Don Bacon

Freeze Aid For Student Assaulters Act of 2025 or the FAFSA Act of 2025

This bill prohibits an individual who is convicted of a criminal offense of assault against a police officer or rioting (e.g., inciting a riot or participating in a riot) from receiving student federal financial assistance.

Specifically, an individual who is convicted of such an offense shall not be eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). (Title IV financial assistance is the largest source of federal aid to postsecondary students.)

Additionally, any grant previously awarded to such an individual must be treated as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that is subject to repayment. Further, interest shall accrue on the converted loan from the date of the original grant award. Converted loans may not be eligible for any loan forgiveness, cancellation, discharge, or reduction programs under the HEA, any other provision of law, or any administrative action or program.

Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025

This bill increases the requirements for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA are federally developed recommendations by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Under the bill, USDA and HHS must jointly publish guidelines at least once every 10 years (currently 5 years), and the final DGA is subject to rulemaking requirements.

The DGA must be based on significant scientific agreement that is determined by evidence-based review. Current law requires that the guidelines be based on a preponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge.

Further, the guidelines must address issues such as (1) high-priority areas to advance health outcomes, (2) achieving nutritional adequacy and promoting health, and (3) common nutrition-related chronic diseases.

In updating the guidelines, USDA and HHS must establish an Independent Advisory Board that must submit a list of scientific questions to be used as the basis for the proposed DGA. Members of the board must (1) have expertise in nutrition science or food science, and (2) disclose all relevant financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest.

The bill prohibits the DGA from being based on or including topics that are not relevant to dietary guidance (e.g., taxation, social welfare policies, food and agricultural production practices, and race).

The bill provides specified funds through FY2029 to carry out these requirements.

Finally, the bill specifies that the 2020 DGA are the controlling guidelines until new guidelines are published in accordance with these requirements.

Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism Act or the UNITED Act

This bill grants certain authorities to the President for entering into a comprehensive trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom (UK).

Specifically, the bill directs the President to seek to initiate negotiations with the UK regarding tariff and nontariff barriers affecting any industry, product, or service sector.

The bill authorizes the President to enter into a comprehensive trade agreement with the UK, with such authority expiring on March 1, 2029. Further, the President may proclaim a modification or continuance of any existing duty or a continuance of existing excise or duty-free treatment to carry out an agreement, with certain limitations.

The bill also requires the President to consult with and notify Congress regarding the intention of the President to enter into an agreement or make a proclamation.

Venezuelan Adjustment Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant lawful permanent resident status to qualifying nationals of Venezuela.

A national of Venezuela shall be eligible if that individual (1) applies for lawful permanent resident status no later than three years after this bill's enactment, (2) entered the United States on or before December 31, 2021, (3) has been continuously physically present in the United States for at least one year when filing their application, (4) is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa, and (5) is not inadmissible under various grounds such as a conviction for an aggravated felony. Certain grounds for inadmissibility, such as the public charge ground, shall not apply.

The spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of an eligible individual shall also be eligible.

If an individual has applied for lawful permanent resident status under this bill and is subject to exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings, DHS may not order that individual's removal unless DHS has made a final determination to deny the application.

DHS must provide work authorization to an individual whose application has been pending for more than 180 days, and may also provide authorization before that.

National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a national strategy to secure elementary and secondary schools from acts of terrorism. DHS must submit this strategy to Congress, annually update the strategy (if appropriate) through 2033, and provide annual briefings to Congress on those updates.

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act

This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers.

The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that Congress and the Administration must work together to pursue effective food and agricultural trade policies that include specified components. Among others, these components include (1) a renewed commitment to secure market access and maintain global competitiveness for the U.S. food and agriculture industries; and (2) consideration of comprehensive trade agreements, enforcement of existing trade agreements, and elimination of certain nontariff trade barriers.

This resolution supports the designation of National Agriculture Day.

Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025

This bill increases the income limit and makes other modifications to the above-the-line tax deduction for business expenses of qualified performing artists. (Above-the-line deductions are subtracted from gross income to calculate adjusted gross income.)

