Legislation

The Government Shutdown Efficiency Act grants the President authority to sell federal real property during a lapse in appropriations to fund essential, non-furloughed federal employees. Funds from these sales can also be used for the purchase of Greenland, but sales to designated foreign adversary countries are strictly prohibited. Employees paid through these sales will not receive subsequent back pay.

The Appraisal Industry Improvement Act aims to strengthen the appraisal profession by setting new competency and education standards for appraisers handling FHA-insured mortgages. It also updates requirements for appraisal management companies and expands the national registry to include state credentialed trainee appraisers. Furthermore, the bill authorizes grants to support appraiser workforce development and expands representation on the Appraisal Subcommittee.

This bill mandates an annual increase in compensation rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Effective December 1st each year, these rates will automatically rise by the same percentage as the Social Security Act benefit increase. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to publish these adjusted compensation and dependency/indemnity rates annually.

This Act mandates the inclusion of Puerto Rico in the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, starting in fiscal year 2026. This ensures that vital substance use and health data is collected specifically for the territory.

The Medicare Advantage Integrity Act of 2025 aims to adjust Medicare Advantage benchmark payment levels to ensure fairer geographic adjustments. This legislation establishes a minimum geographic adjustment floor for calculating payments starting in 2026. Furthermore, it mandates that at least 50% of any resulting payment increase must be dedicated to covering basic patient benefits.

This bill amends the Bank Secrecy Act to exempt transactions involving cash reward payments made by crime stopper organizations from standard currency transaction reporting requirements. This change specifically applies to payments made by these nonprofit organizations in exchange for crime-related information. The goal is to streamline reporting for these specific reward transactions.

The Sgt. Walter F. Hartnett IV Green Star Veterans Service Act establishes the "Green Star Service Flag" to honor the next of kin of veterans who died by suicide on or after September 11, 2001. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to design and designate this flag for eligible next of kin to display. The Act also sets regulations for manufacturing and selling the authorized flag.

This bill requires the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Education to submit a joint report to Congress concerning childcare for veteran families. The report must assess the current availability, accessibility, and affordability of childcare options. It will also identify existing gaps and evaluate barriers, such as cost and distance, preventing veteran families from accessing necessary care.

The Veterans Bill of Rights Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide every veteran with a comprehensive, published Bill of Rights detailing their entitlements. This bill outlines specific rights regarding fair treatment, access to quality healthcare, privacy, and transparent claims processing. While establishing these standards, the Act explicitly states it does not create any new enforceable legal rights against the United States. The VA must also establish a public reporting mechanism for compliance and address veteran complaints within 30 days.

The Fair Aviation in Restrictions and Emergencies (FARE) Act prevents the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from halting commercial flights during a funding lapse unless all comparable private jet flights are also grounded in the same area. This ensures commercial operations continue unless specific, essential private flights are also restricted. Exceptions exist for flights related to public safety, government business, medical needs, and emergency relief.

The Right to Representation for Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Act of 2025 grants eligible VA employees the right to have a representative present during any examination that they believe could lead to disciplinary action. This representation must be requested by the employee and will occur during duty time if applicable. The bill specifically defines which VA employees are covered by this new right.

The Keep Healthcare Affordable Act extends and enhances premium tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code through 2030. This legislation increases the affordability assistance amounts and modifies eligibility rules for higher-income taxpayers. Specifically, it raises the maximum household income percentage for credit eligibility up to 1000 percent through 2029.

The Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act designates services provided by the Farm Services Agency (FSA) as essential during a government shutdown. This ensures that FSA officers and employees can continue their work, recognizing their services as necessary for protecting human life and property.

The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2025 aims to improve veterans benefits for certain individuals who served in the forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts. This legislation amends existing law to expand eligibility criteria and mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs consider alternative documentation when verifying service. Furthermore, the Act requires an annual report to Congress detailing the number of applicants and approvals for these benefits.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the United States officially recognizes the State of Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. It details extensive evidence supporting this finding, including mass casualties, systematic destruction of infrastructure, and severe humanitarian crisis. Consequently, the bill calls for the immediate halt of all U.S. military and financial assistance to Israel until compliance with international court orders is verified. Furthermore, it demands the U.S. use its leverage to support international investigations and ensure robust funding for humanitarian aid through UNRWA.

This Act authorizes the construction of a new Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in the Rio Grande Valley sector of Texas, pending Congressional appropriations. Upon construction, the facility will be officially named the Sgt. Alfredo Freddy Gonzalez Memorial Veterans Hospital.

The Stuck On Hold Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implement automated systems to inform callers of their estimated wait times on customer service lines. If the wait exceeds ten minutes, callers must be offered an automated callback option. The VA is also required to issue guidance aimed at reducing average wait times to ten minutes or less.

The Veterans Transition Support Act of 2025 expands the existing Solid Start program to enhance outreach to specific separating service members. This legislation mandates proactive contact between 210 and 120 days before separation to inform members about transitional health care and provide disability claim assistance resources. The program must also incorporate suicide prevention resources into its outreach efforts for these veterans.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the service members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACVSOG). This award recognizes their high-risk, covert operations and profound sacrifices conducted in denied areas of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The medal will be presented on behalf of Congress and ultimately housed at the Smithsonian Institution. The Act also permits the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.

The Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act mandates that the Comptroller General review the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care budget submissions for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. Following each review, the Comptroller General must report the findings to relevant Congressional committees. This process aims to increase transparency and oversight of the VA's medical care funding requests.