HR 6792, the Foreign-Trade Zone Export Enhancement Act of 2025, modifies U.S. tariff rules to make it easier for businesses using foreign-trade zones (FTZs) to export goods to U.S. trade partners under the USMCA (or future agreements). It allows certain merchandise manufactured or altered within FTZs - specifically items classified under HTS 9801.00.95 - to enter the U.S. duty-free when exported directly to Canada or Mexico. This change aims to support U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and job retention by reducing costs for companies processing goods in FTZs for export to USMCA countries. The bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement these tariff changes within 90 days of enactment.
This bill prohibits using fiscal year 2026 Department of Defense funds to implement hiring freezes, layoffs, or unnecessary delays in filling vacant positions at public shipyards. It directly affects public shipyards and their Federal civilian employees by preventing workforce reductions without justification. The key provision blocks specific personnel actions - hiring freezes, layoffs, and unfounded hiring delays - using Defense Department funding. This is a procedural measure focused on preserving existing workforce stability at these facilities.
HR 6818, the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act, would expand rights for part-time workers by reducing eligibility requirements for family and medical leave from 12 months to 90 days of employment under the FMLA. The bill prohibits employers from discriminating against part-time workers based on hours worked, requiring equal treatment for benefits, promotions, and scheduling. It mandates that employers obtain written statements from employees about their desired work hours and prioritize offering available work hours to existing employees before hiring new external workers. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms including civil penalties for violations and allows employees to file private lawsuits for damages, with the Secretary of Labor having investigative authority to ensure compliance. This legislation directly affects part-time workers and employers with more than 15 employees across both private and public sectors.
The Schedules That Work Act would require employers in retail, food service, hospitality, cleaning, and warehouse sectors to provide workers with 14 days' advance notice of their schedules and pay predictability wages for last-minute changes. It allows employees to request schedule changes related to caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, education, or other jobs, with employers required to engage in good-faith discussions about such requests. The bill prohibits retaliation against employees who request schedule changes and mandates written notice of schedule changes and predictability pay. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees in covered sectors, aiming to address widespread issues with unpredictable schedules that negatively impact workers' ability to care for family members, maintain housing stability, and access health care.
This bill requires TRICARE to cover fertility-related care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for active-duty military members and their dependents starting October 2027. It mandates up to three IVF cycles per year with single embryo transfers by default (unless medically necessary), eliminates cost-sharing barriers after an infertility diagnosis, and prohibits coverage for genetic screening, cloning, or artificial wombs. The law defines "infertility" based on medical guidelines and specifies covered treatments like egg/sperm retrieval, embryo preservation, and fertility medications. It does not apply to former service members or their dependents.
This bill establishes a digital system for TRICARE members to electronically file and track complaints about access to care at military medical facilities. It requires the Defense Department to create a system where beneficiaries can submit complaints online, view their status in real time, and have complaints automatically aggregated quarterly for review. The system mandates annual reports to Congress comparing complaint types (e.g., specialty vs. primary care, pediatric vs. non-pediatric, administrative hurdles) and detailing facility-level actions taken to address issues. The goal is to improve transparency and accountability in military healthcare access.
The Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025 amends the Clayton Act to allow legal claims for violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act or for violations of the bill's own section (section 2). This technical change would directly affect small businesses and other entities involved in antitrust litigation by expanding the grounds for lawsuits under the Clayton Act. The key mechanism is a modification to the Clayton Act that references the bill's provisions, creating a new basis for claims. The bill does not specify additional substantive rules beyond this amendment.
Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 This bill prohibits certain health care facilities from limiting the access of essential caregivers to residents of those facilities, including during designated emergency periods. Specifically, the bill generally prohibits Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, Medicaid intermediate care facilities, and associated inpatient rehabilitation facilities from restricting the access of essential caregivers to residents of the facilities, including during emergency periods in which visitation rights are otherwise restricted. During emergency periods, facilities may restrict access for an initial period of up to seven days and for one additional maximum seven-day period (if the additional period is approved by the state health department). Facilities may restrict access for a total of 7 days (or 14 days with the approval of the state health department) during an emergency period. Essential caregivers must agree to comply with any safety protocols set by the facility, which may be no more stringent for caregivers compared to those for staff. Caregivers who fail to comply with these requirements may be denied access, subject to an appeals process.
HR 6730, the HERO Act, allows active-duty military members and reservists on active duty to sue the U.S. government directly for medical negligence at military hospitals (excluding combat zones). It replaces a previous law by creating a new federal claim process for injuries or deaths caused by faulty medical care, dental services, or related health functions provided by military staff. The bill prevents the government from reducing compensation by veterans' benefits or military life insurance payouts and sets a 10-year deadline from when the injury was discovered to file a claim. This change directly affects service members who suffer harm due to medical errors at covered military treatment facilities.
HR 6769 establishes a federal grant program to fund the complete destruction of firearms by state, tribal, and local governments. Eligible entities must submit applications detailing how they will fully destroy all firearm parts (including frames, barrels, and accessories) and maintain records, with grants covering equipment, contracted services, and staff training. The program allocates $15 million annually from 2026-2031, requiring grantees to use no more than 10% of funds for administration and reserving one-third of funding for small urban or rural areas. All grant recipients must provide documented proof of destruction through written policies and verified records. This is a direct funding mechanism for firearm disposal, not a crime-reduction measure.
HR 6731, the "Restore Trust in Government Act," requires Members of Congress, the President/Vice President, and their spouses or dependent children to divest certain financial investments during federal service. It defines "covered investments" broadly (including stocks, commodities, and derivatives) but excludes Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, family farm interests, and some Alaska Native Settlement stock. Covered individuals must sell holdings within 90-180 days of taking office or enacting the law, with limited exceptions for qualified blind trusts or spouses’ occupational trading. Violations incur a 10% fee on the investment value and require returning profits, paid to the Treasury. Ethics offices enforce these rules, publish penalty details, and issue divestiture certificates.
This bill amends Section 1983 of federal law to make federal law enforcement agencies financially liable when officers violate constitutional rights during searches, seizures, or arrests. It directly affects federal agencies (like the FBI or DHS) and citizens who experience such rights violations. Key provisions remove the requirement that a violation must stem from an agency's policy or custom, and waive the U.S. government's sovereign immunity - meaning agencies can be sued directly in court regardless of officer defenses or immunities. The law expands legal recourse for victims by enabling lawsuits against the agency itself, not just individual officers.
