Mike Carey

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act This bill limits how and when states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and establishes an eligibility threshold for all TANF-funded assistance and services. Currently, each state sets its own eligibility threshold for TANF-funded cash assistance. The bill establishes an upper limit on eligibility applicable to all assistance and services (including non-cash benefits) funded by TANF family assistance grants. Under this provision, only families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may receive TANF-funded assistance and services. Further, the bill generally requires states to obligate TANF funds by the end of the fiscal year after they are paid and to spend funds by the end of the second fiscal year after they are paid. However, states may reserve a specified portion of their TANF funds for future use. (There is currently no requirement to use TANF funds within a specified period.) The bill also explicitly requires states to use federal TANF funds to supplement, not replace, state and local funding for TANF-supported programs. (Current law requires states to spend a specified minimum amount on TANF-eligible activities and populations, known as the maintenance of effort requirement.) States must also take specified steps to track and report on improper payments of federal funds (e.g., overpayments, underpayments, payments to ineligible recipients). Within one year of enactment, HHS must submit to Congress a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by states under the TANF program within 10 years.

Affordable Housing Credit Carryback Act

The proposal would let developers and investors who build affordable housing claim tax credits for up to five years after they initially qualify, rather than having to use them immediately. This change would give housing developers more flexibility in managing their taxes and potentially make it easier for them to finance affordable housing projects. The measure is currently under review by the House Committee on Ways and Means.

No Wasted Space Act

The government would create a special commission to study how the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. could be used in the future. The commission would examine different options for what the building could house or become, helping lawmakers decide on its best purpose. This affects visitors to the National Mall, the Smithsonian Institution, and the federal government's management of its historic properties.

New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act

New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act This bill increases the percentage of individuals who may participate in a Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program, generally expands eligibility for such programs, and modifies certain SEA program requirements. As background, an SEA program provides an individual with an SEA allowance, rather than regular unemployment compensation benefits, if such individual is (1) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits and identified as likely to exhaust such benefits, (2) participating in self-employment assistance activities which include entrepreneurial training, business counseling, and technical assistance and are approved by the state, and (3) working full-time on establishing a business and becoming self-employed. Under current law, the number of individuals participating in an SEA program may not exceed 5% of the individuals receiving regular unemployment compensation benefits in the state. The bill increases the percentage of individuals who may participate in a state SEA program to 10%, eliminates the requirement that an individual be determined likely to exhaust unemployment compensation benefits (generally expanding individual eligibility for an SEA program), and requires individuals to certify (at least weekly) that they are working full-time on establishing a business and becoming self-employed. Finally, the bill allows individuals to meet the requirement to participate in state-approved self-employment assistance activities if such activities either (1) include entrepreneurial training, business counseling, and technical assistance (permitted under current law); or (2) are performed pursuant to a state-approved business plan and market feasibility study.

Supporting Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Act

The proposal would extend tax credits and incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel production, helping make these cleaner fuel alternatives more affordable and competitive with traditional petroleum diesel. This would benefit fuel producers, refineries, and potentially consumers by encouraging the use of fuels made from renewable sources like vegetable oils and animal fats instead of fossil fuels.

Pay Less at the Pump Act of 2026

This bill would likely reduce federal taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel to lower prices at the pump for drivers and businesses that rely on fuel. The exact tax cuts would need to be determined in committee, but the goal is to make filling up a vehicle cheaper for everyday Americans and commercial trucking companies. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax legislation.

Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025

The bill would expand Medicare coverage or benefits for family members and other unpaid caregivers who help elderly or disabled patients manage their health care needs. It likely aims to recognize and support the millions of Americans who provide essential care to loved ones by connecting them with Medicare resources, training, or financial assistance. The proposal has been sent to two congressional committees for review to determine how it would affect Medicare's budget and healthcare delivery.

Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

Veterans Border Patrol Training Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a five-year interdepartmental pilot program, under which DHS must use the DOD SkillBridge Program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers as border patrol agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act of 2025

Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to submit and publish online semiannual reports on the status of certain clean energy demonstration projects that are managed or supported by DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales".

Congress rejected a new IRS rule that would have required brokers and payment processors to report detailed information about digital asset (cryptocurrency) transactions to the tax agency. The rule would have expanded tax reporting requirements for companies that handle crypto sales, potentially affecting millions of Americans who buy and sell digital currencies. By blocking this rule, Congress prevented the IRS from implementing stricter tracking of these transactions.

Religious Workforce Protection Act

This bill would protect religious workers and organizations from certain immigration-related restrictions, likely allowing religious institutions to hire foreign workers for religious positions more easily than current law permits. The measure would affect churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based organizations that want to bring in clergy, missionaries, or other religious staff from abroad. It has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for review.

CARE Act of 2025

Without access to the full bill text, the CARE Act of 2025 appears to address health policy matters and has been sent to committees that handle healthcare regulation and healthcare funding. Based on its referral to both the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, it likely involves changes to how health programs are structured, funded, or regulated, potentially affecting patients, healthcare providers, or health insurance coverage. The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process.

Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act

This bill would likely create tax incentives or breaks for businesses and property owners who invest in revitalizing struggling downtown areas and main streets across the country. The goal is to encourage development, attract new businesses, and bring people back to these community centers by making it financially attractive for investors and developers to participate. Small business owners, property developers, and local communities hoping to boost their economies would be the main beneficiaries.

Improve Transparency and Stability for Families and Children Act

The proposal would require states to provide clearer information to families about how their eligibility for welfare and child support benefits is determined, and would establish more consistent rules across states to reduce sudden changes in benefits. This would help families better understand what assistance they qualify for and make it easier to plan their finances without worrying about unexpected benefit cuts.

National STEM Week Act

This bill would establish an official National STEM Week to recognize and promote science, technology, engineering, and math education across the country. The designation would encourage schools, businesses, and organizations to highlight STEM careers and learning opportunities to students of all ages. The measure aims to increase awareness about the importance of these fields and potentially inspire more young people to pursue education and careers in STEM-related areas.

Credit for Caring Act of 2025

The bill would allow people to claim a tax credit for expenses related to caring for family members, such as costs for adult day care, in-home care services, or other caregiving support. This tax break would help workers—particularly those juggling jobs and family caregiving responsibilities—reduce their tax burden by offsetting some of the significant costs of caring for aging parents, disabled relatives, or other dependent family members. The measure aims to provide financial relief to families managing both employment and caregiving duties.

Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act

Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act This bill allows corporations to reduce their adjusted financial statement income to account for certain intangible costs related to oil, gas, or geothermal well drilling and development for purposes of calculating the corporate alternative minimum tax. Under current law, a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax is imposed on a corporation with adjusted financial statement income exceeding an average of $1 billion for a consecutive three-year period (or an average of $100 million for a U.S. corporation that is part of a foreign parent multinational group if the adjusted financial statement income of such group exceeds an average of $1 billion for a consecutive three-year period). Adjusted financial statement income generally is the net income or loss reported on the corporation’s applicable financial statement for a tax year, with adjustments for specific items. This bill expands the reductions that may be made to a corporation’s adjusted financial statement income to include (1) intangible drilling and development costs incurred by an operator of a domestic oil, gas, or geothermal well that are allowed as a deduction in the current tax year when computing regular taxable income; and (2) any depletion expenses related to the intangible oil, gas, or geothermal well drilling and development costs.