Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 This bill generally prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls. Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.) Under the bill, sex is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits. The Government Accountability Office must report on the benefits for women or girls in single-sex sports that would be lost as a result of male participation. In particular, the report must document the negative psychological, developmental, participatory, and sociological effects of male participation on girls.

SAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act This bill rescinds unobligated funds that were provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for enforcement activities related to the determination and collection of taxes, for operations support for taxpayer services and enforcement activities, and for a task force to research options for a free, direct electronic filing (e-filing) tax return system.  The bill also rescinds unobligated funds that were provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for expenses of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Office of Tax Policy, U.S. Tax Court, and offices within the Department of the Treasury that provide oversight and support for the IRS.  

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act This bill imposes sanctions against foreign persons (individuals and entities) who assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting certain individuals. The bill categorizes as protected persons (1) any U.S. individual, U.S. entity, or person in the United States, unless the United States is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC and provides formal consent to ICC jurisdiction; and (2) any foreign person that is a citizen or lawful resident of a U.S. ally that is not a state party to the Rome Statute or has not consented to ICC jurisdiction. If the ICC attempts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a protected person, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against the foreign persons that engaged in or materially assisted in such actions, as well as against foreign persons owned by, controlled by, or acting on behalf of such foreign persons. The President must also apply visa-blocking sanctions to the immediate family members of those sanctioned. Upon enactment, the bill rescinds all funds appropriated for the ICC and prohibits the subsequent use of appropriated funds for the ICC.

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 20 25 This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking. Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. The bill generally preserves the current congressional review process for a nonmajor rule.

FIND Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act or the FIND Act This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm trade associations or businesses that deal in firearms, ammunition, or related products. Specifically, the bill requires a federal agency to include in each contract for the procurement of goods or services awarded by the agency a clause requiring the prime contractor to certify that it (1) has no policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association; and (2) will not adopt a policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association during the term of the contract. The bill establishes (1) a similar requirement with respect to subcontracts, and (2) penalties for violations. The bill makes such prohibition inapplicable to a contract for the procurement of goods or services that is a sole-source contract.

Finish the Wall Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Finish the Wall Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities related to the construction of a barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other border-related issues. DHS must resume all such construction activities that were planned or underway prior to January 20, 2021. DHS must also expend all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated since October 1, 2016, for construction of this barrier system. DHS may not cancel contracts for activities related to such construction entered into on or before January 20, 2021. Furthermore, within 14 days of this bill's enactment, DHS must certify to Congress that U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities that process adults taken into custody at the border are fully compliant with certain laws related to the collection of DNA. (Among other things, these laws allow for the collection of DNA samples from non-U.S. persons detained under U.S. authority.)

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.

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

HALT Fentanyl Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This bill permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the bill, offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are triggered by the same quantity thresholds and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration. Finally, the bill expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of Controlled Substances Act in United States v. McCray , a 2018 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In that case, the court held that butyryl fentanyl, a controlled substance, can be considered an analogue of fentanyl even though, under the Controlled Substances Act, the term controlled substance analogue specifically excludes a controlled substance.

Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for operating a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the U.S. border while fleeing from a U.S. Border Patrol agent or a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer who is actively assisting or under the command of the U.S. Border Patrol. The bill establishes criminal penalties for an offense, including a mandatory minimum prison term for an offense resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Additionally, a non-U.S. national who is convicted of or admits to committing an offense is inadmissible, deportable, and ineligible for immigration relief (including asylum).

TCJA Permanency Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

TCJA Permanency Act This bill makes permanent multiple federal tax provisions enacted in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill makes permanent the  individual tax rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%; increased standard deduction; personal exemption allowance repeal; exclusion from income of student loans discharged due to death or disability; qualified business income tax deduction (199A tax deduction); allowance of ABLE account contributions in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion amount; base estate and gift tax exclusion amount of $10 million (adjusted annually); and alternative minimum tax exemption and phaseout amounts for noncorporate taxpayers. The bill makes permanent the child tax credit amounts of $2,000 per child and $500 for dependents, the $200,000 phaseout threshold ($400,000 for joint filers), and the refundable portion of the tax credit.  The bill expands the expenses eligible for tax-free withdrawals from qualified tuition plans (529 plans) to include additional expenses associated with homeschool and elementary and secondary schools (e.g., instructional materials, tutoring, test and enrollment fees, and educational therapies).  The bill permanently eliminates certain miscellaneous itemized deductions and makes permanent the  state and local tax deduction limit of $10,000 ($5,000 for married individuals filing separately), mortgage interest tax deduction limit of $750,000 ($375,000 for married individuals filing separately), limit on the deduction of cash charitable contributions to 60% of a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income, and certain limits on casualty loss tax deductions.  The bill also permanently eliminates the exclusion from income for employer-reimbursed bicycle commuting expenses.

