Bills Desk
Latest Bills
252 bills from the 119th Congress, led by the newest arrivals from Capitol Hill.
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-136-119Latest action: Feb 3, 20253 readersIn Committee
Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025
Sponsored by Vern Buchanan
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently prescribes medications to veterans with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and depression, but there is limited comprehensive data on whether these prescribing practices correlate with veteran suicide rates. While the VA tracks some mortality data, there is no systematic independent review examining the medications prescribed to veterans who died by suicide, the frequency of multiple concurrent prescriptions, or how VA prescribing guidelines compare to non-medication treatments. This gap in analysis makes it difficult to identify potential patterns, safety concerns, or opportunities to improve mental health care delivery across the VA system. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine within 90 days to conduct an independent review of all veteran suicides over the preceding five years. The review will examine prescribed medications—particularly those with black box warnings or prescribed off-label—alongside demographic data, diagnoses, and treatment approaches. The National Academies will analyze whether veterans received medication-only treatment or non-medication first-line treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, identify VA medical facilities with markedly high prescription and suicide rates, assess VA coordination with state prescription drug monitoring programs, and evaluate VA staffing levels for mental health professionals including counselors and therapists. The National Academies must complete the review and submit findings within 180 days of the agreement. The Secretary then has 30 days to submit the report to Congress and release it publicly. The review will not directly change current VA operations but will provide data to inform updates to VA clinical practice guidelines and identify systemic issues in mental health staffing, medication oversight, and coordination with state health agencies. The findings may prompt the VA to adjust prescribing protocols, increase mental health workforce hiring, or strengthen coordination mechanisms to prevent overprescribing across VA and non-VA providers.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 3, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Agriculture and FoodHR-112-119Latest action: Jan 31, 20250 readersIn Committee
FUEL Reform Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 established Title IX, which created multiple Department of Agriculture bioenergy subsidy programs designed to support the development and production of renewable fuels, particularly ethanol and biodiesel. These programs have provided direct payments, tax incentives, and grants to farmers and fuel producers to encourage biofuel production as part of broader energy independence and agricultural support goals. Over two decades, these subsidies have become embedded in federal agricultural policy and have shaped investment decisions across the farming and fuel production sectors. The FUEL Reform Act repeals Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 in its entirety. This action eliminates all Department of Agriculture bioenergy subsidy programs authorized under that title, including direct payments to biofuel producers, grants for bioenergy infrastructure development, and related support mechanisms. The repeal is comprehensive and removes the statutory authority for the Department of Agriculture to administer these programs going forward. The repeal takes effect upon enactment, immediately terminating new obligations under these programs. Existing contracts and commitments may require wind-down procedures determined by the Department of Agriculture. The elimination of these subsidies redirects federal resources previously allocated to bioenergy support, though the bill does not specify alternative uses for those funds. The change will affect farmers who have relied on bioenergy payments as part of their income, fuel producers who have benefited from production incentives, and the renewable fuel industry's investment landscape, which has historically depended on these federal supports.
Agriculture and Food
Latest updateJan 31, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Agriculture and Food
ImmigrationS-5-119Latest action: Jan 29, 20250 readersEnacted
Laken Riley Act
Sponsored by Katie Britt
Under current immigration law, the Department of Homeland Security has discretion in deciding whether to detain noncitizens pending removal proceedings. While DHS must detain certain categories of noncitizens—such as those convicted of specific crimes or deemed security threats—many others can be released on bond or parole. States have limited ability to challenge federal detention or release decisions. This discretionary system means that noncitizens charged with crimes like theft or burglary may be released into communities while their cases proceed, creating situations where states believe federal immigration enforcement is inadequate. The Laken Riley Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take custody of and detain noncitizens who are charged with, arrested for, or convicted of theft, burglary, larceny, shoplifting, or assault of a law enforcement officer—or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury. DHS must issue a detainer for such individuals and take custody if they are not otherwise detained by federal, state, or local officials. The bill defines these crimes according to the jurisdiction where the acts occurred. Additionally, the bill grants state attorneys general standing to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State in federal court if they allege that detention or release decisions harm their state or residents, with courts required to expedite such cases. Implementation begins immediately upon enactment. DHS must identify noncitizens meeting the new detention criteria and issue detainers accordingly. States can file lawsuits in federal district court challenging federal detention or release decisions, with courts prioritizing these cases on their dockets. The bill lowers the threshold for proving state harm to include financial harm exceeding $100. This expands state authority over immigration enforcement and creates new litigation pathways, potentially increasing federal court caseloads and requiring DHS to detain more individuals, which will affect detention facility capacity and resources.
