Legislation

The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act mandates that essential HIV prevention services, including FDA-approved medications like PrEP and PEP, must be covered at no cost to the patient across private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. This law eliminates financial barriers such as deductibles, copays, and prior authorization requirements for these preventive treatments and necessary related care. The goal is to ensure universal, barrier-free access to critical HIV prevention tools.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 aims to combat the nation's leading weather-related killer by establishing a comprehensive federal strategy against extreme heat. The bill creates an Interagency Committee and a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to coordinate research, data sharing, and preparedness efforts across government agencies. Furthermore, it authorizes significant financial assistance for community projects focused on heat resilience, prioritizing historically disadvantaged areas. The Act also mandates a national study to identify critical gaps in current heat response policies and infrastructure.

The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 updates federal food assistance by basing benefit calculations on a new, higher "low-cost food plan" standard. It also modifies income calculations by removing the cap on excess shelter deductions and establishing a standardized, inflation-adjusted medical expense deduction. Finally, this Act completely eliminates the time limit restrictions previously placed on receiving food assistance benefits.

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act officially recognizes the vital role of cooperative management, particularly volunteer partnerships, in maintaining National Scenic and Historic Trails. This bill formally designates operational partners, like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, to share management responsibilities with federal agencies. It also establishes processes for prioritizing land protection and assessing the economic impact of these trails on local communities. Ultimately, the Act aims to strengthen the framework for long-term stewardship and development of the National Trails System.

The Telehealth Modernization Act primarily extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities, such as geographic and audio-only options, until September 30, 2027. The bill also extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver through 2030 and mandates a comprehensive study comparing home-based and traditional hospital care. Additionally, it introduces new program integrity measures for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and requires guidance to ensure language access for Limited English Proficiency patients utilizing telehealth.

The HANDS Act mandates that life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs be provided at no cost to at-risk individuals leaving hospitals, emergency departments, or ambulatory surgical centers starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is established across major federal health programs, including Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and TRICARE, eliminating patient cost-sharing. The bill also directs federal agencies to issue guidance to help states and hospitals safely implement the distribution of these drugs.

The WIRELESS Leadership Act overhauls local zoning authority regarding the construction and modification of wireless service facilities. It establishes strict, non-extendable deadlines for local governments to approve or deny applications, leading to automatic approval if deadlines are missed. The bill mandates non-discrimination, limits local regulation of radio frequency emissions, and requires fees to be cost-based, while preserving local control over structural and aesthetic standards.

The FLIGHT Act mandates that major airlines promptly notify passengers via email or text message when a domestic or international flight faces a departure or taxi delay of 15 minutes or more. Airlines must provide updates every 15 minutes, including the new estimated departure and arrival times. This new federal requirement ensures travelers are kept informed about significant flight delays.

The Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act strengthens privacy protections for individuals receiving loans or payments from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This legislation prohibits FSA employees from sharing specific borrower data with certain government personnel unless the information is aggregated or the borrower provides voluntary consent. The Act establishes significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for intentional violations of these new privacy standards.

The CDFI Fund Transparency Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to testify before key Congressional committees regarding the operations of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. This testimony is mandated only when requested jointly by the chairs of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. This ensures regular oversight of the Fund's activities by Congress.

The Open Payments Expansion Act mandates that pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, as well as Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), must annually report all direct and indirect payments made to qualifying patient advocacy organizations. This new reporting requirement aims to increase transparency regarding financial relationships between industry and patient support groups. These reports must detail the recipient organization's name and the exact dollar amount of the payment.

The Protecting Girls’ Sports for Military Kids Act prohibits male students from participating on female sports teams at schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). This legislation establishes clear biological definitions for "male" and "female" within the context of DoDEA athletic programs. The goal is to ensure that sports designated for female students are exclusively for those who meet the defined biological criteria.

The Stop the Rate Hikes Act limits electric utilities to requesting a retail rate increase only once per year. This measure aims to provide consumers with greater stability by restricting how frequently utility companies can seek to raise electricity rates.

The Rivers Law amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to implement new mandatory safety standards for funded child care providers. This legislation prohibits the operation of swimming pools on child care premises. Furthermore, it requires all covered facilities to install alarms on all doors and windows for enhanced security.

The Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act (COUNT Act) mandates that federal agencies must assist the Department of Commerce in gathering comprehensive administrative records to accurately determine the citizenship status of the U.S. population. This data collection effort aims to provide policymakers with precise facts regarding immigration's impact. Furthermore, the bill requires the addition of a citizenship question to the 2030 decennial census and terminates the Census Bureau's use of differential privacy for data protection six months after enactment.

The Tariff Revenue Used to Secure Tomorrow (TRUST) Act establishes a dedicated Tariff Trust Fund within the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive excess tariff revenue collected in any fiscal year immediately following two consecutive years of budget deficits, starting in fiscal year 2026. All money deposited into this fund must be exclusively used for reducing the national deficit.

The Defense Contractor Competition Act mandates that the Comptroller General conduct a comprehensive assessment of the competitive effects resulting from mergers and acquisitions within the defense industry over the past decade. This report must analyze the effectiveness of post-merger remedies, information sharing between regulatory bodies, and the impact of vertical integration on competition. Ultimately, the Act aims to ensure a sustainable and competitive defense industrial base by reviewing past consolidation efforts.

The Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025 mandates that defense contractors provide the Department of Defense (DoD) fair and reasonable access to necessary repair materials, including parts, tools, and technical information, under terms equal to those offered to authorized third parties. This act requires the DoD to review existing contracts to remove intellectual property barriers preventing the military from performing its own maintenance and repairs on acquired equipment. The goal is to ensure the DoD can efficiently maintain and fix the advanced systems it purchases.

The Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act updates the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) requirement for updating its advanced manufacturing strategic plan. This bill changes the required update frequency from every three years to every four years. This adjustment aligns NIST's planning cycle directly with the established schedule for the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.

The Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 reauthorizes and significantly improves the Water Source Protection Program to better safeguard national forest watersheds. This legislation expands eligibility for water protection projects to include more local entities and private partners, while prioritizing work that builds resilience against drought and wildfire. The bill also sets stricter standards to ensure forest management activities do not degrade long-term watershed health and increases annual funding authorization for these critical restoration efforts. Importantly, the Act explicitly preserves all existing state and federal water rights and laws.