Edward Markey

Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act or the BUMP Act

This bill generally prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of

• a device that is primarily designed, or redesigned, to increase the rate of fire when attached to a semiautomatic firearm;

• a device, part, or combination of parts that is designed and functions to increase the rate of fire of a firearm; or

• a semiautomatic firearm that has been modified to materially increase the rate of fire or to approximate the action or rate of fire of a machine gun.

Additionally, the bill adds to the list of firearms subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act semiautomatic firearms that have been modified to materially increase the rate of fire or approximate the action or rate of fire of a machine gun.

Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act or the GOSAFE Act

This bill establishes a framework to regulate gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices under federal firearms laws.

First, the bill generally prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of

• a firearm that is or is modified to operate as a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm;

• a combination of parts that modify or can be assembled into a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm, or that produce an unlawful gas-operated semiautomatic cycling action;

• a device or combination of parts designed to materially increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm; or

• a firearm that is modified to materially increase the rate of fire.

Second, the bill generally prohibits (1) the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or receipt of a large capacity ammunition feeding device; or (2) the possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after the date of enactment.

A violation is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 12 months, or both, for each violation.

In addition, an individual who possesses a prohibited gas-operated semiautomatic firearm during a federal felony offense is subject to additional penalties—a fine, a mandatory minimum prison term of two years, or both.

Finally, the bill allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices under a buy-back program.

No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act

This bill excludes from the tax deduction for ordinary and necessary business expenses amounts paid or incurred to influence employees with respect to labor organizations or labor organization activities. The bill also imposes information reporting requirements related to such expenses and imposes penalties for failure to comply.

Under the bill, amounts paid to influence employees with respect to labor organizations include amounts paid (including wages and other costs)

• in connection with an action that results in a complaint or settlement related to an unfair labor practice or a finding of interference, influence, or coercion related to railway employees’ rights to organize and bargain collectively;

• for any meeting or training attended by employees and at which labor organizations are discussed; and

• that require certain employer disclosures and financial reporting.

(Some exceptions apply.)

The bill requires employers to file a return reporting certain information related to expenses paid to influence employees with respect to labor organizations and imposes a penalty for noncompliance. The amount of the penalty is the greater of (1) $10,000, or (2) $1,000 multiplied by the number full-time equivalent employees. Additional penalties apply for violations that continue for more than 90 days.

The bill also imposes information reporting requirements on persons conducting activities on behalf of another person to influence employees with respect to labor organizations.

The bill allows certain penalties for noncompliance with the reporting requirements to be waived if noncompliance is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025

This bill provides legal protections for a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is detained or subject to immigration-related proceedings.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case involving an unaccompanied child, may appoint or provide counsel at the government's expense to non-U.S. nationals in removal proceedings and related appeals.

An unaccompanied child must be represented by counsel paid for and appointed by the government at every stage of such proceedings unless the child has obtained counsel at their own expense. If HHS fails to provide counsel to an unaccompanied child, the child's deadline for filing a motion to reopen a removal proceeding shall not apply, and the filing of such a motion shall stay the child's removal from the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide a complete copy of a non-U.S. national's immigration file to the non-U.S. national (or the non-U.S. national's counsel) within seven days of a notice to appear for an immigration proceeding, and failure to provide the file shall result in a delay in the proceeding.

DHS must provide access to counsel for all detained non-U.S. nationals.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement must develop model guidelines for representing non-U.S. national children in immigration proceedings.

HHS must annually report on the extent to which it has provided counsel for unaccompanied children under this bill.

This resolution designates April 2025 as Second Chance Month to promote awareness of unnecessary legal and social barriers that prevent individuals with criminal records from becoming productive members of society.

Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act

This bill creates a new income-driven repayment plan for student loans called the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan. The SOAR plan has similar provisions to, but further expands on, the Department of Education's (ED's) final rule published on July 10, 2023, that created the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE plan was blocked by federal courts.

The bill directs ED to carry out a SOAR plan program that complies with specified requirements. The bill allows all federal student loan types to be eligible for repayment under the SOAR plan, including Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.

Under the SOAR plan, a federal student loan borrower whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) has $0 monthly payments. A borrower whose income is over 250% of the FPL pays 5% of their discretionary income on loans obtained for undergraduate study and 10% of their discretionary income for all other outstanding loans (e.g., loans obtained for graduate study).

Additionally, under the SOAR plan, holders of eligible federal student loans (e.g., ED or private lenders) must apply 50% of the borrower's monthly payment toward outstanding principal. The other 50% must be applied in the following order: (1) accrued charges and collection costs on the loan, (2) outstanding interest, and (3) outstanding principal.

ED must forgive any loan balance that remains outstanding after a specified maximum repayment period (e.g., 10 years or 15 years).

Privacy Act Modernization Act of 2025

This bill strengthens privacy protections that apply to personal data held or maintained by government agencies. These protections restrict the storage, access, use, and disclosure of personal data, such as an individual’s name or Social Security number.

Currently, these protections apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The bill expands this to include natural persons in the United States and certain associations and corporations.

The bill places additional limits on the use and disclosure of such data, including by limiting the use of records to a legally authorized purpose and requiring disclosures to be minimal and consistent with a previously stated use.

The bill also increases existing penalties and creates additional criminal penalties for violations. For example, under the bill, an agency employee who willfully discloses individually identifiable information with the intent to sell, transfer, use, or disclose such information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm shall be guilty of a felony and fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.

Courts may provide preliminary relief and, if the U.S. is found to have acted intentionally or willfully, the U.S. is liable for additional types of damages (e.g., punitive).

The bill generally takes effect two years after the date of enactment. However, the bill takes effect immediately upon enactment with respect to certain actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), certain special or temporary employees, and other related individuals and organizations.

Hot Foods Act of 2025

This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to permit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.