Immigration
Latest updateJan 29, 2025
Became Public Law No: 119-1.
Immigration
International AffairsHR-23-119Latest action: Jan 28, 20251 readersPassed Chamber
Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act
Sponsored by Chip Roy
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and does not recognize the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction over American citizens or officials. Since 2002, the American Servicemembers' Protection Act has shielded U.S. military personnel and government officials from ICC prosecution. However, in 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, prompting concerns that the court may expand its reach beyond its intended scope and threaten U.S. interests and those of allied nations that have similarly declined to join the ICC. The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act directs the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person or entity that assists the ICC in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting protected persons—defined as U.S. citizens, officials, military personnel, and citizens or officials of NATO members and major non-NATO allies who have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. Sanctions include freezing assets within U.S. territory or control, rendering individuals inadmissible to the United States, and revoking existing visas. The President must notify Congress within 10 days of imposing sanctions and may waive them for 90-day periods if national security requires it, though such waivers require detailed written justification to Congress. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and rescues all existing appropriations for the ICC while prohibiting future federal funding. The President may terminate sanctions only if the ICC ceases all investigations, arrests, detentions, or prosecutions of protected persons and permanently closes related proceedings. The Department of State and Treasury would implement asset freezes and visa revocations through existing authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Violations carry civil and criminal penalties. The practical effect is to create financial and diplomatic pressure on ICC personnel and supporters while cutting U.S. financial support for the institution.
International Affairs
Latest updateJan 9, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 243 - 140, 1 Present (Roll no. 7). (text: CR H67-69)
International Affairs
Crime and Law EnforcementHR-21-119Latest action: Jan 24, 20251 readersPassed Chamber
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Sponsored by Ann Wagner
Current federal law, primarily the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002, establishes that any infant born alive during an abortion procedure is considered a legal person entitled to constitutional protections. However, the law does not specify what medical care practitioners must provide to such infants, nor does it establish clear penalties for practitioners who fail to provide care. This ambiguity has created uncertainty about the legal obligations of healthcare providers when a child is born alive during an abortion or attempted abortion procedure. This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code by inserting a new section 1532 that requires any healthcare practitioner present when a child is born alive during an abortion to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the child's life and health as would be provided to any other newborn at the same gestational age. The bill directs practitioners to immediately transport and admit the child to a hospital following provision of care. It also mandates that healthcare practitioners and employees of hospitals, physician offices, or abortion clinics who know of a violation must immediately report it to state or federal law enforcement. The bill establishes criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines for violations, with intentional killing of a born-alive child treated as murder under existing homicide statutes. The law takes effect upon enactment with no specified implementation timeline or dedicated funding. Violations trigger both criminal prosecution and civil liability, allowing the woman on whom the abortion was performed to sue for damages including actual injuries, statutory damages of three times the abortion cost, and punitive damages. The bill creates a private right of action with attorney's fee awards for prevailing plaintiffs and potential fee awards against defendants in frivolous cases. The mother cannot be prosecuted under this section. These provisions operate alongside existing state and federal law enforcement mechanisms, potentially increasing caseloads for prosecutors and courts handling both criminal and civil disputes.
Crime and Law Enforcement
Latest updateJan 23, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 204, 1 Present (Roll no. 27). (text: CR H335-336)
Crime and Law Enforcement
Public Lands and Natural ResourcesHR-207-119Latest action: Jan 22, 20251 readersPassed Chamber
SHARKED Act of 2025
Sponsored by Robert Wittman
Shark depredation—damage to fishing gear and catch caused by sharks—has become an increasingly costly problem for commercial and recreational fishers across U.S. coastal waters. Currently, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and regional fishery management councils address shark interactions through existing fisheries law, but there is no coordinated federal effort specifically focused on understanding the causes of shark depredation or developing strategies to reduce it. Research on shark behavior, habituation to humans, and the effectiveness of deterrents remains fragmented across agencies and institutions, limiting the ability of fishers and managers to respond effectively. The SHARKED Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force that brings together representatives from regional fishery management councils, state fish and wildlife agencies, NMFS, and shark researchers to identify research priorities and develop management strategies addressing shark depredation. The task force will coordinate communication between fisheries managers and shark researchers, identify which shark species are involved in depredation events, assess shark populations, study how sharks become habituated to human activity, and develop non-lethal deterrent techniques. The task force will also create educational materials to help anglers and commercial fishers modify their behavior and expectations to minimize harmful shark interactions. The task force must submit its first report to Congress within two years of establishment, then every two years thereafter, and will automatically terminate after seven years. The bill does not provide a specific funding appropriation but directs the task force to identify funding opportunities for research priorities. The task force's work will inform future fisheries regulations and management decisions by NMFS and regional councils, potentially leading to new rules governing fishing practices in areas with high shark depredation. The effort does not alter existing protections under the Endangered Species Act or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Latest updateJan 21, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H240-241)
