Equal COLA Act This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase. Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year. Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.
Saving the Civil Service Act This bill generally prohibits changes to the classification of positions in the competitive service and excepted service unless certain conditions are met. (Competitive service positions are subject to competitive examination while excepted service positions are appointed under one of five schedules. Competitive service positions have notice and appeal requirements for adverse actions that are not applicable to most excepted positions, including those of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character under Schedule C.) On October 21, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that placed executive agency positions that are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a presidential transition, under a new Schedule F in the excepted service. The order was subsequently revoked by President Joe Biden. The bill prohibits executive agency positions in the competitive service from being placed in the excepted service, unless such positions are placed in a schedule in the excepted service as in effect on September 30, 2020. The bill also prohibits positions in the excepted service from being placed in any schedule other than the aforementioned schedules. Additionally, agencies may not (1) transfer occupied positions from the competitive or excepted service into Schedule C without the consent of the Office of Personnel Management, or (2) transfer employees in the excepted service to another schedule or transfer employees in the competitive service to the excepted service without employee consent.
This bill (HCONRES 48) is a ceremonial resolution authorizing the use of the U.S. Capitol rotunda for a "lying in honor" ceremony for Charles James Kirk, a recognized advocate for free speech, civil discourse, and youth political engagement. It grants permission for his remains to be displayed in the rotunda, with timing and duration to be determined by the House Speaker, Senate President pro tempore, and the Capitol Architect. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally permits a traditional honor reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation. It affects no specific group or legislation, serving only as a commemorative gesture for Kirk's legacy.
HRES 716 is a symbolic resolution designating September 15-19, 2025, as "National Clean Energy Week" to raise awareness about clean energy. It encourages voluntary actions like investing in clean energy technologies but does not create new laws, funding, or requirements. The resolution cites the clean energy sector's economic role (noting 8.5 million U.S. jobs in 2024 per the Department of Energy) and applauds national laboratories. As a non-binding gesture, it directly affects no individuals or entities but aims to promote existing clean energy initiatives.
HRES 708 is a symbolic resolution designating September 15-19, 2025, as "Medical Research Week" to honor the contributions of medical research. It recognizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for driving health breakthroughs, supporting over 400,000 jobs, and boosting economic growth through research on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. The resolution contains no policy changes or funding provisions - it solely encourages public acknowledgment of medical research’s role in improving health and the economy. As a non-binding House resolution, it does not alter laws or budgets.
This bill requires the Department of Education to publish and regularly update online information about career and technical education (CTE) programs, including their average completion time, cost, and graduate employment rates, plus state-specific program opportunities and funding options under the Perkins Act. It also mandates adding a one-page summary of this CTE information to the beginning of the FAFSA application, along with an acknowledgment signature box, to inform students about CTE as a viable alternative to four-year degrees. The disclosure must include details on Workforce Pell Grants and program availability. No new funding is authorized to implement these requirements. The bill directly affects students applying for federal student aid by providing clearer information about CTE pathways.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 would establish a National Police Misconduct Registry to track officer complaints, disciplinary actions, and misconduct records across all law enforcement agencies. It would require law enforcement agencies to implement body-worn camera programs with specific recording and retention policies, ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases, and reform qualified immunity to make it easier to hold officers accountable for misconduct. The bill mandates comprehensive data collection on use of force incidents, requiring agencies to report detailed information about stops, searches, and force used, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and other demographics. These provisions would directly affect all Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal grant funding, with requirements for policy changes, training, and data reporting.
The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2025 requires the President to review within 180 days whether 53 specific Azerbaijani officials meet criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. These officials include military commanders, security service heads, and judges implicated in human rights violations related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The review must include a detailed justification and determine if sanctions should be imposed on individuals linked to alleged war crimes, arbitrary detention, and torture of Armenians. The bill mandates this assessment without imposing new sanctions, focusing instead on evaluating existing legal authority for action.
The National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 would establish a government-owned bank to finance infrastructure projects across the United States, aiming to address a $3.69 trillion financing gap identified by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The bank would provide loans up to $5 trillion for transportation, energy, environmental, and community development projects, with specific criteria focused on economic growth, environmental benefits, and serving disadvantaged communities. It would be governed by a 25-member Board of Directors with diverse regional and expertise qualifications, and would operate with tax exemptions and capital requirements to ensure financial stability. The bill also establishes regional economic accelerator planning groups to coordinate infrastructure development and create a pipeline of projects for the bank to finance.
The FAIR Act of 2025 would prohibit companies from requiring pre-dispute arbitration agreements or waivers that prevent individuals from joining class or collective lawsuits in employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights cases. This directly affects workers, consumers, and small businesses who currently face forced arbitration for issues like workplace discrimination, product defects, or unfair business practices. The bill makes such agreements unenforceable while allowing voluntary arbitration after disputes arise and leaving collective bargaining agreements unaffected. It applies to all disputes occurring after the law takes effect, without changing how voluntary arbitration works post-dispute.
HR 5364, the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act, expands state Medicaid fraud control units' authority to investigate and prosecute fraud committed by Medicaid beneficiaries (people receiving benefits), not just healthcare providers. It amends federal law to explicitly include "individuals applying for or receiving" Medicaid services in fraud investigations, requiring states to cover both provider and beneficiary fraud. The bill directs states to investigate false applications or misuse of benefits, such as lying about income to qualify or using benefits for unauthorized services. These changes take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law, applying to all Medicaid programs nationwide. The law focuses on clarifying investigative scope without creating new penalties or funding.
This bill extends federal funding authorization for Great Lakes fisheries research and monitoring programs. It amends existing law to change the expiration date from 2025 to 2030, ensuring continued support for these programs. The key provision directly affects federal research initiatives focused on assessing and managing fish populations in the Great Lakes Basin. This is a procedural reauthorization, not a new policy, maintaining current funding levels through 2030.
