Derek Tran

The Housing COST Act creates a new federal tax credit for renters to help offset housing costs. Eligible renters would receive a credit of 8.5 to 11 percent of their rent payments, depending on the number of dependents they have, with a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The credit applies only to taxpayers with adjusted gross income under $150,000 and only covers rent up to the fair market rent rates set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Starting in 2027, renters can claim this credit when filing their taxes, and the bill establishes an advance payment program allowing eligible taxpayers to receive monthly payments beginning as early as July 2027 rather than waiting until they file their tax return. The Treasury Department must launch a public outreach campaign to inform renters about the credit and work with state and local governments and community organizations to help people enroll. The credit expires after December 31, 2034, making it a temporary measure rather than a permanent tax policy change.

The Emergency Responders Mental Health Training Act, or EMT Act, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Public Safety Mental Health Fellowship Program that provides fellowships and stipends to mental health and substance abuse treatment professionals who want to specialize in serving emergency responders. The program aims to increase the number of specially trained mental health professionals who understand the unique stressors and confidentiality issues facing emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and hospital emergency personnel. Eligible training includes postbaccalaureate degrees in psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance abuse counseling. The bill authorizes ten million dollars per year for fiscal years 2028 through 2033 to operate the program, which must be established within one year of the bill's enactment. The Secretary must submit reports to Congress two years and five years after the program launches assessing its efficiency, impact on patient outcomes, and recommendations about whether to continue, reform, or end the program.

The Hazardous Materials Transparency Act requires the Secretary of Defense to establish new guidance for defense manufacturing facilities that work with hazardous materials, explosives, and other dangerous substances. Within one year of the law's passage, the Department of Defense must create rules requiring these facilities to coordinate with local emergency responders, designate a community liaison officer, notify residents of accidents or emergencies, and provide public information about safety procedures. The facilities must also allow community members to ask questions about operations and comply with existing environmental and safety laws including the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The Secretary of Defense must report to Congress within 18 months and then annually for five years on how well these new requirements are being followed, what facilities are covered, any significant incidents that occur, and what corrective actions are taken. The law applies to all industrial facilities operated by defense contractors or their subcontractors that handle materials posing a significant risk of release, fire, or explosion to nearby communities.

The Private Detention Corporate Accountability Act of 2026 creates a legal pathway for families to sue private detention companies when someone dies in custody due to negligence or misconduct. Under this bill, families of deceased detainees can seek damages in federal court starting at a minimum of five million dollars, plus additional economic and punitive damages. The legislation makes both individual officers and the detention companies themselves legally responsible, and it specifically removes immunity protections that might otherwise shield them from lawsuits. The bill applies to private companies that hold people under federal contracts related to civil, criminal, or immigration violations, and families also retain the option to pursue cases in state courts. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the bill's text.

This is a commemorative resolution recognizing the 51st anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when communist forces overthrew the Republic of Vietnam. The resolution honors the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who fled the communist regime and resettled in the United States, where they have built vibrant communities and contributed significantly to American society. It acknowledges the major humanitarian evacuation efforts undertaken by the U.S. military, including Operation Frequent Wind and subsequent missions that brought Vietnamese refugees to America, as well as the hardships these refugees endured during their journeys. The resolution also calls attention to the continued human rights abuses committed by Vietnam's communist government and reaffirms U.S. commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom. This resolution does not contain funding or create new policy, but instead calls on all Americans to solemnly observe Black April and remember the sacrifices of those who died in the Vietnam War and the achievements of the Vietnamese American community.

H.R. 8066, the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act, would change how the Department of Veterans Affairs applies its disability rating schedule under federal law. Specifically, it directs the ratings to “discount” the beneficial effects of medication or treatment when evidence can show what the condition would look like without those effects, so ratings better reflect the underlying disability. The bill also makes clear that this change would not stop veterans from seeking compensation for additional disabilities caused by medications or treatments, or for worsening of preexisting conditions tied to service. It was introduced in the House on March 24, 2026, and would require congressional approval and VA implementation after enactment, but the text does not specify any new funding levels or deadlines.

H.R. 7969 directs the Director of National Intelligence to produce a comprehensive assessment of China's foreign influence activities outside the United States during the 2023-2025 period. The assessment will examine how China's actions affect U.S. alliances and influence in key regions including the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as impacts on global financial systems and broader U.S. national security interests. The Director must submit an initial report to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment and a final assessment within 180 days, with reports available in unclassified form though they may include classified annexes. The bill essentially tasks the intelligence community with evaluating the scope and consequences of China's influence operations globally to help Congress understand and address this national security challenge.

H.R. 6902 authorizes grants to support public service announcement campaigns that target youth substance abuse prevention through various media channels including television, radio, digital platforms, and print advertising. The bill expands an existing federal grant program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to specifically include funding for these awareness campaigns, which must use age-appropriate materials and can include youth-created content through submission contests. The Attorney General is required to publish annual reports documenting each funded campaign, including details about the research behind it, geographic variations in messaging, and measurable outcomes such as whether the campaign successfully reduced youth drug use rates. While the text does not specify a total budget allocation or timeline for implementation, the bill directs that grants be awarded and evaluated on an ongoing basis. This legislation aims to address substance use among young people by increasing federal support for evidence-based prevention awareness efforts.