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act This bill establishes requirements for the degree of care a health care practitioner must provide in the case of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion. Specifically, a health care practitioner who is present must (1) exercise the same degree of care as would reasonably be provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure the child is immediately admitted to a hospital. Additionally, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the degree-of-care requirements must immediately report such failure to law enforcement. A health care practitioner who fails to provide the required degree of care, or a health care practitioner or other employee who fails to report such failure, is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. An individual who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive is subject to prosecution for murder. The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive under this bill and allows her to bring a civil action against a health care practitioner or other employee for violations.

No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act This bill makes a state or political subdivision of a state ineligible for any federal funds that the jurisdiction intends to use to benefit non-U.S. nationals (i.e., aliens under federal law) who are unlawfully present if the jurisdiction withholds information about citizenship or immigration status or does not cooperate with immigration detainers. Specifically, such funds are denied to any jurisdiction that has a law, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts any government entity from maintaining, sending, or receiving information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any individual; exchanging information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status with a federal, state, or local government entity;  complying with a valid immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); or  notifying DHS about an individual's release from custody. The funding restriction does not apply to a law, policy, or practice that only applies to an individual who comes forward as a victim of or a witness to a criminal offense. DHS must annually provide to specified congressional committees a list of jurisdictions that have failed to comply with a DHS detainer or have failed to notify DHS of an individual’s release. The funding restriction begins 60 days after the bill's enactment or on the first day of the fiscal year following the bill's enactment, whichever is earlier.

POLICE Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement Act of 2025 or the POLICE Act of 2025 This bill makes assaulting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder a deportable offense. Specifically, the bill makes deportable any non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who has been convicted of (or admits to have committed) any act that constitutes the essential elements of any offense involving assault of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder. The Department of Homeland Security must publish annually on its website a report on the number of individuals deported in the previous year pursuant to this bill.

Laken Riley Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Laken Riley Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody; failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews; failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country; violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines. Specifically, an individual who is eligible to carry a concealed firearm in one state may carry or possess a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. It sets forth requirements for lawful concealed carry across state lines. The bill preempts most state and local laws related to concealed carry and establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by interference with a concealed-carry right established by this bill.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2025

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution establishing term limits for individuals serving in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The proposed amendment makes an individual who has served two terms in the Senate ineligible for appointment or election to the Senate and an individual who has served three terms as a Member of the House of Representatives ineligible for election to the House of Representatives. The joint resolution provides that the amendment shall be valid when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification. Under Article V of the Constitution, both chambers of Congress may propose an amendment by a vote of two-thirds of all Members present for such vote. A proposed amendment must be ratified by the states as prescribed in Article V and as specified by Congress.

Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025 This bill restricts federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. or any of its affiliates or clinics for one year. Specifically, it prohibits providing federal funding to those entities unless they certify that the affiliates and clinics will not perform, and will not provide funds to entities that perform, abortions during that year. If the certification requirement is not met, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture must recoup any federal assistance received by those entities. However, the bill's funding restriction does not apply to abortions performed in cases of rape or incest or when necessary to resolve a physical condition that endangers a woman's life. The bill also provides additional funding for community health centers for the one-year period. These funds are subject to the same abortion-related restrictions and exceptions.

Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act of 2025 This bill requires entities receiving federal funds to certify that they will not, subject to certain exceptions, perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. The bill provides exceptions for abortions performed in cases of rape or incest or when necessary to resolve a physical condition that endangers a woman's life.  

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025 This bill modifies provisions relating to federal funding for, and health insurance coverage of, abortions. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions or for health coverage that includes abortions. Such restrictions extend to the use of funds in the budget of the District of Columbia. Additionally, abortions may not be provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. Historically, language has been included in annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions—such language is commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment. Similar language is also frequently included in appropriations bills for other federal agencies and the District of Columbia. The bill makes these restrictions permanent and extends the restrictions to all federal funds (rather than specific agencies). The bill's restrictions regarding the use of federal funds do not apply in cases of rape, incest, or where a physical disorder, injury, or illness endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed. The Hyde Amendment provides the same exceptions. The bill also prohibits qualified health plans from including coverage for abortions. Currently, qualified health plans may cover abortion, but the portion of the premium attributable to abortion coverage is not eligible for subsidies.