Under current law, a qualified performing artist (who may deduct certain business expenses from gross income) is defined as an individual who (1) performs services in the performing arts as an employee for at least two employers during the tax year and receives at least $200 from each employer (minimum payment), (2) has business deductions attributable to such services exceeding 10% of the gross income received from such services, and (3) has adjusted gross income of $16,000 or less.

The bill modifies the definition of a qualified performing artist (for purposes of the business expense deduction) to eliminate the $16,000 adjusted gross income limitation and increase the minimum payment amount to $500 (adjusted for inflation beginning in 2026).

However, under the bill, the tax deduction for business expenses of qualified performing artists phases out for individuals with gross income exceeding $100,000 (or $200,000 for joint filers) such that the tax deduction completely phases out for individuals with gross income exceeding $120,000 (or $240,000 for joint filers). (The phase-out threshold is adjusted for inflation beginning in 2026.)

Finally, the bill provides that commissions paid to a manager or agent by a qualified performing artist are deductible business expenses.

Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act

This bill expands training requirements and assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in relation to claims for covered mental health conditions (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma.

Specifically, the bill requires VA employees who process claims for covered mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma to receive annual sensitivity training. Such training must be updated by the VA at least once a year.

The VA must annually report on (1) the training it provides, and (2) any plans to expand and update such training.

In providing assistance with such claims related to military sexual trauma, the VA must obtain the service medical record of the claimant and, if there is not credible supporting evidence of a military sexual trauma in the record, obtain the service personnel record of the claimant.

Additionally, the VA must report to Congress regarding (1) sensitivity training required for health care professionals (including schedulers) who are contracted under a VA pilot program to perform examinations of veterans who make claims related to military sexual trauma, and (2) the VA’s plan to improve such training and ensure veterans are not retraumatized during such an examination.

Major Richard Star Act

This bill allows a veteran with a combat-related disability to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrently with their disability compensation. This includes veterans with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service. (Currently, veterans who receive combat-related special compensation and retirement pay are subject to an offset in retirement pay for concurrent receipt of such benefits.)

Pay Our Military Act

This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2025 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).

Specifically, the bill provides FY2025 continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service or inactive-duty training during the period; and (2) civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy) who are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces.

If a government shutdown occurs, the bill provides the continuing appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2026.

NATO Edge Act

This bill places additional restrictions on the President's ability to exit from the North Atlantic Treaty, the multilateral collective security agreement that established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Current law specifies that the President may not exit from this treaty or use federal funds to support such an exit except pursuant to an act of Congress or with the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate.

The bill adds an additional exit restriction tied to the members of NATO that have not allocated at least 2% of their gross domestic product to annual defense spending. Under the bill, the President may only exit from the treaty or make federal funds available to support an exit if all such nations have not committed to achieving such spending level within five years from the fiscal year to which the President seeks to exit from the treaty.

The Senate or the House of Representatives may adopt a resolution authorizing the Senate Legal Counsel or the General Counsel of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in federal court proceedings to oppose any exit from the treaty that does not comply with the statutory requirements.

The bill specifies congressional procedures to follow for any resolution or joint resolution introduced related to exiting from the treaty.

The changes made by this bill expire on September 30, 2033.

Tyler’s Law

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to complete, within one year after the bill’s enactment, a study on how frequently Medicare-participating hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl in patients experiencing an overdose, the costs associated with such testing, and how such testing may impact patients.

Within six months after the study’s completion and based on its results, HHS must issue guidance regarding (1) whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose, (2) how to ensure clinicians know which substances they are testing for in routine drug tests, and (3) how fentanyl testing may affect the future risk of overdose and other health outcomes.

Pay Our Troops Act of 2025

This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2025 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).

Specifically, the bill provides FY2025 continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service during the period; and (2) civilian personnel and contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) who are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces.

If a government shutdown occurs, the bill provides the continuing appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2026.