Monthly Legislative Update: Congress Turns Focus to Technology, Education, and Fiscal Policy – April 2025
As the second quarter of 2025 begins, the 119th Congress has successfully averted a government shutdown by passing a full-year appropriations bill in late March. With funding secured through the fiscal year, attention has shifted toward long-term policy issues, including artificial intelligence regulation, education reform, student debt relief, and election security. Bipartisan collaboration is emerging in key areas, even as debate intensifies over cultural and economic policy divides.
🔹 Key Developments: April Priorities
✅ Government Funding Secured Through FY2025
The full-year spending bill passed on March 29, 2025, provides stability across federal agencies and includes:
Increases in funding for public education, transportation, and veterans’ healthcare
Targeted investments in cybersecurity and rural broadband
A freeze on discretionary spending growth through 2026
🧠 AI Regulation Framework in Motion
The Senate Commerce Committee has introduced a draft framework for regulating artificial intelligence, focusing on transparency, bias mitigation, and federal oversight.
The bill would require developers of large-scale AI systems to register with a federal oversight board and disclose training data sources.
🏛 Senate Legislative Activity – April 2025
✔ FISA Reauthorization Enacted
Signed into law on April 2, the reauthorization includes new limits on domestic surveillance and mandates independent review of sensitive warrants by a panel of federal judges.
⏳ SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
Awaiting floor vote after passing the Senate Finance Committee
Strong bipartisan support expected for raising SSI asset limits for the first time in over 30 years
⏳ Higher Education Transparency and Accountability Act
Introduced to increase oversight of federal student loan programs and for-profit colleges
Includes measures for publishing graduate earnings data and strengthening institutional accountability
🛫 FAA Modernization Oversight Hearings
Following March’s reauthorization, oversight hearings are underway to monitor implementation of new safety, staffing, and infrastructure benchmarks.
🏛 House Legislative Activity – April 2025
✔ H.R. 7213 – Autism CARES Act of 2024
Passed by the Senate and signed into law on April 4
Expands funding for research, early intervention services, and family support for individuals on the autism spectrum
⏳ H.R. 2530 – Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios Act
Debated on the House floor; vote expected mid-April
Healthcare industry advocates are negotiating amendments related to hospital funding and workforce shortages
⏳ H.R. 5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act
Gaining momentum as House leadership schedules a formal vote
Would establish new federal standards for parental access to public school curricula and student records
⏳ H.R. 2 – Securing the U.S. Borders Act
Revised version includes increased funding for border security technology and humanitarian processing
Expected to move to the Rules Committee before a full House vote
🗳 Election Infrastructure and Integrity Act (NEW)
Bipartisan bill introduced to modernize voting systems, expand mail-in ballot access, and require post-election audits
Supports grants for states to upgrade cybersecurity defenses before the 2026 midterms
🔮 What’s Coming in May
Key issues on deck for next month include:
AI safety regulation markup and Senate floor vote
Introduction of a bipartisan student loan debt refinancing program
Farm Bill reauthorization hearings
Committee markups on affordable housing incentives and clean energy credits
📌 Conclusion
April marks a shift in the 119th Congress’s focus from crisis management to proactive policymaking. With funding stability secured, lawmakers are now addressing the deeper structural challenges facing the country—from artificial intelligence oversight to education transparency and election modernization. The next several weeks are expected to be packed with committee activity and key floor votes that will shape the second half of the legislative year.
Stay tuned for the May 2025 update.