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period. The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions. HHS must submit a report to Congress annually on this prohibition.

Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act This bill expands the exclusion of interest on floor plan financing from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses to include interest on floor plan financing of certain non-motorized, towable campers and trailers.  Under current law, the tax deduction for business interest expenses is generally limited to 30% of adjusted taxable income. (Some exceptions apply.) However, under current law, interest on floor plan financing (financing used to acquire inventory for sale or lease) of motorized vehicles (e.g., self-propelled vehicles designed to transport people) is excluded from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses. Under the bill, the exclusion of interest on floor plan financing from the limit on the tax deduction for business interest expenses is expanded to include interest on floor plan financing of any camper or trailer designed to (1) provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or seasonal use; and (2) be towed by, or affixed to, a motor vehicle. 

Regulation Reduction Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2025

Regulation Reduction Act of 2025 This bill requires federal agencies to repeal certain existing rules prior to issuing a new rule. Specifically, the bill prohibits an agency from issuing a rule that imposes a cost or responsibility on a nongovernmental person or a state or local government unless it repeals three or more related rules. Additionally, an agency may not issue a major rule that imposes such a cost or responsibility unless (1) the agency has repealed three or more related rules, and (2) the cost of the new rule is less than or equal to the cost of the rules being repealed. A  major rule is a rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual economic effect of at least $100 million; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, or innovation. Any such repealed rule must be published in the Federal Register. This bill does not apply to a rule or major rule that (1) relates to an internal agency policy or practice, (2) relates to procurement, or (3) is being revised to be less burdensome to decrease requirements imposed or compliance costs. Additionally, each federal agency must submit to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget a report that includes a review of each rule of the agency and that identifies whether each rule is costly, ineffective, duplicative, or outdated.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

CHILD Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Combating High Inflation Limiting Daycare Act of 2025 or the CHILD Act of 2025 This bill increases the maximum annual amount that may be contributed to a dependent care assistance program (generally known as a dependent care flexible spending account [FSA]). Under the bill, the maximum annual amount that may be contributed to a dependent care FSA increases from $5,000 ($2,500 for married taxpayers who file separate federal tax returns) to $10,000 ($5,000 for married taxpayers who file separate federal tax returns) and is adjusted annually for inflation.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Hearing Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Security First Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Security First Act This bill reauthorizes the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2025 through FY2028 and addresses other border security issues. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.) From FY2025 through FY2028, the money from unreported monetary instruments seized from individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and transferred into the Department of the Treasury general fund shall be made available without further appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fund Operation Stonegarden. DHS must report to Congress on (1) DHS hiring practices from 2018 to 2024, and (2) whether certain criminal gangs and Mexican drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. DHS must also periodically report to Congress about the technology needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico land border.

Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.

Permanent Tax Cuts for American Families Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Permanent Tax Cuts for American Families Act of 2025 This bill makes permanent the increased standard tax deduction amounts enacted in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Under current law, the standard tax deduction consists of a statutory base amount that is adjusted annually for inflation. For tax years 2018-2025, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased the standard tax deduction statutory base amounts to $24,000 (from $6,000) for joint filers, $18,000 (from $4,400) for head-of-household filers, and $12,000 (from $3,000) for single filers, which almost doubled the inflation-adjusted standard tax deduction amount for most taxpayers. Under the bill, the increased standard tax deduction statutory base amounts of $24,000 for joint filers, $18,000 for head-of-household filers, and $12,000 for single filers are made permanent. The bill also makes permanent the annual adjustments to such amounts for inflation.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2025

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act This bill modifies the retention requirements for firearm transaction records of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that go out of business. Current law generally requires FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This bill removes the requirement for FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the ATF. Further, the bill requires the ATF to destroy all out-of-business records it has collected from FFLs.

Sarah’s Law

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Sarah's Law This bill requires the Department of Justice or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. DHS must obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which the detained individual was charged or convicted. DHS shall provide the victim, or a relative or guardian of a deceased victim, with information about the detained individual, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.

