The Employer Health Plan Flexibility Act would allow employer-sponsored health insurance plans governed by federal ERISA rules to opt out of providing the ten essential health benefits required under the Affordable Care Act, such as hospitalization, prescription drugs, and preventive care. The bill affects employers who offer group health plans and their employees, potentially allowing companies to design more limited and less costly insurance options. Employers using this exemption would be required to notify workers annually about which essential benefits are not covered and provide information about costs and coverage details. The bill preserves other federal protections including mental health parity requirements, nondiscrimination rules, and fiduciary duties, though it removes the specific mandate for comprehensive essential health benefits coverage. The changes would take effect for health plans beginning on or after January 1, 2028.

This bill amends federal pension and benefits law under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to crack down on kickbacks involving pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the companies that negotiate drug prices and manage prescription drug benefits for employer-sponsored health plans. Specifically, it prohibits PBMs from paying compensation to brokers, consultants, or other entities in exchange for winning, keeping, or expanding business with a health plan, or for influencing the design of contracts, proposals, or evaluations related to that business. The bill requires that any compensation paid by a PBM to such intermediaries be judged by its real economic substance rather than how it is labeled on paper, closing a loophole that has allowed disguised kickbacks. It also creates a legal presumption that such payments are improper unless the parties can prove, with contemporaneous written records, that the payments reflect fair market value for genuine services and are unrelated to steering business. This mainly affects employers offering health plans, insurance brokers and consultants, and PBMs, and the new rules would take effect for plan years beginning after the law is enacted.

The Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act provides emergency financial assistance to timber harvesting, hauling, and timber-growing businesses that suffer significant revenue losses from market disruptions. When a state governor or Forest Service chief declares a market disruption—such as mill closures representing 20 percent capacity loss, major price drops, trade barriers, or other threats to timber operations—eligible businesses can apply for assistance, initially receiving up to $20,000 within two weeks, followed by potential additional payments reaching 30 percent of estimated revenue losses by September. Businesses must derive at least 75 percent of revenue from timber activities and have earned at least $35,000 in the prior year to qualify. The bill funds this assistance through tariff revenues collected from Canadian softwood lumber imports, and allows continued payments for up to five years if market conditions haven't improved, though funds would be prorated if insufficient to cover all eligible applicants.

The BARN Act reforms the H-2A visa program that brings temporary foreign agricultural workers to the United States. The bill transfers control of the program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture and streamlines the application process by reducing the filing deadline from 45 to 30 days and requiring approvals within 15 days (with automatic approval if the deadline is missed). The legislation expands the types of agricultural work covered by the program to include handling, processing, packaging, and storing of crops, and eliminates the current 50-percent rule that requires employers to hire a certain percentage of domestic workers. Key changes also include capping wage requirements at 115 percent of the federal or state minimum wage (whichever is higher), limiting initial worker visas to one year with possible one-year extensions, requiring a two-month waiting period before workers can reapply after a two-year stint, and restricting work lapses to no more than 60 days. The bill modifies housing requirements to allow states with adequate housing to offer housing allowances instead, and it limits Legal Services Corporation assistance to H-2A workers and restricts union and advocacy group access to employer worksites without prior arrangement.

The Safe Step Act requires health insurance plans and insurers to create a streamlined process allowing patients and their doctors to request exceptions to "step therapy" protocols—insurance rules that force patients to try cheaper drugs before covering more expensive ones. Plans must respond to exception requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours for urgent medical situations) and approve coverage if patients meet specific criteria, such as previous drugs being ineffective, causing harmful side effects, or creating dangerous delays in treatment. If an exception is approved, the patient's coverage for the requested medication must last at least one year. The law applies to employer-sponsored health plans and group insurance coverage and takes effect six months after enactment, with the Department of Labor required to issue detailed regulations within six months. Starting three years after enactment and annually thereafter, insurers must report data to Congress about exception requests, approvals, and denials, allowing lawmakers to monitor how step therapy policies are being applied.

Retire through Ownership ActThis bill allows the fiduciary of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to rely on a valuation provided by an independent valuation or business appraiser in determining the fair market value of the plan's securities if the securities are not traded on a national securities exchange (i.e., not publicly traded) and the expert or appraiser follows specified methodologies. In general, ESOPs are defined contribution pension plans where employees accrue shares of their employers' stock in individual accounts as part of their compensation. After separating from employment or retiring, employees receive the cash value of their shares.Under the bill, an independent appraiser or expert must adhere to the methodology established under the Internal Revenue Service Ruling 59-60, which prescribes the factors a professional business appraiser should consider in forming a valuation of the stock for a closely held business.

