Responsible Legislating Act

Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure ActThis bill requires Amtrak to publicly disclose the annual base pay and bonus compensation paid to an Amtrak executive in a required annual report to Congress.Specifically, Amtrak must incorporate into the annual report the annual base pay and any bonus compensation paid to a member of the executive leadership team. This must include the criteria and metrics used to determine any bonus compensation.Further, Amtrak must make the annual report available on Amtrak's public website.

Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency ActThis bill expands reporting requirements for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA is a government corporation that provides electricity in Tennessee and in portions of several surrounding states. It also provides flood control, navigation, and land management services for the Tennessee River system.The bill reinstates the requirement for TVA to file an annual financial statement and report with Congress in March. (The requirement was terminated by the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995.)The bill also modifies the requirement that the report include the names, salaries, and duties of employees earning more than $1,500 a year. Under the bill, this information is only required for employees earning more than the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS-13 of the General Schedule.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2025This bill repeals the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and rescinds any unobligated funds made available by the act.

People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Act or the People CARE ActThis bill establishes the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission within the legislative branch to review federal means-tested programs for potential reform.Under the bill, means-tested programs are those designed to provide assistance to low-income individuals, including, for example, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The commission is generally directed to review all federal means-tested programs with the exception of certain specified programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and certain veterans’ benefits programs.The commission is directed to identify and evaluate potential changes to federal means-tested programs, such as consolidation with other programs, delegation of certain functions to states, and the establishment of gradual benefit reductions tied to increases in beneficiaries’ income. The commission is also directed to consider changes that would allow caseworkers to identify all of the appropriate programs for individuals and families. The commission must establish a website through which members of the public may submit suggested reforms for consideration. The commission is to be comprised of eight members, with an equal number of members appointed by the majority and minority parties.  At the conclusion of its term, the commission must report to Congress with its findings and proposed legislation implementing any recommended changes. Congress must consider the legislation under expedited procedures.

Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2025This bill prohibits federal agencies from imposing a mandate related to COVID-19 that requires the use of face masks on conveyances (e.g., planes, trains, and buses) and at transportation hubs.Further, the bill nullifies (1) the emergency order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29, 2021, that mandates such use of face masks on public and commercial conveyances and at transportation hubs, and (2) orders and directives of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that relate to the CDC order.As background, the CDC and TSA ceased enforcement of the emergency order following an April 18, 2022, court order. Further, the COVID-19 public health emergency expired on May 11, 2023.

Trailer Safety Improvement ActThis bill requires that state highway safety programs address trailer safety equipment, preventive maintenance, and other aspects of the proper and safe usage of light- and medium-duty trailers.

Red Light ActThis bill directs the Department of Transportation to withhold all of a state's share of certain federal highway funds (specifically, funds for the National Highway Performance Program, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) in FY2023 and thereafter if such state has enacted a law to provide driver's licenses or other identification cards to aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States.

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination ActThis bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to streamline disaster information collection, convene a working group on preliminary damage assessments, and provide a report to Congress.FEMA must (1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be made less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; and (2) develop a plan for the regular collection and reporting of information on federal disaster assistance awarded.Additionally, not later than two years after enactment of the bill, FEMA must convene a working group on a regular basis to (1) identify potential areas of duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments after disaster declarations; (2) determine the applicability of having one federal agency make the assessments for all agencies; and (3) identify potential emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones), to expedite the administration of preliminary damage assessments.FEMA must submit a comprehensive report on the plans for streamlining and consolidating information collection and the findings and recommendations of the working group to Congress with a briefing. The report must be made available to the public and posted on FEMA's website.

Limiting Emergency Powers Act of 2025This bill terminates any national emergency declared by the President 30 days after the declaration unless a joint resolution affirming the declaration is enacted. All national emergency declarations expire after two years unless the President requests a renewal and a joint resolution affirming the renewal is enacted.

Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act This bill revokes the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to lease general purpose office space and instead provides for the General Services Administration to lease such space for the SEC. The bill's provisions do not affect those leases entered into by the SEC before this bill's enactment.The Government Accountability Office must (1) complete a review under which it shall update a 2016 report with respect to independent leasing authorities, and (2) report to Congress on the review.

Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent ActThis bill directs the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to conduct an audit of public transportation spending under certain laws (including specified coronavirus relief laws) and report to Congress.

This bill prohibits the state of California from receiving federal funds for a high-speed rail corridor development project. Specifically, the prohibition applies to a project in California that is the same or substantially similar to the project that is the subject of an FY2010 cooperative agreement entered into on November 18, 2011, between the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).As background, CHSRA has received various federal grants for the California High-Speed Rail program, a project led by the state of California with the goal of implementing a high-speed rail system capable of speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The FRA terminated the specific FY2010 cooperative agreement on May 16, 2019.

HOV Lanes for Heroes Act This bill provides authority for a public authority to allow a disabled veteran to use a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facility if such veteran has a license plate that clearly identifies the vehicle, a registered transponder, or other method of qualifying identification. The public authority may not charge a toll to the veteran for use of the HOV facility.

Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 2025This bill establishes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding sources for unmet needs caused by major disasters, expands FEMA’s assistance for housing and home repair, and requires certain considerations in FEMA’s recommendations on presidential emergency/disaster declarations.The bill establishes the National Disaster Recovery Reserve Fund for FEMA to provide grants to states and Indian tribal governments for unmet need. The bill defines unmet need as any necessary expense for activities related to a declared major disaster, including disaster relief or resilience activities. In addition, the bill authorizes FEMA to set aside funding from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide grants to states and Indian tribal governments for unmet needs resulting from a declared disaster, including home repair, economic recovery measures, and other services assisting disaster victims. Also, the bill makes the following changes regarding housing assistance:authorizes FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to provide home repair assistance directly to homeowners when there is a lack of available housing resources, expands IHP home repair assistance for persons with disabilities, extends the maximum duration of IHP’s direct housing assistance from 18 to 24 months,authorizes IHP permanent housing construction where FEMA considers it a cost-effective alternative, and authorizes minor home repairs in the essential assistance federal agencies may provide following a disaster. Additionally, the bill requires FEMA to give greater weight to local impacts, and events over the past five years, when making recommendations to the President regarding emergency or major disaster declarations.