Defending American Jobs and Investment Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Defending American Jobs and Investment Act This bill provides for the enforcement of remedies against foreign countries that have extraterritorial or discriminatory taxes. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury to periodically submit a report to Congress that lists each foreign country that has one or more extraterritorial or discriminatory taxes. Treasury must commence enhanced bilateral engagement with each foreign country included in the report. This engagement must (1) express the concern of the United States with respect to the adverse trade and economic effects of tax policies that violate bilateral tax treaties and international tax norms, (2) urge the repeal of extraterritorial and discriminatory taxes that target U.S. persons, and (3) advise the foreign country of remedial actions (as outlined by this bill). The bill increases income tax and withholding tax rates on certain foreign citizens, corporations, and partnerships of any foreign country listed in Treasury's report. The bill provides the executive branch with additional tools to enforce against extraterritorial and discriminatory taxes. These tools include authorizing the President to prohibit government contracting for or procurement of goods or services from a foreign country listed in Treasury's report, directing Treasury to consider these taxes in assessing whether to enter into or update a bilateral tax treaty with the foreign country, and requiring the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to consider these taxes in assessing whether to enter into any free trade agreement or executive agreement with the foreign country.

ALIGN Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Increased TSP Access Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modify the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs) at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) by establishing an approval process for nonfederal certifying entities and a streamlined certification process for TSPs that hold certain specialty certifications. As background, TSPs are third-party service providers, such as private businesses, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, that work on behalf of customers to offer planning, design, and implementation services that meet NRCS criteria. The bill specifies that USDA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, third-party providers with expertise in the technical aspects of conservation practice design, implementation, and evaluation are eligible to become approved TSPs. USDA must provide a streamlined certification process for TSPs who hold appropriate specialty certifications (e.g., certified crop advisors). In determining the eligibility of a nonfederal certifying entity, USDA must consider the ability, experience, expertise, and history of the entity. USDA must decide whether to approve an application submitted by a nonfederal certifying entity to certify TSPs within a specified time period.   USDA must also review a TSP's certification by a nonfederal certifying entity within a specified time period. If the certification is satisfactory, USDA must include the TSP on a USDA-maintained registry of certified TSPs. The bill also specifies that TSPs must be paid at rates equivalent to technical assistance provided by USDA. Further, USDA must provide accessible public information on TSPs, including information on funding, certification results, and utilization rates.

Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025 This bill requires state plans for child welfare services to provide for the development and implementation of a family partnership plan to improve foster care placement stability, increase rates of kinship placements, and align the composition of foster and adoptive families with the needs of children in or entering foster care. The Children's Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families also must include in its annual report information from states about the number, demographics, and characteristics of foster and adoptive families as well as a summary of the challenges related to recruiting and being foster or adoptive parents.

Memorializing the unborn by lowering the United States flag to half-staff on the 22d day of January each year.

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

This resolution expresses support for recognizing a Day of Tears and lowering flags to half-staff to honor unborn lives lost to abortion.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices.

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the Supreme Court to consist of nine Justices.

Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to an institution of higher education (IHE) that hosts or is affiliated with a school-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to its students or to employees of the IHE or the site. An IHE that hosts or is affiliated with a site must, in order to remain eligible for federal funds, annually certify that the site does not provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees.

RIFLE Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

Reining In Federal Licensing Enforcement Act of 2025 or the RIFLE Act of 2025   This bill revises the federal statutory framework governing the licensing, inspection, and enforcement of federally licensed dealers, importers, and manufacturers of firearms (i.e., federal firearms licensees, or FFLs) by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).    With respect to an application for a license, this bill requires the ATF to make a preliminary determination, provide notice of a proposed denial, and allow the applicant to request a hearing.  With respect to inspections, this bill requires the ATF to establish standards for how it inspects, examines, or investigates FFLs for possible violations. With respect to the enforcement of violations, this bill establishes a new framework. The new framework establishes a presumption that a violation by an FFL is not willful and requires the ATF to provide notice of and work with an FFL to rectify a violation. In the case of a violation that is willful, the ATF has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the violation was committed willfully. The term willfully means that the person had actual knowledge of a legal duty, understood the obligation imposed by the legal duty, and deliberately disregarded the legal duty. The ATF may pursue revocation of an FFL’s license, but only after (1) providing notice and an opportunity to comply; and (2) finding that a lesser administrative action (e.g., warning, warning letter, or warning conference) is not likely to lead to future compliance.