H.Res. 948 is a commemorative resolution marking the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement to the United States, which began in 1975 following the fall of Saigon and the Khmer Rouge genocide. The resolution recognizes the more than 3 million Southeast Asian Americans—including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, and Lao communities—who have arrived since 1975, many of whom had assisted U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The resolution acknowledges that while these communities have made significant contributions to American society, they continue to face substantial challenges including high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, limited English proficiency (40-50 percent for working-age adults and up to 90 percent for elders), and economic and educational barriers. The House commits to honoring the sacrifices of Southeast Asian Americans and pursuing comprehensive policies that support their education, health, and integration into American communities. No funding or specific implementation timeline is attached to this resolution, as it is primarily a statement of congressional recognition and values.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025 would establish a national network of toll-free legal hotlines to help seniors with civil legal issues like housing, benefits, and consumer protection. The bill authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and partnerships to operate statewide hotlines that provide free legal advice, counseling, and referrals by phone to older Americans, with priority given to those with the greatest financial and social need. Eligible organizations must match at least 25 percent of federal grant funds with their own resources and coordinate with existing legal aid providers and aging services in their state. The legislation requests $10 million per year in federal funding from 2027 through 2031 and requires grantees to employ trained attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers while referring complex cases to full legal representation when needed.

504 Program Risk Oversight ActThis bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to annually conduct a risk analysis of all loans guaranteed under the 504 loan program.The 504 loan program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing to qualifying small businesses for major fixed assets, such as land, buildings, equipment, and machinery.The SBA must annually report the results of the risk analysis for each preceding fiscal year, including the steps taken by the SBA to mitigate the risks identified in the analysis.

H.Con.Res. 50 is a symbolic resolution that recognizes the Vietnamese Heritage Flag—a yellow flag with three red stripes—as an important emblem of the Vietnamese-American community. The flag was the official symbol of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1949 to 1975 and has become meaningful to the more than 1.5 million Vietnamese Americans, many of whom fled their homeland after the fall of Saigon in 1975. The resolution honors the flag as a representation of freedom, democracy, and the sacrifices made by Vietnamese and American service members during the Vietnam War. The measure does not create any new programs, allocate funding, or change existing law—it is purely a statement of congressional recognition and appreciation for the flag's significance to the Vietnamese-American community's heritage and values. The resolution was introduced in September 2025 and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The SBIR/STTR Foreign Interference Safeguard Act blocks small businesses that are indirectly owned or controlled by foreign entities from receiving federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program awards. The bill defines "covered foreign entities" broadly to include foreign governments, terrorist organizations, entities on U.S. sanctions lists, and any individuals or organizations with significant ties to countries hostile to U.S. interests, as well as venture capital firms, hedge funds, or private equity companies owned by these foreign entities. The legislation extends the Small Business Administration's security risk assessment program through September 30, 2030, and directs the SBA Administrator to establish size standards and conduct ownership reviews to determine eligibility. The restrictions apply to all SBIR awards made after the bill's enactment, affecting small businesses seeking federal innovation funding that have foreign ownership or control stakes.

Baby Food Tax Relief ActThis bill prohibits the imposition of duties (i.e., tariffs) on specified baby food items (e.g., baby bottles, breast pumps, and baby formula) pursuant to certain presidential powers.Specifically, the bill prohibits the President from exercising authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose duties on specified baby food items entering the United States. (IEEPA provides the President with broad authority to regulate various economic transactions following a declaration of a national emergency.)Further, the President must terminate the duties on these items that were imposed pursuant to IEEPA and are in effect as of the date of the bill's enactment.The bill also prohibits the President from using any other authorities to impose duties on these items that are substantially similar to the duties imposed pursuant to IEEPA.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating June 19, 2025, as "Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day." The measure honors the South Vietnamese military forces who fought alongside American troops during the Vietnam War, acknowledging the approximately 250,000 soldiers killed, over 1 million wounded, and thousands more who were imprisoned in labor camps after the war ended. The resolution recognizes both those who died in combat and the veterans who fled Vietnam and rebuilt their lives in the United States, where they have contributed culturally and economically to American society while advocating for democracy and human rights. June 19 marks the 60th anniversary of this annual commemoration observed by Vietnamese Americans worldwide. The resolution carries no funding requirements and simply establishes congressional support for honoring these veterans' sacrifices and contributions to the nation.

H.Res. 366 is a commemorative resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, and honoring the Vietnamese-American community. The resolution acknowledges the historical significance of the communist takeover of South Vietnam, which forced hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to flee and ultimately resettle in the United States, where they have built thriving communities and contributed substantially to American society. It honors the service of U.S. and South Vietnamese military personnel who fought during the Vietnam War, and recognizes major humanitarian evacuation operations like Operation Frequent Wind and Operation Babylift that brought Vietnamese refugees to America. The resolution also reaffirms U.S. commitment to democracy and human rights while criticizing ongoing human rights violations by Vietnam's communist government. This is a symbolic measure with no direct funding or timeline requirements; it simply expresses Congress's recognition of Vietnamese-American contributions and encourages Americans to commemorate Black April as a day of remembrance.

Protect Veteran Jobs ActThis bill provides reinstatement eligibility to veterans who were involuntarily removed or otherwise dismissed without cause from civil service positions from January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment of this bill. Such veterans must be eligible for reinstatement to their former positions or any other civil service positions for which they are qualified.Each executive branch agency must regularly report through January 20, 2029, to Congress regarding veteran employees who were removed or otherwise dismissed from the agency, including the total number of employees removed and the reasons for the dismissals.