Foreign aid

United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025

This bill repeals the trade embargo on Cuba and other provisions restricting trade and travel to Cuba.

Specifically, the bill (1) removes restrictions on certain transactions related to trademarks used in connection with a confiscated business or asset, (2) extends nondiscriminatory treatment (i.e., normal trade relations treatment) to Cuban products, and (3) prohibits and rescinds limits on remittances to Cuba.

The bill authorizes common carriers to provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. In addition, travel by U.S. citizens and residents to Cuba may not be regulated or prohibited if such travel would be lawful in the United States.

The President shall take all necessary steps to engage with Cuba to (1) negotiate settlements relating to claims that Cuba had taken the property of U.S. nationals, and (2) secure the protection of internationally recognized human rights. The President may, with respect to Cuba, impose new export controls and exercise powers related to declared national emergencies.

The President must submit a specified determination about a foreign country to Congress prior to denying an income tax credit for taxes paid to the foreign country.

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

This bill establishes funding for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier and revises how border patrol agents are compensated for overtime.

The Department of the Treasury shall set up an account for funding the design, construction, and maintenance of the barrier. The funds in the account are appropriated only for that purpose and for vehicles and equipment for border patrol agents.

For each fiscal year, financial assistance to a country shall be reduced by $2,000 for each citizen or national of that country apprehended for illegally entering the United States through its southern border. The reduced amount shall be transferred to the border barrier account. The Department of State may opt not to reduce amounts appropriated to Mexico for various military and law enforcement-related activities.

This bill establishes a 5% fee on foreign remittance transfers and increases the fee for the arrival/departure I-94 form for various aliens entering the United States, with part of the fees going to the border barrier account.

By December 31, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security shall (1) take all actions necessary, including constructing barriers, to prevent illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico barrier; and (2) achieve operational control over all U.S. international borders.

The bill changes how border patrol agents receive overtime pay when working up to 100 hours in a two-week period. For hours worked above 80, an agent shall receive at least 150% of the agent's regular hourly rate.

Prevent Regulatory Overreach from Turning Essential Companies into Targets Act of 2025 or the PROTECT USA Act of 2025

This bill prohibits businesses integral to U.S. national interests from complying with certain foreign sustainability regulations, including the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

Specifically, any business entity integral to U.S. national interests is barred from complying with any foreign sustainability due diligence regulation (i.e., any foreign law, regulation, or legal instrument that requires a person to assess the environmental or social impacts of its operations or value chain, take actions to address those impacts, and report on those impacts and actions).

Entities covered by this bill include those that do business with any part of the federal government, including by way of federal contracts or leases. Other covered entities include those businesses organized under the laws of the United States that (1) derive at least 25% of their revenue from activities related to the extraction or production of raw materials from the earth, (2) are primarily involved in manufacturing, or (3) produce arms or other products integral to U.S. national defense.

The bill prohibits adverse action against entities that comply with this prohibition and requires the President to take action in the public interest to protect such entities from an adverse action. Affected entities may bring a civil action against persons who have taken an adverse action. Penalties for violators include up to a $1 million fine and three years of ineligibility for federal awards or contracts.

China Technology Transfer Control Act of 2025

This bill controls exports of certain national interest technology and intellectual property to China.

Specifically, covered technology or intellectual property includes items that (1) would contribute significantly to the Chinese military to the detriment of U.S. national security, (2) are included in a designated list of product components compiled by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), or (3) are used by China to violate human rights or religious liberties.

The President must control exports to China of any covered technology or intellectual property. Further, the President must sanction (1) a foreign person who sells to China or purchases from China any covered item, and (2) a Chinese person who knowingly uses a covered item provided to them in violation of U.S. export control law.

The USTR must compile a list of certain products from China that that are subject to the bill because they either receive designated support from the Chinese government or are used by China to violate human rights or religious liberties. The bill requires the USTR to include products from certain industries (e.g., civil aircraft, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and biotechnology) on the list.

This bill removes Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, a status that allows for various benefits such as access to excess U.S. defense supplies and participation in cooperative defense research and development projects.

The President may not redesignate Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally without certifying that the country has taken various actions against the Haqqani Network, including continuing to conduct military actions against the Taliban-affiliated group and prosecuting its leaders.