Medal of Sacrifice Act of 2025 This act directs the President to issue a medal of sacrifice for eligible law enforcement officers and first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The act also directs the President to establish a commission on the medal of sacrifice and appoint its members. The act sets forth responsibilities of the commission, including to advise on the design of the medal and determine how the medal will be presented. Under the act, eligible law enforcement officers and first responders include federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement officers or first responders who are not subject to an official act of wrongdoing (e.g., a determination that the officer or first responder acted outside the scope of their duties or in a manner that was not in accordance with official policies or procedures). A law enforcement officer or first responder who is subject to an official act of wrongdoing is generally not eligible for the medal of sacrifice. However, in the case of such an officer or first responder, the act requires the commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the officer or first responder's cause of death and issue a final determination on their eligibility.
Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution. Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.) The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States. Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business. Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries). These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.
Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 This act makes several changes to the administration of bankruptcy cases, particularly by increasing amounts received by certain trustees, extending the sunset date of various fees, and extending the term of specified bankruptcy judgeships. (Sec. 3) The act increases the amounts paid out of fees to the trustee in Chapter 7 (liquidation) cases. (Sec. 4) The act extends for an additional five years the fees paid quarterly to the U.S. trustee in Chapter 11 (reorganization) cases. The act also increases the fee percentage for cases with large disbursements, subject to limitations. (Sec. 5) Finally, temporary bankruptcy judgeships in various districts are extended for an additional five years.
The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (HR 4323) allows victims of human trafficking to petition courts to vacate convictions for non-violent federal crimes (level A offenses) or expunge arrest records if those offenses were directly related to their trafficking victimization. The bill establishes clear procedures for filing these motions, requires courts to consider testimony from anti-trafficking service providers, and ensures confidentiality for petitioners. It also adds a new "human trafficking defense" that permits defendants to claim duress due to trafficking victimization in criminal cases. The law mandates reports to Congress on implementation, including the number of petitions filed and outcomes, to assess its impact on trafficking survivors.
Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This act 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.
HJRES 133 is a joint resolution requesting the Secretary of the Interior to authorize temporary displays on the National Mall and Washington Monument during December 31, 2025, to January 5, 2026. It specifically asks for five nights of public displays featuring semiquincentennial materials, artifacts, and projected content onto the Washington Monument. The resolution aims to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, building on past celebrations like the 1976 bicentennial and 2019 Apollo 11 commemoration. This request affects the Secretary of the Interior (who would grant authorization) and the public (who would attend the displays).
This bill increases the special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients by tying the payment rate to standard veterans' compensation. It amends law to set the pension equal to the monthly rate for veterans without dependents (under 38 U.S.C. §1114(m)), adjusted to the next intermediate rate. The change automatically updates annually based on changes to the standard rate, with a cap preventing multiple increases in a single year. It directly affects all living Medal of Honor recipients currently receiving the $1,406.73 monthly pension. The law took effect December 1, 2025, after passing both chambers earlier that year.
This bill increases disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans, effective December 1, 2025. The increases will match the percentage rise in Social Security benefits for that year, as determined under the Social Security Act. It directly affects veterans receiving disability payments and surviving family members eligible for survivor benefits under current law. The adjustment ensures these benefits keep pace with inflation, as required by the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment formula.
HR 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, restricts how consumer reporting agencies share credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents agencies from sending these reports to third parties unless the request is tied to a firm credit offer and the recipient has either the homebuyer’s explicit written consent or is directly involved in the mortgage (like the lender, loan servicer, or the homebuyer’s bank holding an active account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by limiting unsolicited sharing of their credit information. The law amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to strengthen privacy protections around mortgage-related credit data.
This bill names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, as the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell VA Clinic." It directly affects the existing clinic facility by changing its official name to honor World War II veteran Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell. The key provision updates all federal references to the clinic - including laws, regulations, maps, and documents - to reflect this new designation after the bill's enactment. The change is purely administrative and does not alter the clinic's services or operations.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.
HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, repeals two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for certain government workers. It eliminates the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which cuts spousal or survivor benefits for people with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security (like federal or state government roles), and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which lowers retirement benefits for those with similar pensions. The law takes effect for benefits paid after December 2023, requiring the Social Security Administration to adjust benefit calculations to remove these reductions. This change directly affects public-sector employees who previously had their Social Security benefits reduced due to their government pensions.
