Legislation

The Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act establishes the Marine Energy Acceleration Fund to boost power generation from ocean waves, tides, and currents. This legislation directs significant funding toward demonstration projects that connect to local power grids and supports research and development to improve technology efficiency and lower costs. Furthermore, the bill mandates efforts to assess promising energy sites, streamline the permitting process, and develop a skilled workforce for the emerging marine energy industry.

The PAW Act of 2025, or Protect American Widows Act, amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of "surviving spouse" for tax purposes. This legislation removes the previous two-year limit, allowing individuals to qualify as a surviving spouse for up to five taxable years following the death of their spouse. This change aims to provide extended tax benefits to surviving spouses starting with tax years after December 31, 2024.

The No Pay for Disarray Act mandates a reduction in salary for Members of Congress if a government shutdown occurs. This pay cut equals one day's salary for each day the shutdown is in effect, though this penalty is delayed until after the November 2026 federal elections. A special, temporary withholding and escrow rule applies specifically to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, requiring pay to be returned at the end of that session. A government shutdown is defined as any period where a federal agency ceases operations due to a failure to pass appropriations.

The Colorectal Cancer Payment Fairness Act eliminates the coinsurance requirement for certain colorectal cancer screening tests covered under Medicare. This legislation ensures that Medicare patients will pay 100% of the cost for these vital screenings starting in 2026. The goal is to remove financial barriers to early detection of colorectal cancer.

The Protecting America’s Roads Act establishes stricter requirements for obtaining and maintaining a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), mandating proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence for all applicants. This legislation also requires states to verify non-citizen status through the SAVE system and limits the duration of licenses issued to non-citizens. Furthermore, the Act terminates reciprocity agreements that recognize foreign commercial driver's licenses for operation within the U.S.

The LOAN Act significantly overhauls federal student aid by dramatically expanding Pell Grants, making higher education more accessible through increased funding and eligibility pathways. It also restructures federal student loans by eliminating origination fees, introducing new income-driven repayment plans, and stopping interest capitalization to reduce borrower debt. Furthermore, the bill establishes new fixed interest rate formulas for future loans and creates refinancing options for both existing federal and private student loans. Overall, the legislation aims to lower the cost of college and ease the burden of repayment for millions of borrowers.

The Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act prohibits the President or agency heads from firing, laying off, or removing career civil service employees during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary funding. This protection ensures job security for the career federal workforce, while explicitly excluding political appointees from coverage. The bill clarifies definitions to specify which employees are shielded and which are not.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act establishes new federal standards to increase transparency and fairness for warehouse workers at large companies by mandating disclosure of performance quotas and monitoring data. It guarantees mandatory paid rest breaks, strengthens protections against using quotas to suppress organizing efforts, and introduces new federal ergonomics and safety standards under OSHA. The bill creates a new Department of Labor office to enforce these provisions and invalidates mandatory pre-dispute arbitration for related claims.

This resolution officially recognizes October 2025 as "American Pharmacists Month" to honor the vital contributions of pharmacists nationwide. It acknowledges their role as highly accessible healthcare providers who ensure patients receive safe, affordable, and effective medication care. The measure celebrates the dedication of over 330,000 pharmacists and their staff in protecting public health and managing patient wellness.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to $30,000 during a qualifying shutdown. Additionally, it allows affected employees greater access to TSP hardship withdrawals and loans, and prevents missed TSP loan payments due to a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The RIDE FAST Act extends the authorization of appropriations for crucial intercity passenger rail grants from 2026 to 2032. This change ensures continued federal funding availability for vital passenger rail improvement projects.

The Pay Our Military Act ensures that members of the Armed Forces continue to receive their pay and allowances if a full budget for fiscal year 2026 has not been enacted. This continuing appropriation provides necessary funds for active duty, reserves, and essential civilian support staff. This automatic funding remains in effect until a full appropriation is passed or until January 1, 2027.

The Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act removes the existing restriction that prevents Medicaid from covering medical services for individuals aged 65 and older receiving care in an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD). This change aims to broaden Medicaid eligibility for necessary care within these specialized facilities. These provisions will take effect for services furnished on or after October 1, 2025.

The Stronger Schools Act establishes a competitive grant program for local school districts to enhance physical safety at elementary and secondary schools. Funds must be used to hire armed School Resource Officers and implement single-point entry systems featuring locked waiting rooms and metal detectors for visitor screening. The Secretary of Education will oversee the grant process and report on implementation to Congress within one year of enactment.

The ACPAC Modernization Act updates the membership structure of the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee. This legislation specifically adds "ticket agents" as a required category of members on the committee. This change ensures that ticket agent representatives will now formally advise the government on improving air travel consumer protection.

The No Shame at School Act of 2025 mandates that schools must stop shaming students over unpaid meal debt by prohibiting overt identification or segregation of students who owe fees. This law requires local agencies to actively pursue free meal certification for students with outstanding balances and prevents schools from taking food away after it has been served. Furthermore, it establishes strict rules for debt collection, forbidding communication directed at the child and banning the use of third-party debt collectors.

The Colorectal Cancer Payment Fairness Act eliminates the Medicare coinsurance requirement for certain colorectal cancer screening tests. This legislation removes the existing deadline related to cost-sharing for these screenings. Crucially, starting in 2026, Medicare will cover 100 percent of the cost for these preventative tests.

The Disaster Relief Continuity Act of 2025 ensures FEMA has immediate access to necessary funding to respond to declared disasters if Congress has not yet passed the budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This automatic funding allows essential disaster aid, operational costs, and ongoing recovery projects to continue without interruption. This temporary measure remains in effect until a new budget is passed or until January 1, 2027.

The Passport Sanity Act mandates that the Department of State limit gender designation options on official travel documents to only "male" or "female." This law specifically prohibits the issuance of passports, passport cards, or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad that include an "X" gender marker.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 514 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. The facility will now be known as the "Mildred Joyce Coleman Crump Post Office Building." This action ensures all official records reflect the new name for the Newark post office.