S 98, the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025, requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a vetting process for applicants seeking new high-cost universal service fund funding to deploy rural broadband networks. It mandates that applicants prove they have the technical, financial, and operational capabilities, along with a sound business plan, to build and operate the proposed network as defined by the FCC. The bill also sets minimum penalties of $9,000 per violation for applicants who fail to meet pre-authorization requirements, with penalties not falling below 30% of the awarded funding. This directly affects entities applying for federal broadband deployment grants in rural areas.
HJRES 140 is a procedural resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule published in the Federal Register (88 Fed. Reg. 6308, January 31, 2023). The resolution targets Public Land Order No. 7917, which proposed withdrawing federal lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota. If passed, this resolution would block the BLM rule from taking effect by invoking the disapproval process under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code. It directly affects the implementation of the land withdrawal proposal but does not alter the underlying land status or create new policy.
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.
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 This act directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to the public's access to federal waterways for recreational use. (Sec. 3) The Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data. (Sec. 4) Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect. The Forest Service and Interior must also develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information. The requirements under this section do not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements. (Sec. 5) To carry out the act, the Forest Service and Interior may (1) coordinate and partner with nonfederal agencies, private entities, and nonprofit partners; and (2) enter into agreements with third parties. The Forest Service and Interior may work with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish data on their behalf. (Sec. 6) The Forest Service and Interior must annually report to specified congressional committees on their progress in meeting the requirements of this act.
Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 This act extends and modifies the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, under which states and counties containing certain federal land may receive payments from the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for schools, roads, and certain other municipal services. The act modifies the SRS program, including by extending payments made to states and counties containing federal land through FY2026, providing lapsed payments for FY2024 and FY2025, extending the authority of counties to initiate projects using such funds through FY2028, and extending the authority to initiate projects proposed by resource advisory committees through FY2028.
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.
Rescissions Act of 2025 This act rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The rescissions were proposed by the President under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under current law, the President may propose rescissions to Congress using specified procedures, and the rescissions must be enacted into law to take effect. Specifically, the act rescinds funds that were provided to the State Department or the President for Contributions to International Organizations; Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities; Global Health Programs (excluding funds for programs addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, or maternal and child health); Migration and Refugee Assistance; the Complex Crises Fund; the Democracy Fund; the Economic Support Fund (excluding funds for assistance to Jordan, Egypt, or the Countering PRC Influence Fund); Contributions to the Clean Technology Fund; International Organization and Programs; Development Assistance (excluding funds for Feed the Future Innovation Labs, the Countering PRC Influence Fund, or commodity-based food aid); Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; International Disaster Assistance (excluding funds for commodity-based food aid); and Transition Initiatives. The act also rescinds funds that were provided for USAID Operating Expenses, the Inter-American Foundation, the U.S. African Development Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This act permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the act, offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are triggered by the same quantity thresholds and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). Additionally, the act establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research. The act also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration. Finally, the act expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act in United States v. McCray , a 2018 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In that case, the court held that butyryl fentanyl, a controlled substance, can be considered an analogue of fentanyl even though, under the Controlled Substances Act, the term controlled substance analogue specifically excludes a controlled substance.
This joint resolution disapproves an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have reclassified certain industrial pollution sources under the Clean Air Act. Specifically, it blocks the EPA's September 2024 rule (89 Fed. Reg. 73293) which aimed to change how "major sources" of pollution could be reclassified as "area sources" under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. If enacted, this resolution would prevent the rule from taking effect, maintaining the existing regulatory framework for industrial facilities currently classified as major sources. The resolution directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and the compliance requirements for affected industrial facilities.
This joint resolution allows off-road vehicles to be used in certain areas of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is in northern Arizona and southeastern Utah and contains Lake Powell. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the National Park Service (NPS) titled Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles and published on January 13, 2025. Under the rule, the NPS limited the use of off-road vehicles, such as off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, in certain areas. For instance, the rule prohibited the use of off-road vehicles on an 8-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop located on Route 633 proceeding north to Route 730 in the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit. The rule also eliminated the authority of the NPS to open the upper portion of the Flint Trail in that unit to off-road vehicles. Additionally, the rule limited off-road vehicle use from certain roads to the shoreline of the lake.
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.
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions and published on December 30, 2024. The rule revises provisions regarding charges for insufficient funds in a customer’s bank account (i.e., overdrafts) at very large financial institutions. Under the rule, these institutions must (1) cap overdraft charges at $5; (2) with justification, cap charges at a higher amount; or (3) handle overdrafts as credit and comply with applicable Truth in Lending Act disclosure requirements.
