development in forestry and fire management. Finally, the Forest Service may issue grants to increase community capacity for certain land stewardship activities.

WALL Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2025

WALL Act of 2025 This bill appropriates $25 billion for the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other issues related to immigration. As offsets to this spending, the bill restricts the child tax credit, earned income credits, and lifetime learning credits to those with Social Security numbers who are not prohibited from employment in the United States. Also, individuals who file taxes using an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number must pay a fee ($300 for each individual on the tax return using an ITIN). The bill restricts eligibility for certain federally funded benefits, including unemployment compensation, supplemental nutrition assistance, and housing benefits, to those eligible to work in the United States. Agencies administering such benefits must use the E-Verify program to confirm the eligibility of applicants for such benefits. This bill also sets fines for non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who improperly enter the United States or overstay their visas.

Build Housing with Care Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2025

Build Housing with Care Act of 2025 This bill establishes a competitive grant program to support co-located childcare and housing facilities. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the availability and affordability of childcare for residents of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award the grants to eligible entities, which include community development financial institutions, public housing authorities, licensed childcare providers, government entities, housing developers, and consortia of such entities. Entities must use the grants for designing, planning, constructing, acquiring, renovating, or otherwise supporting new or existing housing facilities with childcare providers on the same premises or nearby. 

ACE Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2025

Achieving Choice in Education Act or the ACE Act This bill expands the expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a qualified tuition program (known as a 529 plan) to include certain elementary, secondary, and homeschool education expenses and makes other changes related to 529 plans. The bill also limits the tax exclusion for interest on state or local bonds. Under current law, 529 plan distributions are excluded from gross income if they are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which includes up to $10,000 (per year and per beneficiary) for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. The bill expands the expenses that may be paid for with tax-free 529 plan distributions to include homeschooling tuition and the following expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education: curriculum, books, instructional and online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in a higher education institution, and educational therapies for disabled students. The bill also increases the amount of tax-free 529 plan distributions that may be used to pay for elementary, secondary, and homeschool education expenses to $20,000. The bill increases the annual gift tax exclusion by $20,000 for contributions made to a 529 plan. (Under current law, up to $19,000 may be excluded from taxable gifts in 2025.) Finally, the bill limits the tax exclusion for interest on state or local bonds to bonds issued by states that meet minimum school choice requirements or political subdivisions of such states.

Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Public Assistance (PA) grant funding, under certain conditions, to reimburse government entities covered under the major disaster declaration for North Carolina relating to Tropical Storm Helene for the costs of repairing, replacing, or restoring private roads and bridges damaged by Helene. Under current law, the PA program provides grants for repairing disaster damage to infrastructure owned or legally maintained by government entities (or certain nonprofits). The bill authorizes PA funding for permanent repair work on privately owned and maintained roads and bridges significantly damaged by Helene in North Carolina, as costs incurred by state, tribal, or local governments for such work are eligible for reimbursement.    Also, under current law, the costs of repairing damage that existed before the disaster are generally ineligible for PA. The bill makes the repair, replacement, or restoration costs eligible for reimbursement under PA regardless of pre-existing condition. Additionally, the bill contains criteria and conditions for reimbursement, including that to be eligible a road or bridge must be used as the sole means of accessing primary residences or essential community services. Reimbursement is under PA’s alternative procedures, and the bill requires FEMA to determine eligible costs based on estimates prepared by engineers. Recipients of funds from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) before the bill’s enactment may use IHP funds for repairs eligible under the bill without those costs counting against their maximum amount of IHP assistance.

Tim’s Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's Ac t This bill increases compensation and establishes additional benefits and programs for federal wildland firefighters. (These individuals are employed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, or tribal governments.)  The bill increases the minimum rate of basic pay for wildland firefighters at General Schedule (GS) levels 1 through 15 by percentages specified in the bill, with smaller increases for higher GS levels. The bill also requires comparable increases to the hourly rates paid to prevailing rate employees who are wildland firefighters. It also establishes premium pay for wildland firefighters who respond to certain prolonged fire incidents and are deployed outside of their normal duty stations or to an area adjacent to the incident. These changes take effect after other temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters expire. The bill also (1) establishes paid rest and recuperation leave; (2) allows certain prior service to be credited for retirement purposes; and (3) provides housing allowances, tuition assistance, and other benefits for wildland firefighters. Further, the bill directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries and illnesses correlated to fire response are compensated and to expedite related claims. The bill also establishes programs to (1) assist the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and fire support personnel who are critically injured or killed while in the line of duty, and (2) support the mental and physical health of wildland firefighters.

ACE Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Achieving Choice in Education Act or the ACE Act This bill expands the expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a qualified tuition program (known as a 529 plan) to include certain elementary, secondary, and homeschool education expenses and makes other changes related to 529 plans. The bill also limits the tax exclusion for interest on state or local bonds. Under current law, 529 plan distributions are excluded from gross income if they are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which includes up to $10,000 (per year and per beneficiary) for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. The bill expands the expenses that may be paid for with tax-free 529 plan distributions to include homeschooling tuition and the following expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education: curriculum, books, instructional and online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in a higher education institution, and educational therapies for disabled students. The bill also increases the amount of tax-free 529 plan distributions that may be used to pay for elementary, secondary, and homeschool education expenses to $20,000. The bill increases the annual gift tax exclusion by $20,000 for contributions made to a 529 plan. (Under current law, up to $19,000 may be excluded from taxable gifts in 2025.) Finally, the bill limits the tax exclusion for interest on state or local bonds to bonds issued by states that meet minimum school choice requirements or political subdivisions of such states.

Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Public Assistance (PA) grant funding, under certain conditions, to reimburse government entities covered under the major disaster declaration for North Carolina relating to Tropical Storm Helene for the costs of repairing, replacing, or restoring private roads and bridges damaged by Helene. Under current law, the PA program provides grants for repairing disaster damage to infrastructure owned or legally maintained by government entities (or certain nonprofits). The bill authorizes PA funding for permanent repair work on privately owned and maintained roads and bridges significantly damaged by Helene in North Carolina, as costs incurred by state, tribal, or local governments for such work are eligible for reimbursement.    Also, under current law, the costs of repairing damage that existed before the disaster are generally ineligible for PA. The bill makes the repair, replacement, or restoration costs eligible for reimbursement under PA regardless of pre-existing condition. Additionally, the bill contains criteria and conditions for reimbursement, including that to be eligible a road or bridge must be used as the sole means of accessing primary residences or essential community services. Reimbursement is under PA’s alternative procedures, and the bill requires FEMA to determine eligible costs based on estimates prepared by engineers. Recipients of funds from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) before the bill’s enactment may use IHP funds for repairs eligible under the bill without those costs counting against their maximum amount of IHP assistance.

Homeowners’ Defense Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Homeowners' Defense Act of 2025 This bill allows the Department of the Treasury to guarantee the debt issued by an eligible state catastrophe insurance program, with limitations on the total amount of debt guaranteed. To qualify, a state program must (1) be established and authorized by state law as an insurance program or a reinsurance program designed to support the private insurance market, and (2) offer residential property insurance coverage for losses arising from any personal residential line of insurance. Treasury must pay the portion of the principal and interest on guaranteed debt due for payment if the state program has insufficient funds. Treasury must also make reinsurance coverage available to eligible state programs. (Reinsurance protects insurers from large losses.) The bill also establishes the Federal Natural Catastrophe Reinsurance Fund, funded in part by the sale of reinsurance contracts, to pay out eligible losses. The bill also establishes the National Catastrophe Risk Consortium which must maintain an inventory of catastrophe risk obligations held by providers of natural catastrophe insurance, among other functions. The Department of Housing and Urban Development must provide grants to entities (such as states) for the purpose of preventing and mitigating losses from natural catastrophes. The Government Accountability Office must report on risk-based rate pricing and state insurance program rates.

Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2026

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025 This bill expands the membership of the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee within the Veterans Health Administration by requiring the addition of one representative from the National Association of State Veterans Homes who holds a professional license in nursing home administration. Additionally, the committee must consult with the National Association of Veterans State Homes with respect to matters concerning the association.

America First Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

America First Act This bill limits the eligibility of certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) for various federal benefits and grants, makes permanent the child tax credit increase, and requires individuals to provide evidence of satisfactory immigration status prior to receiving specified benefits. The bill prohibits asylees, parolees, and individuals withheld from removal from receiving certain federal benefits, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and Supplemental Security Income. The bill further restricts on the basis of immigration status benefits under federal health programs such as Medicare, emergency disaster relief, housing assistance, food assistance, early childhood assistance, student aid, and Community Development Block Grants. The bill also makes permanent the increase in the child tax credit set to expire at the end of 2025. In addition, this tax credit and the earned income tax credit are not available to asylees, parolees, individuals granted temporary protected status, individuals withheld from removal, individuals granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status, and non-U.S. nationals with employment-based immigrant visas. Federal aid is reduced for elementary and secondary education by 50% annually to jurisdictions that do not assist federal immigration enforcement actions (deemed sanctuary jurisdictions under the bill). The bill also removes statutory exemptions for Haitian entrants that allows such entrants to receive various aid. Certain benefits are prohibited, including Medicaid and SNAP, until an applicant’s satisfactory immigration status is proved. The bill prohibits tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations from using federal funds to support certain non-U.S. nationals.

Tim’s Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's Act This bill increases compensation and establishes additional benefits and programs for federal wildland firefighters. (These individuals are employed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, or tribal governments.)  The bill increases the minimum rate of basic pay for wildland firefighters at General Schedule (GS) levels 1 through 15 by percentages specified in the bill, with smaller increases for higher GS levels. The bill also requires comparable increases to the hourly rates paid to prevailing rate employees who are wildland firefighters. It also establishes premium pay for wildland firefighters who respond to certain prolonged fire incidents and are deployed outside of their normal duty stations or to an area adjacent to the incident. These changes take effect after other temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters expire. The bill also (1) establishes paid rest and recuperation leave; (2) allows certain prior service to be credited for retirement purposes; and (3) provides housing allowances, tuition assistance, and other benefits for wildland firefighters. Further, the bill directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries and illnesses correlated to fire response are compensated and to expedite related claims. The bill also establishes programs to (1) assist the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and fire support personnel who are critically injured or killed while in the line of duty, and (2) support the mental and physical health of wildland firefighters.

SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025 This bill repeals the shelter deduction cap for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit, thereby allowing a household to deduct all allowable housing expenses (e.g., rent or mortgage, electricity, and water costs) that exceed 50% of a household's income after other deductions when calculating net income to determine SNAP benefits. Under current law, the shelter deduction is capped (unless at least one household member is an elderly or disabled individual), and the cap is adjusted annually for inflation. In FY2025, the shelter deduction is capped at $712 for households in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia.