Joaquin Castro

Military Spouse Hiring Act

This bill allows employers to claim a tax credit for a percentage of qualified wages paid to an employee who is a military spouse by expanding the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to add qualified military spouses as a targeted group. (The WOTC applies to employers who hire members of specific targeted groups, such as veterans, ex-felons, and long-term unemployment recipients, and is generally equal to a percentage of the wages paid to such individuals in the first year of employment, up to a maximum amount. Under current law, the wages must be paid before 2026.)

The bill defines a qualified military spouse as any individual who is certified by a state workforce agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.

Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act of 2025 or the FAIR Act of 2025

This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.

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.

Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now Act or the LOAN Act

This bill revises federal student aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. It also repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21 (commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

Among other provisions, the bill revises the Federal Pell Grant program by (1) providing funding to increase the maximum award for each eligible student, and (2) allowing income-eligible graduate students to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree.

Changes to the PSLF program include (1) reducing the number of monthly loan payments required for loan forgiveness, and (2) removing the requirement that a borrower must be employed in a public service job at the time of forgiveness.

The bill makes Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 18) who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal financial aid.

The bill also (1) establishes refinancing programs for federal and private student loans; (2) creates a new income-driven repayment plan; and (3) repeals origination fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans.

The bill repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21. For example, the act addressed the amount of federal financial aid available to students by changing the mix and availability of student loans. (For more information, see CRS Report R48727.)

Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act 2025

This bill makes permanent temporary provisions that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit. This bill also repeals multiple Medicaid, Medicare, and health-related tax provisions enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Currently, eligible taxpayers may claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To qualify, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the maximum income limit is eliminated, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit.

Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is partially based on the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the applicable percentages are lowered and the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation is eliminated, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit.

The bill permanently eliminates the 400% maximum income limit, lowers the applicable percentages, and eliminates the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.

Finally, the bill repeals multiple Medicaid, Medicare, and health-related tax provisions enacted by the OBBBA, including

• certain Medicare and Medicare eligibility and verification requirements,

• the reduced window for retroactive Medicaid coverage, and

• premium tax credit verification requirements.

Religious Workforce Protection Act

This bill allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend the nonimmigrant visa status of certain religious workers.

Under current law, if specified conditions are met, nonimmigrant religious workers may receive a visa for a period not to exceed five years. The bill allows DHS to grant an extension until the individual’s application for adjustment of status to permanent resident or an immigrant visa has been processed and a decision has been made. To be eligible for the extension, the individual must be (1) the beneficiary of a certain type of immigrant petition, and (2) eligible for such immigrant status absent the application of certain numerical limitations.

Such individuals who have pending adjustment of status applications are also granted certain job flexibilities, such as the ability to change employers. Individuals who have previously departed the U.S. due to the expiration of their visa are exempt from the one-year foreign residence requirement to renew their visa.

Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2025 or the Nutrition CARE Act of 2025

This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders. Such services must be furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a referral from a physician, psychologist, or other authorized mental health professional.

This bill prohibits the President from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances.

Defense articles covered by the prohibition include BLU-109 bunker busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) assemblies, and 155mm artillery ammunition. Defense services directly related to such articles are also covered.

The President may sell, transfer, or export such defense articles or services to Israel if (1) a law is enacted specifying the purposes for which such articles or services may be used, and (2) Israel provides written assurances that the defense articles or services will be used for those specific statutory purposes and in a manner consistent with certain other laws, including international human rights laws.

College Transparency Act

This bill requires the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to establish a secure and privacy-protected data system that contains information about postsecondary students.

Specifically, the data system must

• evaluate student enrollment patterns, progression, completion, and postcollegiate outcomes, and higher education costs and financial aid;

• provide complete and customizable information for students and families making decisions about postsecondary education;

• reduce the requirements for reporting by institutions of higher education; and

• periodically match with other federal systems of data.

The bill also establishes a postsecondary student data system advisory committee.

Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2025 or the EATS Act of 2025

This bill expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for certain students.

Specifically, the bill removes the restriction on SNAP eligibility for students to allow otherwise eligible students who are attending institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least half time to participate in SNAP. Under current law, students 18-49 years old are restricted from participating in SNAP, with exceptions (e.g., caring for a child under the age of 6 or employed for at least 20 hours a week). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily exempted some students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements; these temporary student exemptions expired after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023.

Further, the bill provides that students enrolled at least half time in a recognized school, training program, or IHE constitute individual households (not residents of institutions) and may be eligible for SNAP benefits. (Participation in SNAP is limited to households.)