The FRAUD Act requires state officials to report suspected fraud involving federal funds to the FBI within 180 days of receiving a fraud warning, where fraud involves at least $250,000. The law applies to governors, heads of state agencies that oversee federal funds, and state inspectors general. States whose officials fail to comply substantially with this reporting requirement would lose eligibility to receive federal funds in the following fiscal year. The legislation creates criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines for state officials who knowingly violate the reporting requirement or obstruct related investigations, and allows federal agencies to bar convicted officials from overseeing federal fund distribution. The bill includes protections for state sovereignty, clarifying that it does not authorize the federal government to remove state officials from office.

This bill makes permanent the exclusion of healthcare providers convicted of fraud-related crimes from participating in federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Currently, providers can be temporarily excluded for offenses such as fraud, theft, embezzlement, and breach of fiduciary duty, but this legislation removes the possibility of reinstatement after a set period. The bill applies to convictions that occur on or after the date it becomes law and eliminates exceptions that would otherwise allow excluded providers to appeal for reinstatement. The measure is intended to protect taxpayer-funded healthcare programs by preventing individuals and entities with fraud convictions from billing the government again. There is no specific funding mentioned, as the bill operates through the existing exclusion mechanisms already in place under Social Security Act regulations.

This bill strengthens penalties against child care providers who commit fraud involving federal child care assistance funds. Under the legislation, any child care provider who is found guilty of fraud—including submitting false statements, misrepresenting services, operating without required state licensing, or improperly spending funds—faces permanent debarment from all federal child care assistance programs. States must reimburse the federal government for fraudulently obtained funds, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to refer cases involving administrative fraud findings to the Attorney General for criminal investigation. The bill also creates immigration consequences for non-citizen child care providers, making those debarred for fraud ineligible for entry to the United States, asylum, adjustment of status, and subject to expedited removal and mandatory detention. The legislation exempts implementation from standard regulatory procedures, allowing agencies to implement the law immediately without following typical notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to fraudulent conduct committed since 1996.

H.R. 7882 would allow the federal government to lease mineral deposits located within Carlsbad, New Mexico, overriding an existing law that generally prohibits mineral leasing on land within incorporated cities and towns. The bill requires that the City of Carlsbad provide written consent to the Secretary of the Interior before any leasing can occur. The legislation applies to federal lands (both federally owned and acquired lands) within city boundaries and would be governed by the standard federal mineral leasing laws already in place for other public lands. The bill does not specify particular funding amounts or implementation timelines, but rather establishes the legal framework allowing mineral development to proceed under existing lease terms and procedures once local approval is obtained.

This bill would restrict federal judicial appointments to natural-born U.S. citizens only. It amends federal law to add a new eligibility requirement preventing anyone who is not a natural-born citizen from being appointed as a judge of the United States. The bill also applies retroactively to sitting judges: any current federal judge who holds dual citizenship with a foreign country would be required to renounce their foreign citizenship within 60 days of the law's enactment or face removal from office. The bill contains no new funding provisions and establishes a clear 60-day compliance deadline for existing judges with dual citizenship.

The Minnesota Voter Integrity Act of 2026 would withhold federal voting assistance funding from Minnesota until the state provides detailed voting records to the U.S. Attorney General. Specifically, Minnesota's Secretary of State would be required to submit documentation related to same-day voter registrations, records of votes cast by same-day registered voters, and other voter registration records kept by the state, along with any additional records the Attorney General deems relevant to federal voting compliance requirements. The bill would freeze funds available under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which provides federal money to states for election administration and equipment upgrades. The legislation targets Minnesota's same-day voter registration system, requiring the state to disclose comprehensive voting records as a condition for receiving federal election funding. The bill was introduced by four Minnesota Republican representatives in February 2026 but does not specify a timeline for compliance or indicate the amount of funding at stake.

This joint resolution opens approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties in Minnesota to mineral and geothermal leasing. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies Public Land Order 7917, which withdrew such land from mineral and geothermal leasing for 20 years beginning in 2023. The Bureau of Land Management issued the order to protect and preserve the Rainy River Watershed, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area, and the 1854 Ceded Territory of the Lake Superior Chippewa from potential adverse effects of mineral and geothermal exploration and development. The joint resolution removes such protections and allows such land to be leased for the exploration and development of minerals and geothermal energy.

American Water Stewardship ActThis bill reauthorizes several water quality protection and restoration programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and makes related requirements.Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Long Island Sound Partnership program, the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, the National Estuary Program, and the BEACH Act program.The bill also modifies some of those programs. For example, the bill modifies the National Estuary Program, including by establishing the Mississippi Sound as an estuary of national significance that may receive support under the program. It also modifies the BEACH Act program, including by allowing states or local governments to use grants provided under the program to identify specific sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public.Additionally, the bill modifies the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, including by making federal agencies eligible for grants provided under the program.The bill also prohibits funding made available for FY2026-FY2031 to carry out specified Clean Water Act programs from being provided to nonfederal entities that are domiciled in, located in, organized under, have a principal place of business in, or have agreements with foreign countries of concern.Finally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate and report on specified geographic programs of the EPA.

Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act of 2024This bill establishes a standard of care for the selection of brokers and other entities that contract with motor carriers (e.g., trucking companies) for the shipment of goods or household goods. (A broker is the middle person between a shipper and a motor carrier. Brokers arrange for the transportation of property or household goods.)Specifically, the bill requires such entities to verify that a transporting motor carrier (1) is properly registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT); (2) has obtained the minimum required insurance coverage; and (3) is in compliance with all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration safety standards, including through a public confirmation statement. Entities that comply with the verification requirements shall be considered reasonable and prudent in the selection of a covered motor carrier (for the purposes of a claim of negligent selection of a motor carrier). Further, DOT must promulgate final regulations that revise the methodology for issuing motor carrier safety fitness determinations. The regulations must provide a procedure for DOT to determine whether a motor carrier is not fit to operate a commercial motor vehicle that is in, or affects, interstate commerce. The bill exempts from the verification requirements an individual shipper (i.e., a shipper that owns the goods being transported and pays the tariff transportation charges) that contracts with a covered motor carrier.

The Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025 requires federal agencies to make interim partial payments to small business contractors when the government changes the terms of a construction contract without the contractor's agreement. Specifically, when a small business requests an equitable adjustment (additional compensation) due to a contract change, the agency must pay at least 50 percent of the estimated additional costs while the full adjustment is still being reviewed. This payment is designed to help small businesses cover the immediate financial burden of unexpected contract changes without waiting for final settlement. The bill also requires small businesses to pass down their interim payments to subcontractors who incurred the extra costs. The Small Business Administration must implement these requirements by October 1, 2027, or the first full fiscal year after the law is enacted, whichever comes first.

Critical Mineral Dominance ActThis bill directs the Department of the Interior to address mineral supply chain vulnerabilities, including by accelerating and expanding mineral production on federal land (i.e., National Forest System land, public lands, and any land that may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals).Interior must (1) identify priority mining projects on federal lands that can be immediately approved, and (2) take all necessary and appropriate steps to expedite those projects.Interior must also identify active, inactive, or proposed mining projects on federal land that have the potential to (1) increase production of hardrock minerals or their byproducts, (2) expand existing operations to include such byproducts, or (3) produce hardrock minerals from mine tailings or coal byproducts. Further, Interior must identify certain federal land with potential for hardrock mining. Interior must prioritize identifying land where a mining project (1) can most quickly be fully permitted and operational, and (2) would have the greatest potential effect on the robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain. Interior must (1) suspend, revise, or rescind agency actions that place undue burdens on mining projects; (2) recommend changes to current law necessary to expand U.S. production of hardrock minerals; and (3) review state and local laws that impede development of domestic mining and mineral exploration projects.Interior must also report on the dollar value and overall economic impact of the United States' reliance on imports of certain mineral commodities.Finally, Interior must prioritize efforts to accelerate geologic mapping.

The Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act amends federal water pollution law to clarify when the Environmental Protection Agency can restrict areas from being used as disposal sites for dredged or fill material. Currently, the law is ambiguous about the timeframe for such restrictions, creating uncertainty for permit applicants. This bill specifies that the EPA's authority to prohibit or restrict disposal sites applies only during the period between when an applicant submits a complete permit application and when the Army Corps of Engineers issues the permit. The legislation applies to all permit applications submitted after the bill becomes law and is intended to streamline the permitting process and reduce delays caused by regulatory uncertainty. No specific funding is authorized in the bill.

H.R. 3891 requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct annual threat assessments of the northern border instead of the current one-time requirement, with expanded focus on staffing challenges. The bill addresses an anticipated crisis: a 400 percent surge in retirements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers is expected by 2028, combined with a current nationwide shortage of approximately 5,800 officers, with particularly severe impacts along the northern border where harsh weather, remote locations, and limited housing make recruitment difficult. The legislation directs DHS to develop plans for addressing future retirement surges and staffing shortages, assess the effectiveness of various hiring incentives (such as bonuses and student loan repayment), and create local recruitment strategies to hire officers from communities near northern ports of entry. While the bill does not specify new funding amounts, it establishes a framework requiring the first updated threat analysis within 180 days of enactment, then every five years thereafter. The bill aims to prevent northern border ports of entry from becoming understaffed by proactively addressing the impending retirement wave and current staffing gaps.

