Health and Medical Research
The INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 (S. 1838)
Purpose: To improve health outcomes and advance treatments for individuals with Down syndrome who suffer from co-occurring diseases.
Key Provisions:
Establishes the INCLUDE Project to conduct high-risk basic science studies on chromosome 21, assemble study populations, and expand clinical trials.
Mandates coordination of Down syndrome programs across federal agencies to avoid duplication of National Institutes of Health research.
Requires biennial reports to be submitted to Congress detailing the research conducted.
Kay Hagan Tick Act Reauthorization Act (S. 2398)
Purpose: To reauthorize public health programs and update legislation addressing vector-borne diseases.
Key Provisions:
Reauthorizes Section 8-317U of the Public Health Service Act regarding National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease.
Extends funding timeframes and enhanced support for healthcare departments from 2021–2025 to 2026–2030.
Updates terminology regarding the Tick-Disease Working Group to include appropriate individuals.
National Plan for Epilepsy Act (S. 494)
Purpose: To coordinate research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with epilepsy.
Key Provisions:
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a national project plan for epilepsy.
Establishes an Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services.
Requires annual progress assessments, data-sharing protocols across agencies, and annual evaluation reports submitted to Congress.
Consumer Safety and Financial Regulations
Common Cents Act (S. 1525)
Purpose: To modernize the U.S. currency system by eliminating the production of one-cent coins and introducing cash rounding rules.
Key Provisions:
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting and issuing one-cent coins one year after enactment, while preserving their legal tender status.
Requires cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cents (up or down).
Exempts non-cash transactions—such as checks, electronic fund transfers, credit cards, and gift cards—from the rounding requirement.
Youth Poisoning Protection Act (S. 289)
Purpose: To protect individuals, particularly youth, from health risks associated with high concentrations of sodium nitrite in consumer products.
Key Provisions:
Bans consumer products containing 10% or more by weight of sodium nitrite, classifying them as banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
Exempts commercial and industrial uses, as well as products regulated as drugs, cosmetics, devices, or food under other federal laws.
Sets the effective date of the ban to 90 days after enactment.
Border Security and Federal Infrastructure Safety
Overtime Pay for Border Patrol Agents (HR 10070)
Purpose: To expand overtime pay eligibility for border patrol agents regardless of their grade level.
Key Provisions:
Amends section 5550(h) of title 5, United States Code.
Removes existing limitations that restrict certain overtime pay caps to employees at the GS-12 grade level, allowing all agents eligibility for the same amount of overtime pay.
Federal Building Threat Notification Act (S. 2542)
Purpose: To enhance emergency preparedness and response protocols in buildings protected by the Federal Protective Service (FPS).
Key Provisions:
Requires the FPS to develop guidance for emergency communications regarding violent threats, terrorism, or suspicious devices.
Assigns designated officials from Facility Security Committees to implement guidance locally and mandates periodic crisis-response testing for federal tenants.
Requires an electronic report to Congress detailing best practices and implemented protocols.
Northern Border Security (S. 850)
Purpose: To review and enhance northern border security operations and threat analysis.
Key Provisions:
Requires triennial updates to the northern border threat analysis, factoring in recent apprehension changes.
Mandates updates to the Department of Homeland Security's northern border strategy every five years and requires classified congressional briefings within 30 days of threat analysis submissions.
Directs the development of performance measures for Air and Marine Operations between ports of entry within 180 days.
Technology, Telecommunications, and Intellectual Property
Robocalls Combat Legislation (S. 2666)
Purpose: To establish coordinated efforts and strategies to combat unlawful foreign robocalls targeting the United States.
Key Provisions:
Requires the FCC to establish a dedicated taskforce on unlawful robocalls within 270 days, featuring a multi-sector membership from federal agencies, the private sector, and consumer advocacy groups.
Directs the taskforce to investigate international cooperation, call authentication technical standards (such as STIR/SHAKEN), traceback methods, and best practices for blocking unwanted calls.
Mandates a comprehensive report with recommendations to Congress and federal agencies within 360 days of establishment.
Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement (S. 2677)
Purpose: To enhance international trade enforcement by expanding information-sharing regarding suspected intellectual property rights violations.
Key Provisions:
Updates the Tariff Act of 1930 to change "suspects" to "has a reasonable suspicion" to align legal language with existing regulations.
Expands information-sharing parameters to include packaging materials, shipping containers, and data generated by online marketplaces.
Reorganizes statutory provisions to include any other stakeholder or party with an interest in the merchandise as determined by the Commissioner.
Judicial System, Bankruptcy, and Civil Procedures
Bankruptcy Eligibility Modifications (S. 3977)
Purpose: To modify bankruptcy eligibility thresholds to assist small businesses and individuals with moderate debt.
Key Provisions:
Increases the debt limit for small business bankruptcies from $2 million to $7.5 million (excluding debts owed to affiliates or insiders).
Excludes individuals with regular income who owe more than $2.75 million in non-contingent liquidated debts from filing under chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act (S. 4850)
Purpose: To adjust monetary thresholds for diversity jurisdiction in federal district courts to account for inflation.
Key Provisions:
Increases the minimum amount in controversy required for diversity jurisdiction from $75,000 to $150,000.
Establishes a decennial inflationary adjustment mechanism beginning January 1, 2030, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Permits district courts to deny costs to plaintiffs who recover less than the threshold sum.
Federal Operations, Space, and Commemorative Resolutions
HRES 1480
Purpose: To honor the service, sacrifice, and lives of U.S. Postal Service employees Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., who died from anthrax exposure during the 2001 attacks.
Key Provisions:
Recognizes the constitutional importance of the postal service and acknowledges the ongoing risks postal workers take to serve the public.
Specifically honors Curseen and Morris alongside the 5 other fatalities and 17 individuals who fell ill during the 2001 anthrax incidents.
Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits (S. 3897)
Purpose: To revise administrative procedures and expand benefits for eligible beneficiaries of fallen public safety officers.
Key Provisions:
Revises eligibility determination timelines, notice requirements, and interim benefits distribution.
Mandates an outreach program to educate agencies, requires a backlog claims summary report to Congress within 30 days, and enforces annual audits of pending claims.
Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee Act (S. 434)
Purpose: To establish an advisory framework within the Department of Commerce to promote innovation and address challenges in the commercial space sector.
Key Provisions:
Establishes the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (CSAAC) consisting of 15 expert members appointed by the Secretary.
Directs the committee to provide recommendations regarding nongovernmental space activities, export controls, international obligations, and spectrum access.
Sets a 10-year sunset clause for the committee's termination.
USMMA Athletics Act of 2025 (S. 3266)
Purpose: To provide financial and operational support for the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).
Key Provisions:
Establishes a nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code governed by a board appointed by the Secretary of Transportation.
Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, leases, and utility support services with the corporation.
Regulates trademark licensing, service marks, and marketing agreements supporting USMMA athletics.