J. French Hill

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

Housing for the 21st Century Act This bill revises federal housing programs, including by expanding available financing for affordable housing and providing grants for planning and community development activities. For example, the bill increases the statutory maximum loan limits for mortgage insurance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration for multifamily homes and requires the use of a more specific inflation index for such loans. The bill also increases the maximum eligible income for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (grants to states and localities to support housing for low-income households) and establishes a grant program to assist regional, state, and local entities with strategies to support affordable housing. In addition, the bill exempts certain housing-related activities from the environmental review process, including certain construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of residential buildings; excludes veterans' disability benefits from being considered as income for purposes of determining eligibility for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program; establishes a pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other owners of federally assisted housing to test the efficacy of temperature sensors to support compliance with temperature requirements; eliminates the requirement that manufactured homes must be constructed with a permanent chassis; and authorizes HUD to conduct performance reviews of organizations that provide housing counseling services. The bill also expands oversight of HUD and PHAs, such as by requiring PHAs to post information about contracts on their websites. For more information about this bill, see CRS Report R48849 .

Digital Asset Market Clarity Act

Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 or the CLARITY Act of 2025 This bill establishes a regulatory framework for digital commodities, defined by the bill as digital assets that rely upon a blockchain for their value. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission must generally regulate digital commodities transactions, including digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers. To qualify for trade on an exchange (1) a digital commodity’s blockchain must be mature, or on a blockchain system that has achieved decentralized control as defined by the bill; or (2) the issuer of the digital commodity must file certain reports. The bill establishes requirements for trade monitoring, recordkeeping, and the commingling of customer assets. The bill exempts digital commodities on mature blockchains (and digital commodities on blockchains expected to mature within certain timeframes) from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration requirements if annual sales fall under a certain amount and other requirements are met. The bill provides the SEC with jurisdiction over digital commodity activities and transactions engaged in by certain brokers and dealers on alternative trading systems and by national securities exchanges. Digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers are subject to the Bank Secrecy Act for anti-money laundering and related purposes. The bill also sets forth requirements for alternative trading systems, previously issued digital commodities, and provisional registration until the bill is implemented. For more information on this bill, see CRS Insight IN12583, Crypto Legislation: An Overview of H.R. 3633, the CLARITY Act .

Community Bank Deposit Access Act of 2025

Community Bank Deposit Access Act of 2025 This bill changes the treatment of certain types of deposits so they are no longer classified as brokered deposits. Brokered deposits are funds placed by a broker on behalf of a client in a depository institution to maximize interest rates and for depository insurance purposes. Currently, institutions that accept brokered deposits may be subject to additional oversight. In particular, under the bill, custodial deposits at insured depository institutions with less than $10 billion in total assets shall not be treated as brokered deposits if the deposits do not exceed 20% of the institution’s liabilities. The institution must be well-capitalized and have a specified minimum soundness rating, or be in possession of a waiver from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The bill also generally applies existing interest rate limits applicable to institutions that are not well-capitalized to similar institutions that accept custodial deposits.

Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 6644, with amendment.

I don't have enough information to write an accurate summary. The bill's subjects are listed as "None," and no bill text or description of its provisions has been provided. To write a factual summary explaining what the bill would do and who it affects, I would need access to the actual bill language or its official summary.

Price Stability Act of 2025

The legislation would establish new requirements for the Federal Reserve to prioritize price stability and control inflation as its primary goal, potentially limiting the central bank's focus on employment and economic growth. The bill would require the Fed to report regularly to Congress on its inflation-fighting efforts and could restrict certain monetary policy tools the Fed currently uses to manage the economy. This would affect everyday Americans by influencing interest rates on mortgages, savings accounts, and loans, as well as potentially impacting job creation and wage growth.

Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act

The proposal would allow banks and financial companies to use artificial intelligence tools with fewer regulatory restrictions, aiming to speed up innovation in areas like loan decisions, fraud detection, and investment advice. Financial institutions would have more flexibility to test and deploy AI systems, though they would still need to disclose when they're using AI and manage risks to consumers. This would primarily affect banks, investment firms, and their customers who use financial services.

IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act

The legislation would direct federal funding and resources toward strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through grants, infrastructure improvements, and academic programs. The bill aims to help these institutions expand their research capabilities, upgrade facilities, and increase student support services to improve educational outcomes and economic opportunities for students attending HBCUs.

PROTECT Act

The Department of Homeland Security would be required to create and share guidelines with other government agencies about how to properly protect people's personal information like Social Security numbers and addresses. These best practices would help reduce the risk of data breaches and identity theft involving sensitive citizen information held by federal agencies. The guidance would apply across multiple government departments to establish consistent standards for keeping personal data secure.