Don’t Mess With My Home Appliances ActThis bill modifies the process by which the Department of Energy (DOE) issues or revises energy conservation standards for consumer products such as household appliances, including by requiring DOE to consider additional factors related to the cost and availability of such products.First, the bill allows DOE to amend an energy conservation standard for a consumer product when needed rather than by a deadline.The bill also allows DOE to grant a petition to revoke or amend energy conservation standards if the standards (1) result in additional costs to consumers, (2) do not result in significant conservation of energy or water, (3) are not technologically feasible, and (4) result in a product (e.g., gas stoves) not being commercially available in the United States to all consumers.Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria used to prescribe new or amended energy conservation standards, including by establishing new criteria for determining whether a standard is economically justified.The bill establishes disclosure requirements for DOE meetings with entities that have (1) ties to China or the Chinese Communist Party; (2) produced studies regarding, or advocated for, regulations or policy to limit, restrict, or ban the use of any type of energy; and (3) applied for or received federal funds.The bill also prohibits DOE from prescribing new or revised energy conservation standards for distribution transformers.Finally, the bill allows DOE to prescribe certain new or amended energy and water conservation standards for clothes washers and dishwashers.

Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement ActThis bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish timely guidance related to regulations on national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and exempts certain preconstruction permits from the 2024 fine particulate matter standard under the Clean Air Act.First, the bill requires the EPA to concurrently publish final regulations and guidance on the implementation of the regulations when it publishes any final rule establishing or revising NAAQS. If the EPA fails to publish the final regulations and guidance for the new or revised NAAQS, the updated standard must not apply to the review and disposition of a preconstruction permit application until the EPA publishes the final regulations and guidance. (A preconstruction permit is a permit required under the Clean Air Act for the construction or modification of a stationary source and includes permits issued by the EPA or a state, local, or tribal permitting authority.)Further, the bill exempts the review and disposition of preconstruction permit applications from the 2024 fine particulate matter standard if (1) an application is complete on or before the date the area involved is officially designated as a nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable area; or (2) the permitting authority publishes notice of a draft permit before the date that is 60 days after a final area designation is made.

The Employee Rights Act reforms federal labor law by requiring secret ballot elections for union representation instead of card-check procedures, barring undocumented workers from voting in union elections, and establishing privacy protections that limit how unions can use employee personal information and dues without annual written authorization. The bill redefines independent contractor status to emphasize employer control and entrepreneurial risk while protecting franchisor-franchisee relationships, and allows employees in right-to-work states to negotiate directly with employers even in unionized workplaces. It prohibits unions from including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in labor agreements unless legally required and increases penalties for labor-related violence while exempting minor incidents during peaceful picketing. The legislation affects millions of workers, unions, employers, and franchisees across the country, though it does not establish new spending or set specific implementation timelines beyond requiring unions to obtain annual written authorization for non-bargaining expenditures.

The Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2025 expands medical benefits available to energy workers who have occupational illnesses by allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe and order medical services, appliances, and supplies—roles previously limited to physicians. The bill amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, which provides compensation to workers injured by radiation exposure or other hazards in the nuclear weapons production industry. This change affects energy workers receiving medical benefits under the program and gives nurse practitioners and physician assistants greater authority to manage patient care within the scope permitted by state law. The bill does not specify new funding allocations, as it primarily authorizes expanded roles within the existing compensation program rather than creating new benefits or programs. The measure was introduced in June 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee and Committee on Education and Workforce for consideration.

Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings ActThis bill modifies the requirements for fiduciaries of employer-sponsored retirement plans.First, the bill generally requires a plan fiduciary to make investment decisions based solely on pecuniary factors (i.e., factors that a fiduciary prudently determines are expected to have a material effect on the risk or return of an investment based on appropriate investment horizons consistent with the plan's policies and objectives).The bill allows nonpecuniary factors to be considered in certain situations, such as when selecting investment options for certain participant-directed retirement plans or if the fiduciary is unable to distinguish between investment alternatives on the basis of pecuniary factors alone.The bill also prohibits a plan fiduciary from discriminating when selecting, monitoring, and retaining any fiduciary, counsel, employee, or service provider of the plan.The bill requires a plan fiduciary to act solely and prudently in accordance with the interests of the plan's participants and beneficiaries when exercising a shareholder right (e.g., voting of proxies). However, the fiduciary duty to manage shareholder rights does not require the voting of every proxy or the exercise of every shareholder right.Finally, the bill requires a plan fiduciary to provide specified notices with respect to a pension plan that provides a participant or beneficiary the opportunity to select from designated investment alternatives.

The TELL Act requires websites and mobile applications that store user information in China to clearly disclose this fact to their users and reveal whether the Chinese Communist Party or Chinese government-owned entities can access that data. The disclosure must be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner to anyone who downloads or uses the website or app. Companies that knowingly provide false information about data storage locations or access would be breaking the law. The Federal Trade Commission has authority to enforce the bill and can treat violations as unfair or deceptive business practices, with companies subject to standard FTC penalties. The legislation has no specified sunset date or implementation timeline.