Public Lands and Natural Resources
ImmigrationHR-30-119Latest action: Jan 17, 20253 readersPassed Chamber
Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act
Sponsored by Nancy Mace
Under current immigration law, the Department of Homeland Security can deny entry to or remove certain aliens convicted of crimes, but the grounds for inadmissibility and deportability related to violence against women are limited. While some violent crimes trigger removal, sex offenses, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violations of protection orders are not uniformly treated as grounds for exclusion or deportation across all immigration statuses. This creates gaps where individuals convicted of these offenses may remain in the United States or gain entry despite their criminal histories. This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the grounds for both inadmissibility and deportability. The Department of Homeland Security is directed to treat aliens convicted of, or who admit committing, sex offenses—defined by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act—as inadmissible. The bill also makes inadmissible any alien convicted of or admitting to domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child abandonment, or violation of a protection order involving threats of violence, harassment, or bodily injury. For those already in the country, the bill establishes that aliens convicted of these same offenses become deportable, with domestic violence crimes now triggering removal regardless of whether the jurisdiction receives federal grant funding. Implementation occurs immediately upon enactment, as DHS applies these new grounds to visa applications, entry determinations, and removal proceedings. The bill does not create new funding requirements, instead directing existing DHS enforcement resources toward identifying and processing cases under the expanded grounds. The change affects pending immigration cases and future applications, potentially increasing deportation proceedings and reducing approvals for individuals with these convictions. Existing waivers and relief provisions remain available only where explicitly preserved in immigration law.
Immigration
Latest updateJan 16, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 274 - 145 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H191)
Immigration
Emergency ManagementHR-164-119Latest action: Jan 16, 20253 readersPassed Chamber
POWER Act of 2025
Sponsored by Val Hoyle
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act currently authorizes federal funding to help communities recover from disasters and conduct hazard mitigation—efforts to reduce future disaster damage. However, the law has created ambiguity about whether electric utilities can combine emergency power restoration work with hazard mitigation activities, and whether receiving emergency assistance disqualifies them from separate hazard mitigation funding. This gap has left utilities uncertain about their eligibility for comprehensive federal support when disasters strike. The POWER Act of 2025 amends Section 403 of the Stafford Act to clarify that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may authorize electric utilities to conduct hazard mitigation activities alongside emergency power restoration work. The bill explicitly permits utilities to combine these efforts and establishes that receiving federal assistance for emergency power restoration does not make a utility ineligible for additional hazard mitigation assistance under Section 406 of the Stafford Act, for which the utility otherwise qualifies. This removes the eligibility barrier that previously discouraged utilities from pursuing comprehensive disaster recovery. The amendment applies only to federal appropriations made after the bill's enactment, meaning utilities will benefit from this clarification on future disasters. FEMA will administer the expanded assistance through its existing Stafford Act programs, with no new funding mechanism created. The change allows utilities to pursue cost-effective resilience improvements—such as hardening power lines or upgrading infrastructure—during the same recovery period as emergency repairs, potentially reducing future outages and accelerating community recovery timelines.
Emergency Management
Latest updateJan 15, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2 (Roll no. 13). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H103)
Emergency Management
TaxationHR-33-119Latest action: Jan 16, 20252 readersPassed Chamber
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources within the United States.
Sponsored by Jason Smith
Under current U.S. tax law, residents of Taiwan who earn income from U.S. sources face the same withholding and tax rates as other foreign nationals. The Internal Revenue Code generally imposes a 30 percent withholding tax on interest, dividends, and royalties paid to foreign persons, and taxes foreign corporations on U.S.-source business income at regular corporate rates. Taiwan residents working in the United States or earning investment income are subject to these standard rules, which can result in double taxation if Taiwan also taxes the same income. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code by inserting a new section 894A that establishes preferential tax treatment for qualified residents of Taiwan. The Department of the Treasury will apply reduced withholding rates—10 percent on most investment income (interest, dividends, royalties) and 15 percent on certain dividends—rather than the standard 30 percent. The bill also exempts qualified wages earned by Taiwan residents who are not U.S. residents from withholding entirely, and excludes entertainment or athletic income under $30,000 from taxation. For Taiwan residents operating a U.S. business through a permanent establishment, the bill allows taxation under regular U.S. corporate rates rather than the higher rates normally applied to foreign corporations, and reduces the branch profits tax from 30 percent to 10 percent. Implementation occurs upon enactment, with the Treasury Department authorized to issue regulations clarifying definitions and procedures. The bill creates eligibility requirements: individuals must be taxed as residents of Taiwan and not be U.S. persons; corporations must meet ownership tests (at least 50 percent Taiwan-owned), be publicly traded in Taiwan, or qualify as subsidiaries of qualifying entities. The reduced rates apply only to income not effectively connected with a U.S. permanent establishment, except where specified. Revenue effects depend on the volume of Taiwan-source investment and business activity in the United States, and the provision operates as a bilateral tax preference without requiring reciprocal action by Taiwan.