Small LENDER Act

Small Lenders Exempt from New Data and Excessive Reporting Act or the Small LENDER Act This bill modifies the requirements for financial institutions to report certain information about small business credit applications to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and extends the timeline for compliance with the CFPB rule with respect to such reporting (i.e., Section 1071 final rule ). (For background about the CFPB rule and subsequent litigation see CRS Report R47788 .) Under the bill, the reporting requirements apply only to financial institutions that originate at least 500 credit transactions to small businesses in each of the preceding two years. The bill further defines small businesses as those with gross annual revenue of $1 million or less. The rule currently establishes a phase-in period that ultimately requires institutions that originate over 100 credit transactions to small businesses to comply with the reporting requirements. The rule also defines small businesses as those with gross annual revenue of $5 million or less. Further, beginning on the date the final CFPB rule was issued (May 31, 2023), the bill provides three years for applicable financial institutions to comply with the rule followed by a two-year safe harbor period during which such institutions are not subject to any penalties for failure to comply with the rule.

Main Street Act

This bill would make it easier for small businesses and community banks to access capital and credit by reducing certain regulatory requirements and expanding lending programs. The changes are designed to help Main Street businesses grow and hire workers by lowering the costs and paperwork involved in getting loans and financing. Community banks and small business owners would be the primary beneficiaries of these financial access improvements.

HBCU Research Capacity Act

This bill would likely provide funding and support to help historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) expand their research programs and facilities. The goal is to strengthen these institutions' ability to conduct scientific research, train students in research fields, and compete for federal research grants alongside other universities. This would benefit HBCU students and faculty by creating more opportunities for advanced research and potentially boosting economic development in communities where these colleges are located.

Ticket to Work Advertisement Act

This bill would require the government to increase advertising and public awareness about the Ticket to Work program, which helps people with disabilities transition from receiving disability benefits to employment by allowing them to test their ability to work without immediately losing their benefits. The goal is to make more disabled workers aware that they can try working while keeping their health insurance and financial support during a trial period. This would primarily affect people receiving Social Security disability benefits who want to return to work.

Countering Captagon and Narcotics Post-Assad Act

This bill would authorize the U.S. government to take action against drug trafficking networks in Syria and the Middle East, particularly targeting the production and distribution of Captagon (an illegal stimulant drug) that has surged since the fall of Assad's regime. The legislation likely aims to disrupt these criminal operations through sanctions, law enforcement cooperation with other countries, and support for regional partners working to stop the drug trade. It would affect international drug trafficking organizations, foreign governments cooperating with the U.S., and potentially American military or intelligence operations in the region.

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.

This bill directs the Forest Service to convey approximately one acre of land to Perry County, Arkansas, upon the request of the county. The county must use the land for public purposes, such as supporting education and youth development. If it ceases to be used for such purposes, then the property must, at the discretion of the Forest Service, revert to the United States. The exact acreage of land to be conveyed must be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Forest Service. The conveyance must be subject to valid existing rights, made without consideration, made by quitclaim deed, and subject to other terms and conditions that the Forest Service considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. As a condition of the conveyance, the county must pay costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of a survey, any environmental analysis or resources survey required under federal law, and any analysis required to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act. The bill prohibits the Forest Service from having to provide any covenant or warranty for the property and improvements conveyed to the county.

Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act of 2025

The bill would allow the United States to provide space technology, expertise, and cooperation to Taiwan to help strengthen its space capabilities and independence. This would affect both American space agencies and companies working with Taiwan, as well as Taiwan's ability to develop its own satellite and space programs. The measure reflects efforts to deepen U.S.-Taiwan ties in the technology and space sectors.

Expressing concerns regarding the urgent and escalating threats facing Coptic Christians.

This resolution expresses concern about the safety and security challenges faced by Coptic Christians, particularly in the Middle East where they face persecution and violence. The measure calls attention to these threats and urges the U.S. government to consider the plight of this religious minority in its foreign policy decisions.

FAIR Exams Act

Fair Audits and Inspections for Regulators’ Exams Act or the FAIR Exams Act This bill establishes new procedures related to the federal examination of financial intuitions. Specifically, the bill establishes the Office of Independent Examination Review within the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to adjudicate appeals and investigate complaints from financial institutions concerning examination reports. Under the bill, financial institutions have the right to obtain an independent review of a material supervisory determination contained in a final report of examination. The bill sets forth provisions regarding hearings and final decisions. The bill also sets deadlines for federal financial regulatory agencies to provide final examination reports and to perform exit interviews of a financial institution. In addition, the agency must list all materials relied upon in support of a material supervisory determination upon the request of the financial institution.

S-CAP Act of 2025

The S-CAP Act would likely establish or modify tax policies, though the specific details aren't clear from the title alone. Based on its referral to the House Ways and Means Committee, it probably affects how individuals or businesses are taxed, potentially involving income tax rates, deductions, or other revenue-related changes that would impact workers, employers, and government funding.

Disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions".

This resolution would block a new rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would regulate how very large banks handle overdraft fees and lending practices. If passed, banks would not have to follow the stricter overdraft protections the agency had proposed, meaning customers could continue facing high fees when their accounts go negative. The measure targets only the largest financial institutions and would prevent changes to how they manage overdraft services.

Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025

This bill would prevent the federal government from charging income taxes and penalties on Americans who are held hostage abroad, recognizing that hostages cannot earn income or manage their finances while in captivity. The measure would allow hostages and their families to avoid tax liability for the years they were detained, reducing the financial burden on people who have already suffered through kidnapping or unlawful imprisonment.