Lisa Murkowski

America's First Fuels Act

This bill increases the federal energy efficient home improvement tax credit amount allowed for installing a biomass stove or biomass boiler in a principal residence. The bill also establishes a new federal tax credit (as part of the general business tax credit) for investments in open-loop biomass heating property.

Specifically, the bill increases to $10,000 the annual maximum amount of the energy efficient home improvement tax credit allowed for installing a biomass stove or biomass boiler in a principal residence. (Under current law, taxpayers may claim a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to an annual maximum of $2,000, to install a biomass stove, a biomass boiler, or certain other energy-efficient property in a principal residence.)

The bill also establishes a new business tax credit for 30% of the cost of any property which (1) uses open-loop biomass to produce thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, hot air, or steam; and (2) is used for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat (or any combination of such uses). (Conditions apply.)

However, the tax credit is reduced for open-loop biomass heating property financed with tax-exempt bonds.

Finally, under the bill, businesses may elect to claim the tax credit for qualified open-loop biomass heating property progress expenses (expenses incurred in advance of placing such property in service) if the normal construction period for such property is two years or more and certain other conditions are met.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

Trade Review Act of 2025

This bill requires congressional notification and review of new or increased duties (i.e., tariffs) imposed by the President on articles imported into the United States.

Specifically, the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing a duty on articles imported into the United States. This notification must include (1) the rationale for imposing or increasing the duty, and (2) an assessment of the duty's potential impact on U.S. businesses and consumers. The bill limits the duration of a duty to 60 days, unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law.

A duty shall cease to have force or effect if a joint resolution of disapproval is enacted into law.

Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2025 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.

Among other provisions, the bill

• permanently removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) and allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services;

• permanently allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); and

• allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to generally waive coverage restrictions during any public health emergency.

Additionally, the CMS must post certain information about the effects of Medicare telehealth services on its website, including information about utilization, costs, and the outcome of services. The CMS must also (1) provide resources to health care professionals about the requirements for furnishing telehealth services under Medicare, including with respect to payment, patient privacy, and support for underserved populations; and (2) ensure certain quality measures are applied to telehealth services.

This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.

Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2025 or the HELPER Act of 2025

This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a first-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment. Instead, the mortgage is subject to a one-time, up-front mortgage insurance premium.

Credit Union Board Modernization Act

This bill revises the required frequency of meetings held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, new credit unions and credit unions with a low soundness rating must meet monthly. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.

Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025

This bill modifies and implements policies and procedures related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST), which is generally defined as physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving in the military.

In the case of any veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on MST was incurred or aggravated by active service, the VA must consider (1) a diagnosis of the condition by a mental health professional, (2) a medically proven link between current symptoms and MST, and (3) credible corroborating evidence that MST occurred.

The VA may not deny a veteran's claim of compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST without first (1) advising the veteran that nonmilitary evidence and behavioral evidence may constitute credible corroborating evidence, and (2) allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish the corroborating evidence or advise the VA of potential sources of such evidence.

The Veterans Benefits Administration must conduct an annual special focus review on the accuracy of the processing of claims for disability compensation for disabilities relating to MST.

Additionally, the bill (1) expands eligibility for MST counseling and treatment to former members of the reserve components regardless of duty status, and (2) requires various outreach by the VA to inform potentially eligible individuals about MST care.

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025

This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government.

If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including

• the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces;

• the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services;

• the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services;

• the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and

• the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.

Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025

This bill establishes a new investment tax credit in the amount of 30% of the basis of any hydropower improvement property.

The bill defines hydropower improvement property as property that

• adds or improves fish passage at a qualified dam;

• maintains or improves the quality of the water retained or released by a qualified dam;

• promotes downstream sediment transport and habitat maintenance;

• upgrades, repairs, or reconstructs a qualified dam to meet safety and security standards;

• improves public uses of, and access to, public waterways impacted by a qualified dam;

• removes an obsolete river obstruction; or

• places into service an approved remote dam.

Further, written approval for hydropower improvement property must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state or local officials prior to January 1, 2035.

The bill also allows an election to claim the investment tax credit for qualified progress expenses for some types of hydropower improvement property in advance of such property being placed into service. Any investment tax credit amount claimed for qualified progress expenses reduces the amount of the investment tax credit that may be claimed once the hydropower improvement property is placed into service.

The bill authorizes certain entities, including tax-exempt and governmental entities, to treat the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property as a payment of tax and receive a refund of any overpayment (also known as elective pay).

Finally, the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property may be transferred (i.e., sold).

BAH Restoration Act

This bill increases the monthly amount of the basic housing allowance for members of the uniformed services inside the United States.

Specifically, the monthly amount of allowance for a member must be the amount of the monthly cost of adequate housing in the area, as determined by the Department of Defense, for members of the uniformed services serving in the same pay grade and same dependency status as the member. (Currently, the allowance is based on the difference between this amount and a percentage of the national average monthly cost of housing for members with the same pay grade and dependency status.)