This bill adds "qualified BDC interest dividends" to the tax deduction for qualified business income (Section 199A) currently available for certain real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends. It directly affects investors in business development companies (BDCs) who receive specific interest dividends from these companies. The key provision defines these dividends as those from BDCs attributable to net interest income related to their qualified business activities, making them eligible for the same tax deduction as REIT dividends. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
H.J.Res. 128 proposes a constitutional amendment to withhold salaries from members of Congress during government shutdowns. A government shutdown is defined as a period when federal agencies lack funding due to Congress failing to pass an appropriations bill or continuing resolution. The amendment would require Congress to pass implementing legislation to enforce this pay suspension. This policy would directly affect all current House and Senate members by stopping their regular salaries during any shutdown period.
SRES 426 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating October 5-11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States. It affirms the importance of religious education for civic and moral development, highlights historical and legal precedents supporting religious instruction (like *Pierce v. Society of Sisters* and *Zorach v. Clauson*), and calls on all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate public school students participating in religious education through "released time" programs. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but symbolically recognizes existing religious education efforts, including those in sectarian schools and public school release-time programs. It directly affects public schools, religious education providers, and state education systems by urging them to support student access to religious instruction.
S 2957, the Small Communities Transit Improvement Act, increases federal funding for transit systems in small cities. It amends Section 5336(h)(3) of the U.S. Code to raise the required funding percentage from 3% to 5% for "small transit intensive cities" under existing federal transit programs. This change directly affects smaller communities that qualify as transit-intensive, providing them with a higher share of available federal transit funds. The bill modifies a specific funding formula without creating new programs or altering eligibility criteria.
This bill prohibits non-consensual administration of abortion-inducing drugs (like mifepristone or misoprostol) to pregnant women under federal law. It makes such acts a crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison, with enhanced penalties for serious injury or death, and creates civil remedies allowing victims to seek triple damages, compensation for physical/psychological harm, and attorney fees. The law specifically requires "informed consent" - meaning a woman must voluntarily agree after being fully informed about risks - before any abortion-inducing drug can be administered. It directly affects medical providers who violate consent rules and pregnant women subjected to non-consensual drug administration.
The SAVES Act (HR 2605) creates a 5-year pilot program where the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with specific disabilities. It directly affects veterans with covered conditions like blindness, mobility impairments, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or other disabilities deemed appropriate for service dog assistance by the VA. Key provisions include: grants capped at $2 million per nonprofit (with $10 million annually authorized), no fees charged to veterans, VA-provided lifetime veterinary insurance for the dogs, and requirements for nonprofits to train veterans and maintain humane animal standards. The program aims to expand access to service dogs as a support tool for veterans managing qualifying disabilities.
This bill expands U.S. law enforcement cooperation with Canada by creating new legal mechanisms for joint cross-border operations. It allows U.S. agencies to grant foreign officers (like Canadian customs agents) the same legal privileges during joint work, cover liability claims arising from overseas operations, and formally station U.S. and Canadian officers in each other's countries for border security. The law directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and Canadian law enforcement through these expanded partnership tools. It modifies existing laws (Tariff Act, Homeland Security Act) to streamline international collaboration without changing border policies.
HRES 719 is a House resolution honoring Charles "Charlie" James Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated on September 10, 2025. The resolution condemns his assassination and all political violence, extends condolences to his family, and calls on Americans to reject violence while promoting civil discourse. It specifically recognizes Kirk's legacy as a defender of constitutional principles and his role in inspiring youth through free speech and faith-based civic engagement. As a commemorative resolution, it does not enact policy changes but formally expresses the House's stance on honoring his life and legacy.
The Safety Funding Parity Adjustment Act of 2025 requires the Transportation Secretary to adjust federal highway safety funding between two specific programs before distributing funds each fiscal year. If the increase in funding for Program A (section 402) is not at least four times the increase for Program B (section 405), funds must be transferred from Program B to Program A to achieve that 4:1 ratio. This mechanism ensures Program A receives a disproportionately larger funding boost relative to Program B when their increases don't meet the 4:1 threshold. The bill directly affects how federal highway safety funds are allocated to states and local governments through these two programs. It takes effect October 1, 2026.
This bill modifies a federal rail funding rule to specifically exempt long-distance passenger rail corridors from requiring consideration of non-Federal funding commitments. It directly affects long-distance intercity rail routes by removing a requirement that previously forced the Secretary to factor in promised non-Federal funds when selecting corridors. The key provision adds an exception stating the Secretary "shall not consider committed or anticipated non-Federal funding" for these corridors during selection. This change simplifies the corridor selection process for long-distance routes by eliminating a specific funding-related hurdle. The bill does not alter funding levels or create new programs, only changing the criteria used in the selection process.
This bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther, a volunteer firefighter and equities trader who died saving others during the September 11, 2001, attacks. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be given to Crowther’s mother, Alison Crowther, following a formal presentation by congressional leaders. The bill also permits the U.S. Mint to sell bronze duplicates of the medal at cost to cover production expenses. It is a purely commemorative measure with no legislative or regulatory impact.
This Senate resolution (SRES 403) expresses support for designating October 14, 2025, as a "National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk." It recognizes Charlie Kirk as the founder of Turning Point USA and a advocate for free speech, civic education, and constitutional principles, noting his death on September 10, 2025. The resolution encourages educational institutions and civic organizations to observe this day with activities promoting the values Kirk championed, such as liberty and democracy. As a symbolic gesture, the resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding.
