Legislation

The "Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025" allows individuals who underwent gender-transition procedures as minors to sue medical practitioners for damages resulting from those procedures up to 30 years after turning 18. It also protects medical practitioners' freedom to not perform gender-transition procedures and prohibits federal funding to states that require them. The bill defines "gender-transition procedure" and "biological sex," and specifies that the Act will take effect immediately upon enactment.

The "ARTIST Act" amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, to protect the cultural practices and livelihoods of Alaska Natives who create authentic handicrafts and clothing from marine mammal parts. It defines "authentic Alaska Native article of handicrafts and clothing" and "marine mammal ivory", and it exempts Alaska Natives residing on the Alaskan coast from certain restrictions when harvesting marine mammals for subsistence or crafting purposes. The Act allows for the interstate sale of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts and clothing and restricts states from banning the import, sale, or trade of marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen used in these items.

The "Pregnancy Is Not an Illness Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from classifying pregnancy as an illness when approving abortion drugs or setting risk management strategies for these drugs. It invalidates any prior abortion drug approvals that were based on classifying pregnancy as an illness, including the approval of mifepristone.

The "Defund Planned Parenthood Act" prohibits the federal government from providing any funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates. This bill aims to eliminate all federal financial support for the organization and its related entities.

The "FLASH Act of 2025" amends the Public Health Service Act to enhance the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority's (BARDA) ability to rapidly acquire critical medical supplies and countermeasures. It broadens the scope of permissible tests and prototypes, allows follow-on production contracts, permits purchases for experimental purposes, and authorizes the acquisition of innovative commercial products and services. The Act also introduces requirements for fixed-price contracts, congressional notification for large contracts, and defines "innovative" technologies.

This bill amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand eligibility and increase compensation for individuals affected by radiation exposure from Manhattan Project waste and uranium mining. It extends the claim filing period, allows for the use of affidavits as evidence, and establishes a grant program for studying the health impacts of uranium mining. The bill also addresses compensation for those present downwind of atmospheric nuclear testing, and directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a cooperative agreement to protect human and ecological health at the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.

The "MAKERS Act" directs the National Science Foundation to award grants supporting research and development in makerspaces, with the goal of enhancing STEM education, workforce skills, and community engagement. Priority is given to applicants that partner with workforce development organizations, serve high-need areas, or are minority-serving institutions or community colleges, especially those in rural communities. These grants will fund research on makerspace effectiveness, equipment purchases, and other related activities to foster a skilled STEM workforce.

This bill allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart after 9/11 to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to eligible family members. It outlines the terms of benefit usage, including age limits for children, and what happens to the benefits in the event of the veteran's or dependent's death. The Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Defense, will create regulations for this program.

The Accountability for Veterans Act mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deliver a report to Congress. This report will address the backlog of disability claims appeals, ways to improve resources for service members and their spouses in the Transition Assistance Program, and management issues impacting the VA's lowest-rated health care systems. The report is due within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act" allows state, tribal, and local governments in North Carolina to be reimbursed for repairing or replacing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, even with pre-existing damage, if they are the sole access to homes or essential services. Reimbursement requires government inspection, maintaining access during repairs, cost documentation, and adherence to regulations. Individuals who already received disaster assistance for road or bridge repairs can choose to continue with that assistance or return the funds to be eligible for reimbursement under this act.

The "James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell Congressional Gold Medal Act" posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, the only civilian members of Andrews' Raiders, for their extraordinary bravery and service to the Union during the Civil War. The medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display, with the hope that it will be prominently featured at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum. The Act also authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to offset production costs.

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" aims to prevent financial and material support from foreign countries and NGOs to the Taliban, especially from those receiving U.S. aid. It mandates the Secretary of State to identify entities supporting the Taliban, develop a strategy to discourage such support, and report regularly to Congress on the strategy's implementation and impact. The Act also requires reports on U.S.-funded cash assistance programs in Afghanistan and the status of the Afghan Fund, including measures to prevent Taliban access to these funds.

The Neighbors Not Enemies Act repeals the Alien Enemies Act, which granted the president broad authority to detain or remove citizens of hostile nations during times of war or declared invasion. This repeal eliminates the possibility of using this outdated law to target individuals based on their national origin during conflict.

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985, modifying how the Secretary of Agriculture manages non-federal contributions for conservation programs. It allows the creation of dedicated sub-accounts for each conservation program to receive funds. The bill also removes several existing requirements related to the use and management of these contributions.

This resolution designates February 16, 2025, as "National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day" to honor her advocacy for social equality and civil rights for Alaska Native and Native American communities. It recognizes her pivotal role in the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 and encourages the public to remember her legacy by advancing equality.

This resolution marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its people's resistance. It rejects Russia's territorial claims, encourages continued support for Ukraine's defense and democratic efforts, and emphasizes Ukraine's role in determining its future. The resolution also commends efforts to support Ukraine's defense, human rights, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" seeks to restrict federal funding to foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities involved in such activities. It expands existing policies to include a broader range of organizations and activities, including counseling, lobbying, and training. The bill also requires domestic organizations receiving federal funds to maintain complete separation from abortion-related activities. The goal is to codify these restrictions to ensure consistent application across different presidential administrations.

The "SEWER Act" aims to enhance public health emergency preparedness by expanding the National Wastewater Surveillance System to detect and monitor infectious diseases through wastewater. It authorizes funding of $150 million per year from 2026 to 2030 for these activities, while ensuring that participation from wastewater utilities and service providers remains voluntary.

The "Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve payment accuracy in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It sets the quality control system tolerance level for excluding small errors at $0 beginning in fiscal year 2025 and increases the error threshold from 10% to 25%. The bill requires payment error rate adjustments based on the percentage of overpayments recovered by state agencies, and mandates that state agencies actively pursue recouping overpayments made to recipients.

The FIZZ-NO Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing soda. Soda is defined as any carbonated beverage with more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving. This act will go into effect 180 days after enactment.