The Parity in Engineering Act would remove Minnesota from a federal law that currently excludes certain states from specific contracting requirements for engineering and design services on highway projects. Currently, both West Virginia and Minnesota are exempted from these contracting rules under federal highway law, but this bill would eliminate Minnesota's exemption while keeping West Virginia's. The change would make Minnesota subject to the same engineering and design contracting requirements as other states. The bill does not specify any new funding or implementation timeline beyond the legislative change itself. This adjustment would essentially put Minnesota on equal footing with most other states regarding how they procure engineering and design work for federal highway projects.

The Lifesaving Gear for Police Act prohibits the federal government from enforcing regulations that limit state and local law enforcement agencies' access to surplus federal equipment, particularly military gear from the Department of Defense. The bill specifically targets rules created since May 2015 under two executive orders designed to control what police departments could receive, declaring these regulations unenforceable unless Congress passes them into law. The legislation also requires the federal government to return, replace, or reissue any equipment that was previously recalled or seized under these regulations at no cost to police agencies that request it. Additionally, the bill prevents the President from reinstating similar restrictions on equipment transfers to law enforcement in the future. No specific funding is allocated in the bill, as it primarily removes existing restrictions on equipment transfers already authorized under federal law.

Brake for Kids Act of 2025This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to produce and distribute a national public safety campaign on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses. Specifically, the campaign must increase awareness and education about the issue through a variety of media, including television, radio, and social media advertising. DOT must use Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to produce and distribute the campaign.

ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment ActThis bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to (1) provide assistance to individuals with disabilities who desire to become entrepreneurs or to be self-employed, (2) help individuals with disabilities find employment at small businesses; and (3) assist small businesses with hiring such individuals and with accessibility issues applicable to such individuals.The SBA must conduct outreach and education about such activities.The bill establishes reporting requirements with respect to these activities.

This bill would increase the tax deduction that volunteers can claim for driving on behalf of charitable organizations. Currently, volunteers can deduct 14 cents per mile when donating their time and vehicles to charities, while business travelers can deduct a higher mileage rate set by the IRS (which fluctuates annually based on fuel costs). The bill aims to equalize these rates by requiring that the charitable mileage deduction match the standard business mileage rate, meaning volunteers would receive a higher deduction for their donated driving services. The change would take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and would primarily benefit volunteer drivers who donate transportation services to qualifying charitable organizations. The legislation contains no specific funding allocation, as it operates through the tax code rather than direct spending.

H.R. 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes a federal review process to ensure that state laws provide collective bargaining rights to public safety officers including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Within 180 days of enactment, the Federal Labor Relations Authority must evaluate whether each state's laws meet five federal standards: allowing officers to form unions, requiring employer recognition of unions, permitting bargaining over wages and working conditions, providing binding arbitration to resolve disputes, and establishing enforcement mechanisms. States that meet these standards will not be subject to federal override, but those that fall short will become subject to federal regulations beginning two years after enactment or after their next legislative session, whichever comes later. The bill authorizes indefinite federal funding to implement and enforce these requirements through the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and decisions can be appealed to federal courts within 60 days.

This concurrent resolution provides for a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to receive a message from the President.

The Superior National Forest Restoration Act of 2025 would overturn a January 2023 federal order that restricted mineral leasing in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The bill would reinstate and reissue mineral leases, preference right leases, and prospecting permits that were canceled between January 2021 and the bill's enactment, allowing mining companies to resume or begin mineral exploration and extraction activities in the forest. To expedite mining development, the legislation requires federal agencies to complete environmental and regulatory reviews—including National Environmental Policy Act assessments—within strict timelines: 18 months for initial mine plans and 6 months for supplemental reviews and permit issuance. The bill also mandates that preference right lease applications rejected since January 2021 be approved within 5 days of enactment, and it shields reissued leases and permits from legal challenges. This legislation affects mining companies and their operations in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, and while no specific appropriations are mentioned, it removes bureaucratic barriers to mineral development on federal land.

Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform Act of 2025 or the SPUR ActThis bill requires federal agencies to include on their annual scorecard for small business contracting the number of small businesses that receive a prime contract for the first time and are owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or small business concerns owned and controlled by women.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal ActThis 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.

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service to exchange specified land along the shoreline of Lake Winnibigoshish (commonly known as Lake Winnie) in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota for specified land owned by Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT), if BWLT offers to make the exchange. The land acquired by the Forest Service must be added to and managed as part of Chippewa National Forest. The bill outlines requirements and conditions for the exchange. For example, the Forest Service must reserve an easement for road access to certain land in the forest. The bill also conditions the exchange on the satisfactory completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment by BWLT before the nonfederal land is accepted in the exchange.In addition, the exchange must be for equal value or the values must be equalized by a cash payment, subject to an exception.Finally, the bill directs BWLT to pay all closing costs associated with the exchange.