The Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.
This bill creates a pilot program to test whether non-asset-based and asset-based third-party logistics providers can join the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program. The pilot would allow up to 10 non-asset-based providers (who arrange international freight and are DOT-licensed) and up to 10 asset-based providers (who manage their own warehousing resources) to participate. The program must run for at least one year but no more than five years, after which the Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report on findings to Congress. The bill also requires a separate report from the Comptroller General assessing CTPAT's overall effectiveness in preventing security incidents in the cargo supply chain. This legislation does not authorize additional funding for implementation.
This bill establishes two key programs within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to better support human trafficking victims and the agents working with them. The IMPACTT Program provides trauma-informed training and self-care resources to HSI employees who encounter trauma while working with victims, including burnout prevention and access to counseling services. The Victim Assistance Program creates specialized roles (forensic interview specialists and victim assistance specialists) to deliver emergency aid like food, shelter, and transportation to victims, while ensuring all services are trauma-informed, victim-centered, and linguistically appropriate. Both programs require annual reporting to Congress on their implementation and impact.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends funding and operational authorization for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) through fiscal year 2026. It amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to update annual appropriations from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026 and extends the Commission's legal authorization period until September 30, 2026. This reauthorization ensures USCIRF can continue its existing work of monitoring global religious freedom violations and providing policy recommendations to the U.S. government. The bill directly affects USCIRF by securing its continued operation and funding without changes to its core responsibilities.
HR 7032, the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act, amends the 1974 Congressional Budget Act to give the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) clearer authority to quickly obtain data from executive branch agencies. The bill removes barriers to CBO requests by allowing data sharing "with or without written agreement," while requiring the CBO to maintain required confidentiality levels. It also prevents future laws from limiting this authority unless specifically referenced. The law directly affects the CBO and federal agencies that provide budget-related data, aiming to improve the CBO's ability to analyze government spending.
This bill authorizes the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to tennis legend Billie Jean King in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for gender equality in sports and society. The legislation specifically acknowledges her pivotal role in advancing women's rights, including her work leading to the passage of Title IX and her efforts to establish equal prize money in tennis. Under the bill, the Secretary of the Treasury would strike a gold medal featuring an image and inscription of Billie Jean King, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The medal would be presented by congressional leaders as a formal recognition of her contributions to American society. This is a commemorative honor, not a policy that creates new legal requirements or funding.
This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War, recognizing their life-saving medical evacuations. The medal, to be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. The bill honors the approximately 900,000 wounded personnel these crews transported over the course of the Vietnam War, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, who relied on their rapid medical evacuation services.
This bill provides $2.29 billion for veterans' compensation and pensions and $597 million for readjustment benefits to address funding shortfalls. It requires the VA Secretary to submit reports on budget forecasting improvements and to regularly update Congress on fund usage through 2026. The bill mandates an Inspector General review of the causes behind the 2024 Veterans Benefits Administration funding shortfall and the expected 2025 Veterans Health Administration shortfall. These provisions focus on improving financial accountability and preventing future funding gaps for veterans' programs. The bill is focused on funding and oversight rather than changing benefit eligibility or amounts.
The Royalty Resiliency Act (HR 7377) requires the federal government to make decisions on how oil and gas royalties are allocated among shared production leases within 120 days of a request. Until a decision is issued, companies must pay royalties based on their proposed allocation, and the government will waive interest on underpayments if payments are made on time. This applies to most federal oil and gas leases but excludes agreements involving tribal lands. The law aims to reduce delays and financial uncertainty for oil and gas companies operating on federal land.
The Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act (S. 1608) authorizes the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge near Rio Grande City, Texas, including adding adjacent spans and updating toll structures to include "multimodal tolls" for multiple transportation types. It amends prior law (Public Law 87-532) to update the bridge company’s authorization for construction, expansion, operation, and maintenance. The bill extends the bridge company’s operational timeline from 5 to 65 years and clarifies rights for the company and its successors. This directly affects the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company, travelers using the bridge, and regional transportation infrastructure.
The Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act (HR 1076) requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how criminal groups finance synthetic drug trafficking into the U.S., including the use of social media platforms and payment apps like CashApp. The study will examine business models, money laundering tactics, government efforts to disrupt these networks, and overlaps with human trafficking. It must be completed within one year of enactment, with findings reported to Congress. This bill does not change existing laws but aims to provide data to inform future policy decisions on combating illicit drug finance.
S 3706, the Victims' VOICES Act, amends federal law to require courts to order defendants to reimburse specific expenses incurred by individuals who assume a victim’s legal rights (such as family members or advocates when a victim is unable to act). It clarifies that restitution must cover necessary costs like lost income, childcare, transportation, and medical/therapy-related expenses directly tied to the victim’s case. The bill directly affects defendants ordered to pay restitution and the people stepping in as victim advocates, ensuring they aren’t burdened by these costs. Key provisions mandate courts to include these reimbursements in restitution orders under existing victim compensation rules. This is a policy clarification, not a new entitlement, focusing on concrete financial support for those managing a victim’s case.
