Legislation

This bill aims to strengthen support for homeless veterans by increasing the authorization of appropriations for comprehensive service programs. It extends the funding authorization through fiscal year 2024 and sets a specific funding target of \$350 million for fiscal year 2025. Moving forward, the bill authorizes necessary funding for these vital services indefinitely.

The Measuring State Healthcare Freedom Act mandates a 10-year annual study by the Department of Health and Human Services to track healthcare competition and consolidation across every state. This study will analyze professional licensing rules, major mergers, state regulations, and market concentration using metrics like the HHI. The findings and raw data must be reported to Congress and made publicly available each year.

The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act aims to enhance national security by updating guidelines for synthetic DNA production. It mandates research to improve the accuracy and reliability of nucleic acid screening tools used in biomanufacturing. The bill also establishes a stakeholder consortium to develop best practices and roadmaps for these critical biosecurity measures.

The Green Star Families Act establishes a new, free counseling program for the next of kin and former volunteer caregivers of veterans who die by suicide. This program mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs make these critical mental health services easily accessible to eligible survivors. The VA is required to implement and publicize this support within 90 days of the Act's enactment.

The No Dollars to Uyghur Forced Labor Act prohibits the State Department and USAID from funding any program or contract that knowingly involves goods or merchandise produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Exceptions require written assurances from partners guaranteeing no XUAR goods are used and prior notification to key Congressional committees. The Secretary of State must also submit annual reports detailing enforcement challenges and violations.

The Preventing Hospital Overbilling of Medicare Act aims to stop hospitals from charging higher, site-specific rates for services provided at distant outpatient locations. This legislation tightens the definition of an off-campus department and mandates that these locations receive unique identification numbers for billing purposes starting in 2026. The bill grants the Secretary of HHS authority to enforce fair payment policies and encourages states to adopt model laws to ensure private insurers also reject improper billing claims.

The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 reaffirms the U.S. policy to strictly enforce existing sanctions against Iran due to its destabilizing activities, including weapons development and support for terrorism. This bill specifically removes the automatic expiration date ("sunset") from key provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. By repealing the sunset clause, the Act ensures these critical sanctions remain permanently in effect.

The Improving Reentry for District of Columbia Residents in the Bureau of Prisons Act of 2025 aims to keep certain D.C. residents incarcerated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) closer to home. This bill generally requires that covered individuals be housed in BOP facilities no more than 250 miles from the District of Columbia. Exceptions to this distance limit require the individual's consent or a documented finding of extraordinary circumstances reported to Congress.

The No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act prohibits the federal government from providing funds to colleges and universities that require students or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This measure ensures that institutions of higher education cannot mandate vaccination for enrollment, employment, or access to services without risking the loss of federal funding.

This Act mandates a comprehensive study by the GAO, in collaboration with the FTC and DOJ, to investigate the impact of specific anti-competitive contract clauses used between health insurers and providers. The review will assess how clauses like anti-steering, anti-tiering, all-or-nothing, and gag clauses affect healthcare costs, consolidation, and patient access. Furthermore, the study must recommend necessary legislative or administrative changes to strengthen the FTC and DOJ's ability to enforce antitrust laws regarding these agreements.

This resolution establishes the expedited process for the House of Representatives to consider and vote on two separate bills. The first bill proposes renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." The second bill imposes restrictions on Department of Homeland Security funding for higher education institutions associated with Confucius Institutes. The resolution strictly limits debate time and waives standard procedural hurdles for both measures.

The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act expands eligibility for services under the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) to include spouses of veterans and service members. This amendment specifically defines "eligible persons" as spouses who meet certain criteria or are the spouse of someone who died while serving in the Armed Forces. This change ensures that surviving spouses receive crucial career support through the DVOP.

The Economic Espionage Prevention Act addresses national security concerns stemming from foreign adversaries stealing U.S. trade secrets and supporting illicit military activities abroad. This bill mandates a report detailing China's role in supplying Russia's defense industry with critical components, including semiconductors. Furthermore, it grants the President authority to impose asset freezes and visa restrictions on foreign entities engaged in economic espionage or violating U.S. export controls.

The Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP) Act of 2025 establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the EPA to help eligible entities develop comprehensive climate adaptation plans. These grants prioritize applications from environmental justice communities and require applicants to detail community demographics and risk assessments related to climate change impacts on people, ecosystems, and infrastructure. The resulting plans must outline specific actions to address identified risks and integrate with existing local planning documents.

This resolution officially supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6th through May 12th. It recognizes the critical, front-line contributions nurses make to patient safety, healthcare quality, and public health across the nation. The bill encourages the public to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor the profession.

This joint resolution formally recognizes the critical importance and exceptional service of the United States Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. It expresses gratitude for the dedication, bravery, and sacrifices made by SOF personnel and their families in executing the nation's most demanding missions. Furthermore, the resolution supports the designation of an annual "SOF Week" to honor their vital contributions to national security.

The National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025 establishes an independent Office of the National Veterans Advocate within the VA, reporting directly to the Secretary. This new office will monitor VA operations, identify systemic veteran issues, and make direct, unreviewed recommendations to Congress for improvements. It also restructures advocacy by ensuring dedicated local advocates are available based on veteran enrollment numbers.

The STABLE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal framework for regulating payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to maintain 1:1 reserves in safe assets and adhere to strict transparency and anti-money laundering standards. The bill strictly limits issuance to approved entities, whether federally or state-qualified, and clarifies that these dollar-backed digital assets are not considered securities. Furthermore, it mandates robust consumer protection rules, ensuring customer assets are segregated and prioritized in bankruptcy proceedings.

This bill establishes the expedited process for the House of Representatives to immediately consider and vote on a joint resolution regarding the President's national emergency declaration of February 1, 2025. It waives standard procedural hurdles to ensure a swift debate and final vote on the resolution. The measure also sets strict time limits for debate and dictates the procedure for notifying the Senate once the House has acted.

This resolution expresses the support of Congress for designating July 16, 2025, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day." It highlights the devastating impact and slow progress in treating glioblastoma, the deadliest common brain tumor. The bill urges increased public awareness, research funding, and collaboration to develop better treatments and improve patient outcomes.