Monday, July 21st, 2025
Rescissions Package: Congress passed H.R.4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, that would rescind a total of $9 billion in previously appropriated funding, including (The measure now goes to the President):
$7.9 billion in foreign aid and
$1.1 billion provided for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.
It would also rescind:
$1 million for voter ID in Haiti
$6 million for "Net Zero Cities" in Mexico
$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
$2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa
$500,000 for electric busses in Rwanda
$33,000 for "Being LGBTI in the Caribbean"
$643,000 for LGBTQI+ programs in the Western Balkans
$5.1 million to strengthen the "resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements"
$135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Department of Defense Appropriations: The House passed H.R.4016 (221-209), which allocates roughly $832 billion in funding for defense programs for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed Thursday would boost funding for active, reserve, and National Guard military personnel by $6.6 billion above current levels, to a total of $189 billion. It also allows for an increase of 3.8 percent in basic pay for military personnel that would take effect beginning in January.
It calls for $174 billion for procurement, up $6.5 billion from current levels, and would provide $283 billion for operation and maintenance, or a roughly $7 billion decrease below 2025 levels. The bill also includes about $148 billion for research, development, test and evaluation, as well as boosts for Defense Department health programs and overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid programs.
Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks: The House passed H.R.1709, which requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to examine and report on the cybersecurity of mobile service networks and the vulnerability of these networks and mobile devices to cyberattacks and surveillance conducted by adversaries.
Consumer Safety Technology: The House passed H.R.1770, which proposes a pilot program for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and directs the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and report on blockchain technology and digital tokens. It focuses on leveraging technology to enhance consumer product safety.
Anti-CBDC Surveillance State: The House passed H.R.1919 (219-210), which prevents the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) directly to individuals or through intermediaries. This is intended to protect financial privacy and prevent the government from potentially using a CBDC for surveillance or control of individual financial activity. It also requires that Congress pass legislation authorizing any government-created digital dollar, safeguarding private sector innovation and any future development of digital cash.
Digital Asset Market Clarity: The House passed H.R.3633 (294-134), which establishes a regulatory framework for digital assets. The bill aims to provide clarity on digital asset regulation, potentially shifting oversight from the SEC to the CFTC for certain assets. The industry has long sought legislation to help delineate when digital assets are considered securities or commodities and, as a result, which financial regulator they fall under.
Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins: The House passed S.1582, which would establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, digital assets designed to maintain a stable value linked to a national currency like the U.S. dollar. It aims to provide clarity and oversight for these digital assets, fostering innovation while prioritizing consumer protection and strengthening the U.S. dollar's reserve currency status. The bill was passed by the Senate and is now headed to President Trump who is expected to sign it.
