Steve Womack

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) Congress should adopt a fiscal target to reduce the federal budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product or less as soon as possible and no later than the end of FY2030; and (2) after the target is achieved, Congress should continue to pursue further deficit reduction with the goal of achieving a balanced federal budget.

This resolution censures Representative Al Green.

**BNA Fairness Ac**t This bill excludes from gross income (for federal income tax purposes) the basic needs allowance received by eligible members of the Armed Forces. Under current law, members of the Armed Forces may be eligible to receive the basic needs allowance (additional monthly payment) if (1) they have completed initial training, (2) they have at least one dependent, and (3) their total household income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level (based on the location and number of individuals in the household). Further, under current law, certain qualified military benefits may be excluded from gross income. However, the basic needs allowance is not included within the definition of *qualified military benefits* and must be included in gross income for federal tax purposes. Under the bill, the definition of *qualified military benefits* that may be excluded from gross income is expanded to include the basic needs allowance.

This bill prohibits using federal funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed determination and proposed rule on *Salmonella* in raw poultry products. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed the rule and the determination in the proposed *Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products* that was published on August 7, 2024. The FSIS's proposed determination declares raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey products that contain certain types and levels of *Salmonella* as adulterated, thus prohibiting these products from entering commerce.  The FSIS's proposed rule would revise the current regulations on how poultry slaughter establishments monitor and document microbial contamination throughout the slaughter and dressing operation. This includes new requirements for microbial monitoring programs, increased sampling and testing, and additional recordkeeping.

**Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 or the PURR Act of 2025** This bill establishes the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as the sole regulatory authority over pet food for dogs and cats. It also provides certain flexibilities for pet food manufacturers with respect to the types of ingredients they may use and the associated labeling and marketing requirements. The bill specifies that, with exceptions for certain existing oversight activities, no state or local government may establish, implement, or enforce any authority or requirement relating to pet food marketing or labeling and instead provides for oversight by the CVM. The bill requires the CVM to review and act on pet food ingredient submissions within 90 days. Additionally, the bill provides a presumption that pet food ingredients are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) if they are recognized as acceptable per the Association of American Feed Control Officials and the CVM does not find otherwise. Manufacturers may voluntarily notify the CVM of ingredients that are considered GRAS but that have not yet been specifically recognized as such. The bill also allows manufacturers to state, without prior approval, that their products (1) sometimes, but not always, have certain ingredients (e.g., flavors); (2) have certain health benefits (e.g., tartar control); or (3) are human grade or natural, if certain conditions are met.

**Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026** This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to DOT for * the Office of the Secretary, * the Federal Aviation Administration, * the Federal Highway Administration, * the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, * the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, * the Federal Railroad Administration, * the Federal Transit Administration, * the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, * the Maritime Administration, * the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and * the Office of Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations to HUD for * Management and Administration, * Public and Indian Housing, * Community Planning and Development, * Housing Programs, * the Federal Housing Administration, * the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), * Policy Development and Research, * Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, * the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, * the Information Technology Fund, and * the Office of Inspector General. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including * the Access Board, * the Federal Maritime Commission, * the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General, * the National Transportation Safety Board, * the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and * the Surface Transportation Board. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

**Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs Act of 2025 or the FAIR PREP Act of 2025** This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from preparing federal tax returns or refund claims, with some exceptions. The bill specifically prohibits the preparation of federal income tax returns or refund claims through the IRS’s Direct File program. (The Direct File program currently allows qualified taxpayers in 25 participating states to prepare and electronically file free federal tax returns through a portal on the IRS’s website.) The bill defines *prepare* with respect to federal tax returns and refund claims as (1) the completion (in whole or in part) of any form or schedule for the purpose of calculating federal taxes or refunds, and (2) the filing (either electronically or on paper) of such federal tax returns or refund claims. However, under the bill, federal and state tax returns and refund claims may be prepared through the IRS’s Free File program (a program that allows certain taxpayers to prepare and file free federal and state income tax returns using third-party tax-preparation software) or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program (through which the IRS partners with local community organizations to help low-income and disabled individuals and persons with limited English proficiency prepare and file free federal and state income tax returns). Further, the Department of the Treasury may not award grants or enter into contracts or other transactions for the development or operation of an electronic tax preparation service.

**Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends or the FORCE Act** This bill prohibits removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until the President makes the determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power.

**Disclosing Aid Spent to Ensure Relief Act of 2025 or the DISASTER Act of 2025** This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress on all disaster-related assistance provided by the federal government. The report must include all federal obligations related to disaster response, recovery, mitigation efforts, and administrative costs associated with these activities for specified agencies and programs.

**Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act** This bill permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the bill, offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are triggered by the same quantity thresholds and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including * permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, * waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and * allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration. Finally, the bill expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of Controlled Substances Act in *United States v. McCray*, a 2018 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In that case, the court held that butyryl fentanyl, a controlled substance, can be considered an analogue of fentanyl even though, under the Controlled Substances Act, the term *controlled substance analogue* specifically excludes a controlled substance.