Technology

HR 2018, the BODEGA Act of 2025, expands existing federal crime prevention grants to allow funding for panic buttons and surveillance equipment in small grocery stores. It specifically targets businesses classified under NAICS code 445131 (convenience stores, commonly known as bodegas) by adding them to the list of eligible recipients under the Omnibus Crime Control Act. The bill amends grant program rules to permit these security upgrades without requiring new funding, instead modifying how current grant dollars can be used. This change directly affects bodega owners in communities seeking enhanced safety measures for their businesses.

This bill amends a definition in existing law to clarify which countries are considered "foreign countries of concern" for restrictions on foreign talent recruitment in federally funded research. It directly affects research institutions and programs receiving federal funding under the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. The key change broadens the definition to include any program, position, or activity (whether directly or indirectly provided) involving foreign talent recruitment, removing prior limitations on how such recruitment might occur. This adjustment ensures the restriction applies more comprehensively to prevent malign foreign influence in U.S. research.

This bill prevents private property restrictions, such as those in homeowners' associations or covenants, from blocking amateur radio operators from installing or maintaining antennas needed for emergency communications. It preempts such restrictions unless they are limited to reasonable safety requirements (like structural integrity), visual screening for certain antennas, or compliance with building codes. The bill requires that any prior approval process for antenna installation must be completed within 45 days or be deemed approved, and exempts small antennas (e.g., flagpoles under 43 feet, wire antennas) from needing prior approval. It directly affects over 770,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the U.S. who rely on these antennas for emergency response during disasters.

This bill establishes the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative to protect undersea communication cables critical to Taiwan's security and economy. It directs the State Department to coordinate with defense and maritime agencies to create real-time monitoring systems, rapid repair protocols, enhanced surveillance of suspicious vessels near Taiwan, and international partnerships for cable protection. The bill also authorizes U.S. sanctions - including property blocking and visa bans - against individuals or entities from China found responsible for sabotaging cables near Taiwan. It requires semiannual reports to Congress detailing cable incidents and U.S. responses.

# Summary of the SHIPS for America Act This comprehensive legislation focuses on strengthening the U.S. maritime industry, shipbuilding capacity, and maritime workforce to enhance national security and economic competitiveness. ## Key Areas of Focus 1. **Shipbuilding & Maritime Infrastructure** - Establishes a United States Center for Maritime Innovation to accelerate adoption of commercial technologies - Creates a National Shipbuilding Research Program - Requires an annual survey of anticipated commercial vessel construction - Includes provisions for streamlined environmental reviews of maritime infrastructure 2. **Workforce Development** - Establishes the United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program to maintain mariner qualifications - Creates Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education - Implements military-to-maritime transition programs - Establishes a Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee 3. **Education & Training** - Expands educational assistance for merchant mariners - Creates eligibility for Naval Postgraduate School for merchant mariners - Establishes maritime education programs from K-12 through higher education - Provides for international exchanges for mariners and naval architects 4. **National Security & Strategic Readiness** - Requires reports on National Defense Reserve Fleet utilization - Includes measures to de-risk the maritime sector from Chinese influence - Enhances shipbuilding capacity for national security needs - Establishes programs to ensure sufficient mariner workforce for national defense 5. **Funding Mechanisms** - Authorizes appropriations from the Maritime Security Trust Fund - Includes funding for workforce programs, education, and shipbuilding initiatives - Establishes specific funding levels for various programs over multiple fiscal years The legislation aims to create a sustainable domestic maritime industrial base that supports both commercial shipping and national defense requirements, with a particular emphasis on developing and retaining a skilled U.S. maritime workforce.

S 1146, the "Cameras in the Courtroom Act," requires the U.S. Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all publicly open court sessions. This directly affects the Supreme Court (as the entity implementing the rule) and the public (who would gain access to live coverage of proceedings). The bill's key provision states that the Court may block TV coverage in a specific case only if a majority of justices determine it would violate a party's fair trial rights. The law does not mandate coverage but sets a default rule allowing it unless the Court unanimously decides otherwise for due process reasons.

The PREVAIL Act (HR 3160) reforms U.S. patent procedures to strengthen patent protection and reduce inefficiencies in the patent system. It requires 3-member panels for patent reviews, establishes a code of conduct for Patent Trial and Appeal Board members, and introduces new certification requirements for petitioners to prevent frivolous challenges. The bill also aims to eliminate repetitive patent challenges by requiring transparency about financial contributors to patent challenges and preventing duplicate proceedings across courts. This affects patent owners, challengers, and the USPTO, with the goal of making the patent system more reliable for innovators. Additionally, it changes how patent fees are handled, creating a dedicated fund to support patent and trademark operations.

HR 706, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act, requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess its current use of Department of Energy national laboratories for biodetection research and develop a formal strategy within 180 days. The strategy must identify effective biodetection technologies (based on DHS requirements and studies like the 2021 BioWatch network review), create a procurement plan for deploying these technologies to existing BioWatch systems, and establish processes for evaluating gaps and updating contingency plans. This bill directly affects DHS operations and the jurisdictions using BioWatch detection systems. It mandates annual updates to Congress on implementation progress and challenges, aiming to improve coordination with labs and ensure reliable biological threat detection capabilities.

S 3364, the Fast Track Healthcare Apprenticeships Act, streamlines the registration process for healthcare apprenticeship programs. It requires the U.S. Department of Labor to make registration decisions within 45 days (or provide a written delay explanation with a new timeline within 90 days), directly affecting healthcare training programs and applicants. The bill also mandates that all apprenticeship agreement forms (including employer and disability forms) be digitized. It defines "health care field" to include occupations like nurses, technicians, and support staff as classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These changes aim to simplify administrative processes for healthcare apprenticeships under the National Apprenticeship Act.

HR 788 requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish formal agreements for joint research and development (R&D) projects. This mandates that small businesses must be included in these collaborative efforts, aligning DOE and SBA missions to advance shared goals like clean energy innovation. The bill creates a two-year reporting requirement for the agencies to Congress, detailing coordination, research achievements, and future collaboration opportunities. It does not authorize new funding and ensures R&D activities comply with existing research security rules.