The Secret Ballot Protection Act would require that labor unions be recognized by employers only after winning a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, rather than through private agreements between unions and employers. Currently, employers can voluntarily recognize unions based on card-check authorization (where workers sign cards supporting unionization) or other non-election methods; this bill would eliminate that option for all future union recognition efforts. The legislation applies only to unions seeking recognition after the bill's enactment and does not affect existing union contracts or relationships established before the law takes effect. The National Labor Relations Board would have six months after enactment to update its regulations to implement these changes. Supporters argue the measure protects workers' democratic rights, while critics contend it creates barriers to union organizing by requiring formal elections rather than alternative recognition procedures.

This bill requires states to incorporate into their career services programs (1) information about entrepreneurship, and (2) referrals to microenterprise services. It also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a multistate study of entrepreneurial skills development programs, including a review of successful practices for developing such skills.

Broadband Expansion And Deployment Fee Equity and Efficiency Act of 2025 or the BEAD FEE Act of 2025This bill limits the nature of fees that states and territories receiving Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding may impose on applicants seeking authorization to construct or deploy broadband infrastructure. (The BEAD Program is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and provides funding to eligible entities for broadband deployment, connectivity, mapping, and adoption projects. Eligible entities include U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.) Under the bill, BEAD funds may not be provided to an eligible entity if the entity or a political subdivision of the entity charges fees (1) to consider a request to place, construct, or modify broadband infrastructure; or (2) for the use of a right-of-way owned or managed by the entity or a political subdivision, or for the use of infrastructure within such a right-of-way, to place, construct, or modify broadband infrastructure. However, this restriction does not apply to fees that are competitively neutral, technology neutral, nondiscriminatory, publicly disclosed, and based on actual, direct, and objectively reasonable costs. Any such fee must be described to applicants in a manner that distinguishes between (1) recurring and nonrecurring fees, and (2) the use of infrastructure on which there is no existing broadband infrastructure and the use of infrastructure on which there is existing broadband infrastructure as of the date of the application.

Expanding Student Access to Mental Health Services ActThis bill authorizes state and local educational agencies to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants to improve mental health services available to students. Specifically, the bill allows funds to be used for identifying and disseminating best practices for mental health first aid, emergency planning, coordination of services, and telehealth services.

Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act This bill incorporates assessments that measure an individual's prior knowledge, skills, competencies, and experiences into specified state and local employment training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. An assessment may be used, for example, to award a recognized postsecondary credential that employers use for recruitment, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of National March into Literacy Month.

Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025This bill renews the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction licenses for the use of radio frequency spectrum, and requires some frequencies currently used by the federal government to be reallocated to permit use by private entities.Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the FCC’s use of competitive bidding (i.e., auctions) to grant licenses for the use of specific frequencies. (The FCC’s auction authority must be renewed by Congress periodically. It expired on March 9, 2023, and has not been renewed.)Further, the bill directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to identify frequencies currently designated for use by the federal government that may be reallocated to permit use by private entities either exclusively or on a shared basis. At least half of the spectrum identified for reallocation must be allocated to commercial use (including commercial wireless use), and licenses in this category must be auctioned by the FCC within a specified time frame. A separate portion of the spectrum must be allocated to unlicensed use. (Unlicensed frequencies are commonly used to support Wi-Fi, connected appliances, wearable consumer devices, and other electronics.) The bill also makes certain changes to the process for compensating federal entities that relocate to new frequencies under a spectrum reallocation plan. The bill shortens the time frame for congressional review of payments to these entities, and permits such payments to be used to cover the cost of replacing existing systems and equipment with state-of-the-art upgrades.

This bill provides statutory authority for the application of certain technical and procedural standards to systems that transmit artificial or prerecorded telephone messages generated using artificial intelligence.Specifically, the standards require (1) that such messages clearly identify and state the telephone number or address of the individual or entity initiating the call, and (2) that any system making such phone calls release a recipient’s telephone line within five seconds of notification that the recipient has ended the call. Such standards are prescribed and implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and apply under current law to any system used to transmit an artificial or prerecorded voice message by telephone. The bill also permits the FCC to apply the standards to other technologies used to transmit artificial and prerecorded telephone messages as it deems appropriate.

American Science First Act This bill prohibits the National Science Foundation (NSF) from providing grants or other forms of assistance to certain foreign individuals and entities. Specifically, the NSF may not support any individual or entity that is affiliated or otherwise has a relationship, including but not limited to a research partnership, joint venture, or contract, with an entity included on the entity list under the Export Administration Regulations, which identifies foreign entities subject to license requirements for the export, reexport, or transfer of certain items; a Chinese military company operating in the United States or any of its territories or possessions on the list required under the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, or required under the Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or any successor list; or any parent, subsidiary, affiliate of, or entity owned by or controlled by any such entity.