Legislation

The Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to include rural areas, not just highly rural ones. It broadens the range of eligible grant recipients to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations. The bill also increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000, with a possible increase to $80,000 for vehicle purchases needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and authorizes necessary funding by removing the previous funding limit.

The ARCH Act extends Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) and Medicare low-volume hospital (LVH) payments through fiscal year 2031, ensuring continued financial support for rural hospitals. It also mandates a GAO report to Congress analyzing rural hospital classifications and recommending improvements for financial sustainability and healthcare access in rural areas.

The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 aims to improve pediatric drug development and research. It refines the enforcement of pediatric study requirements, especially for orphan drugs, by requiring the FDA to provide opportunities for companies to respond to noncompliance allegations and limiting required pediatric assessments for certain drugs. The Act also directs the FDA to enhance reporting on PREA enforcement and authorizes funding for pediatric research at the NIH. Finally, it requires the Comptroller General to report on the impact of these changes on rare disease drug development.

The Flatside Wilderness Additions Act amends the Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984, adding approximately 2,212 acres to the Flatside Wilderness in the Ouachita National Forest. It also renames the Flatside Wilderness area to the Flatside-Bethune Wilderness. The Act does not impact the Secretary of Agriculture's authority related to managing fire, insects, and diseases within these wilderness areas.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act enhances U.S. trade laws to counteract unfair trade practices by foreign countries. It strengthens the ability of the International Trade Commission to address successive instances of unfair trade, expands countervailing duty authority, and prevents duty evasion. The Act also counters currency undervaluation and sets clear guidelines for implementation and applicability.

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act aims to combat human trafficking by establishing a demonstration project that trains students, teachers, and school personnel to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of human trafficking and child exploitation. The Act authorizes grants to eligible entities for implementing training programs and requires data collection and reporting to Congress on the project's outcomes, including the number of survivors identified and served. This act allocates $15 million annually from 2026 to 2029 to support these initiatives.

The "Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act" aims to support the mushroom industry by directing the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop insurance policies for mushroom growing media and mushroom production, addressing risks like pests, pathogens, and weather-related events. This includes evaluating best practices, coverage options, and streamlined reporting to protect against revenue losses. A report on the research findings and recommendations must be submitted to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees within two years.

The "Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to change how Medicare pays for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs. It mandates separate billing codes for these wheelchairs based on their construction material and ensures suppliers of titanium or carbon fiber wheelchairs are paid without payment reductions. This bill also lets suppliers charge beneficiaries the price difference between the Medicare payment and the wheelchair's cost, with potential requirements for suppliers to disclose out-of-pocket expenses to beneficiaries beforehand.

The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to monitor and counter transnational repression activities, such as harassment and intimidation, targeting individuals in the U.S. by foreign governments. The working group will coordinate with intelligence agencies, review information from various partners, and provide annual reports to Congress on its findings and efforts. The Act also directs research and development into technologies to counter transnational repression, ensuring all activities comply with constitutional and privacy protections.

The Strategic Ports Reporting Act requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to map and assess strategic ports, especially regarding Chinese control or investment. It mandates a report to Congress detailing the importance of these ports, potential threats, and strategies to ensure U.S. access and security, including alternatives to Chinese involvement. The Act aims to safeguard U.S. national security and economic interests related to critical maritime infrastructure.

This bill recognizes the critical role of Black midwives in addressing the maternal health crisis, particularly for Black women who face disproportionately high mortality rates. It designates March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day and urges federal, state, and local governments to support and invest in Black midwifery through funding, training, and policy changes. The bill aims to reduce racial disparities in maternal health by increasing access to culturally relevant care and enabling midwives to practice to the full extent of their training. It also seeks to eliminate barriers to entry into the profession and promote equitable healthcare policies.

The "Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act" would make June 14, recognized as both Donald Trump's birthday and Flag Day, a legal public holiday. This act amends Title 5 of the United States Code to officially include "Trump's Birthday and Flag Day" in the list of federal holidays.

The "DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act" mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) procure ballistic resistant body armor specifically designed to protect the body shapes of all agents and officers, ensuring proper fit, coverage, and enhanced protection against bullet redirection. The body armor must be certified by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and meet specific ballistic resistance standards, including rigorous testing methods. The Act requires annual reports on the issuance and compliance of body armor, particularly for female agents and officers. All DHS agents and officers requiring body armor for their duties must be issued compliant gear within three years of the Act's enactment.

This resolution requests the President and Secretary of the Treasury to submit documents to the House of Representatives regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to Treasury payment systems and taxpayer information. The request includes communications and documents related to DOGE, Elon Musk, or his team's access to these systems, as well as any screenshots of Treasury payment systems data. The information must be provided within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The Aviation Workforce Development Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow expenses for aviation maintenance and commercial pilot courses to be considered qualified higher education expenses for qualified tuition programs. This change applies to distributions made after the enactment of this law, aiming to support workforce development in the aviation sector.

The "Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act" prioritizes broadband projects for precision agriculture on cropland and ranchland, and increases broadband availability in rural ports. It increases the maximum grant amount for projects serving rural areas and requires the Secretary to confirm the eligibility of unserved rural communities for funding. The Act also mandates communication with the FCC to ensure service levels align with universal service standards, requires timely feedback on funding applications, and sets aside funds for oversight and accountability.

The "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025" mandates federal agencies to report annually on taxpayer-funded projects that are significantly behind schedule or have exceeded their original cost estimates by at least $1 billion. This information will be compiled into a report by the Office of Management and Budget and submitted to Congress and made public on their website. The report will include project descriptions, costs, timelines, and reasons for delays or overruns. This aims to increase transparency and accountability in government spending.

The "End Tobacco Loopholes Act" increases excise taxes on tobacco and nicotine products to create tax equity across all such products, including roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco, cigars, and nicotine used in vaping. It adjusts these tax rates for inflation starting in 2026 and imposes floor stocks taxes on existing inventories, while also providing a credit to offset these taxes. The Act sets specific effective dates for the tax changes, with a transition rule for businesses manufacturing or importing taxable nicotine.

The "New Health Options Act of 2025" aims to lower health insurance premiums and promote access to affordable care. It establishes a reinsurance program to help insurers cover high-cost claims, allows out-of-network costs to count towards deductibles under certain conditions, and requires providers to disclose when a patient's out-of-pocket cost is higher than the cash price. The bill also allows insurers to opt out of the single risk pool, and when they do, removes the standard limits on how much premiums can vary based on age.

The "Child Tax Credit Relief for Puerto Rican Families Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure equitable treatment for Puerto Rican residents regarding the refundable portion of the child tax credit, starting after 2024. It modifies the calculation of Social Security taxes used to determine the refundable amount of the credit, enhancing the potential benefit for eligible families.