Legislation

The Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act renews the popular program offering free access to national parks and federal recreation sites for eligible youth. This reauthorization specifically targets fifth graders or 10- and 11-year-old home-schooled learners. The bill authorizes $25 million annually to support the program, including funding for outreach and transportation assistance for underserved communities.

This bill reauthorizes and extends funding for the crucial telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs through fiscal year 2030. It secures \$42,050,000 annually for these programs to continue supporting and expanding telehealth infrastructure nationwide.

The SPEED and Reliability Act of 2025 overhauls the federal permitting process for major electric transmission lines managed by FERC. It establishes new criteria for approving projects that enhance national reliability, reduce bottlenecks, and benefit consumers. The bill mandates that FERC actively consider landowner input and ensures that project costs are fairly allocated only to the customers who benefit from the upgrades. Finally, it clarifies lead agency roles for federal approvals and sets deadlines for coordination.

The National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research into the causes, consequences, and prevention of gun violence. This bill repeals previous restrictions that limited data collection and research by agencies like the ATF, CDC, and NIH. It establishes a new National Gun Violence Research Program to coordinate efforts, fund grants through agencies like the NSF and HHS, and develop voluntary safety standards through NIST.

The PEACE Act of 2025 imposes strict new financial sanctions on foreign banks knowingly dealing with sanctioned Russian entities following escalating attacks on Ukraine. It mandates the Treasury Department to seize specific Russian Central Bank assets held in the U.S. and transfer them to a fund supporting Ukraine. The Act also requires a review of major Russian energy companies and includes provisions for presidential waivers and a sunset clause tied to Russia ceasing destabilizing actions.

The Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025 secures vital funding for the Healthy Start Initiative, a program dedicated to improving maternal and child health outcomes. This legislation specifically authorizes a consistent annual appropriation of \$145,000,000 for the program through fiscal year 2030. This reauthorization ensures predictable budgetary support for this critical public health effort.

The NICS Data Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that the Attorney General annually report data on all failed firearm background checks conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This report must be submitted to Congressional Judiciary Committees. The required data breakdown includes demographic information such as race, age, and sex, where available.

The Black Vulture Relief Act authorizes livestock producers and their employees to take action against black vultures that pose an imminent threat to their livestock. This permission overrides certain existing regulations but strictly prohibits the use of poison. Those who take vultures under this authority must submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once the required reporting form is made available.

The Protect Your PIN Act of 2025 updates existing law to ensure local law enforcement receives dedicated funding to combat identity theft. This bill specifically amends the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 to include identity theft within the scope of eligible cybercrime grants. By defining identity theft for grant purposes, the Act broadens how federal funds can be used to investigate and prosecute these crimes at the local level.

The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 establishes a new commission within the Department of Agriculture to study and recommend improvements to federal policy regarding Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). This group, composed of government, industry, and community representatives, will assess how BECCS development impacts local economies, forest health, and wildfire management. The Commission must deliver a comprehensive report to Congress within one year outlining policy suggestions to expand BECCS use, including its role in powering data centers.

The REMIT Act significantly increases the excise tax on remittance transfers sent abroad by U.S. persons from 1% to 15%. This new tax is waived if the sender is verified as a U.S. citizen or national by a qualified money transfer provider. U.S. citizens who pay the tax can claim it back as a refundable income tax credit, subject to new reporting requirements for both senders and transfer companies.

The Firearm Due Process Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen due process rights for individuals challenging denials in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It mandates expedited court hearings for record correction lawsuits and shifts the burden of proof onto the government to demonstrate why a person should be ineligible to own a firearm. Additionally, the bill requires the FBI to submit annual reports detailing the outcomes and timelines of all NICS record challenges.

The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends crucial grant programs designed to bolster rural healthcare infrastructure through 2030. This legislation mandates that recipients of rural health outreach and network development grants must actively involve underserved residents in the planning and execution of their projects. The bill ensures continued federal support for improving access to quality care in America's rural communities.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend certain leave benefits currently available to commissioned officers in the Army to commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and their beneficiaries. It directly incorporates leave provisions from Title 10 of the U.S. Code into the PHS framework. The legislation also repeals an outdated section of the Public Health Service Act.

This bill establishes a federal grant program to help states implement tuition-free community college for eligible students. States receiving funds must create comprehensive plans to align education with workforce needs, prioritize credential attainment, and provide robust student support services. The legislation also mandates subgrants for institutions to offer wraparound services and emergency aid to ensure student persistence and completion. Finally, the bill requires extensive annual reporting and public data dashboards to track the program's impact on enrollment, completion, and employment outcomes.

The Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act ensures that veterans' disability compensation or pension payments are excluded when determining income eligibility for low-income housing tax credits and related rental project bonds. This change prevents veterans from being penalized for their service-related benefits when applying for affordable housing assistance. The Act takes effect immediately upon passage.

The Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act establishes an Advisory Committee on Falls Prevention within the Administration on Aging to coordinate federal efforts and develop a national plan to reduce falls among older adults. This committee will evaluate existing programs and recommend priority actions, including pilot programs for Medicare coverage of home modifications to prevent falls. The Assistant Secretary will also submit regular reports to Congress on national progress and recommendations for reducing the financial burden of falls.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the regulatory pathway for biosimilar biological products by making technical and structural updates to existing law. This legislation clarifies when a biosimilar is automatically deemed "interchangeable" with its reference product, protecting existing exclusivity periods. Furthermore, it updates conforming language across federal drug laws and clarifies pediatric testing requirements for biosimilar applications.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.