Taxation
Latest updateJan 15, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 423 - 1 (Roll no. 15). (text: CR H160-164)
Taxation
Government Operations and PoliticsHR-144-119Latest action: Jan 16, 20252 readersPassed Chamber
Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act
Sponsored by Steve Cohen
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal agency established in 1933 to manage hydroelectric power and regional development across the Southeast, currently operates under financial reporting requirements that have evolved over decades. Like other federal agencies, the TVA is subject to the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995, which automatically terminates reporting mandates unless Congress explicitly reauthorizes them. The TVA has historically submitted financial statements to Congress, but the scope and detail of executive compensation disclosure have remained limited compared to transparency standards applied to other federal entities and private corporations.
Government Operations and Politics
Latest updateJan 15, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 14). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H105)
Government Operations and Politics
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesHR-28-119Latest action: Jan 15, 20253 readersPassed Chamber
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Sponsored by W. Steube
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities at institutions receiving federal funding. Currently, the Department of Education enforces Title IX's athletics provisions through guidance and case-by-case determinations, allowing schools flexibility in how they define sex for purposes of athletic eligibility. This approach has led to varying policies across states and institutions, with some schools permitting transgender athletes to compete on teams consistent with their gender identity, while others maintain eligibility based on sex assigned at birth. This bill amends Title IX to require that sex be recognized solely on the basis of reproductive biology and genetics at birth for all athletic program eligibility determinations. Schools and universities receiving federal funds must prohibit anyone classified as male at birth from participating in athletic programs designated for women or girls. The bill defines athletic programs broadly to include all activities provided conditional on team participation. However, it permits males to train or practice with women's teams provided no female loses a roster spot, practice opportunity, competition slot, scholarship, or admission benefit. The Comptroller General must conduct a study documenting the psychological, developmental, and sociological effects on girls of allowing males to participate in women's sports, including impacts on roster spots, scholarships, and admission opportunities. The study findings go to Congress. Schools must implement these eligibility rules immediately upon enactment to maintain Title IX compliance and federal funding. The bill creates no new funding mechanism but ties compliance to existing federal education dollars, making enforcement through the Department of Education's existing Title IX oversight structure.
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Latest updateJan 14, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206, 1 Present (Roll no. 12). (text: CR H126)
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Emergency ManagementHR-153-119Latest action: Jan 15, 20250 readersPassed Chamber
Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act
Sponsored by Mike Ezell
Federal disaster assistance flows through multiple agencies—the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development—to help communities recover from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Currently, while some reporting requirements exist, there is no centralized, publicly accessible system that consolidates information about how disaster funds are spent across these agencies. Recipients must navigate separate reporting channels, and the public lacks a unified way to track where federal disaster dollars go and what projects they support. The Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act requires the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Treasury Department and relevant federal agencies, to establish a dedicated online repository within the existing Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act website. Within 30 days after each calendar quarter ends, covered agencies must publish detailed information about disaster assistance they distributed, including total amounts awarded, funds expended or obligated, and a comprehensive list of all projects funded. Each project entry must include its name, description, completion status, award identification number, Federal Emergency Management Agency catalog number, geographic location with ZIP codes, and any other reporting requirements the agency collects. The repository will launch once the Office of Management and Budget completes its coordination with federal agencies and issues implementing guidance—expected within months of enactment. The Office of Management and Budget may contract with private entities or nonprofits to develop the platform if needed. All data must be machine-readable to enable public analysis and comparison. This centralized system will allow disaster survivors, local officials, auditors, and taxpayers to monitor fund distribution in real time, identify spending patterns, and verify that assistance reaches intended recipients and projects. The change creates no new funding requirements, instead repurposing existing reporting obligations into a unified public dashboard.
Emergency Management
Latest updateJan 14, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 10). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H101-102)
Emergency Management