Legislation

This bill officially designates the historic path of US Highway 66, stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, as the Route 66 National Historic Trail. The National Park Service will manage the trail while preserving its unique character and consulting with affected Indian Tribes. Crucially, the designation prohibits the use of eminent domain for land acquisition and ensures it does not interfere with existing or future energy projects.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the operation of temporary incinerators used for commercial and industrial solid waste after a disaster. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this measure immediately voids the EPA's regulation regarding disaster recovery waste burning. Consequently, the EPA's rule will have no legal effect.

The Protecting Free Vaccines Act of 2025 mandates that certain vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) must be covered by private health plans, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP without cost-sharing. This requirement is generally based on ACIP recommendations in effect as of October 25, 2024, and is set to expire at the end of 2029 or 2030, depending on the program. The bill also includes specific provisions to ensure continuity of coverage for individuals already following a recommended vaccine schedule.

The Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act establishes stricter deadlines for Medicare Advantage organizations to pay providers for clean claims starting in 2027. These rules mandate payment within 14 days for electronically submitted claims from directly contracted providers and within 30 days for all other clean claims. The bill also introduces interest penalties for late payments and allows for civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, requiring MA plans to report detailed payment timeliness data.

The WELL Seniors Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) by expanding covered screenings to include fall risk assessment and broader social determinants of health. This legislation also incentivizes providers with bonus payments for thorough visits and allows physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists to deliver these services. Furthermore, the bill mandates national outreach to educate beneficiaries and requires comprehensive research on AWV utilization and barriers to access.

The Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act streamlines the process for developing geothermal energy on lands where the federal government owns less than half of the subsurface resources. This bill exempts certain geothermal projects from requiring a federal drilling permit if a state permit is already secured. Consequently, these projects are generally excluded from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. However, the bill maintains the federal government's right to collect royalties and conduct oversight on production measurements.

The Cost-of-Living Fairness Act ensures that payments made for essential insurance policies, such as car, home/renter, and flood insurance, are excluded when determining eligibility for federal, state, or local assistance programs. This change prevents necessary insurance expenses from negatively impacting a household's income calculation for benefits. The goal is to make it fairer for families to maintain necessary coverage while accessing public aid.

The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025 significantly increases the penalty-free withdrawal limit from retirement accounts for first-time homebuyers. This legislation raises the maximum allowable tax-free withdrawal from $\$10,000$ to $\$50,000$. This enhanced benefit will be available for home purchases made in tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

The FREE SPEECH Act of 2025 prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using its regulatory authority to pressure or force companies to align their speech or editorial content with the political views of the current presidential administration. This measure prevents the FCC from conditioning licenses or approvals on a company's political speech. Essentially, it blocks the government from leveraging regulatory power to control corporate expression.

The Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to take approximately 563 acres of specific Forest Service land into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. This transferred land will be managed as part of the Tribe's Reservation, subject to existing rights. Importantly, the law explicitly prohibits the use of this land for any gaming activities.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule concerning South Dakota's Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this measure nullifies the specific EPA regulation regarding air quality in South Dakota. If passed, the EPA's rule will have no legal effect.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness: Gulf of America." By utilizing the Congressional Review Act process, this resolution ensures that the specific BOEM rule will be nullified and have no legal effect. Essentially, Congress is vetoing this particular administrative action.

The Stand Strong for Medicare Act expands Medicare coverage to include essential fall prevention items such as grab bars and shower chairs. This legislation removes the requirement for a physician's order for these specific safety devices to be covered. Furthermore, payments for these newly covered items are protected from budget sequestration cuts.

The Enhancing Transparency from Airlines Act of 2025 (ETA Act) codifies existing Department of Transportation rules regarding refunds and fee transparency. Crucially, it mandates new regulations requiring airlines to compensate passengers for significant delays. Domestic passengers delayed three or more hours, or international passengers delayed six or more hours, will be eligible for mandatory compensation ranging from $\$200$ to $\$500$.

The Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act aims to accelerate geothermal energy development on federal lands. It streamlines environmental reviews for specific, small-scale geothermal exploration projects by exempting them from standard "major Federal action" requirements under NEPA. Furthermore, the bill mandates the designation of "geothermal leasing priority areas" and establishes specific environmental review protocols to expedite leasing decisions in those zones.

The Flight Refund Fairness Act establishes clear, strict deadlines for ticket agents to issue refunds to consumers after a flight cancellation or significant delay. Specifically, ticket agents must now return the refund money to the customer within seven days of receiving the funds from the airline. This legislation replaces vague "promptly" requirements with a concrete timeline to ensure passengers receive their money back faster.

The NFIP Extension Act of 2026 officially extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This legislation ensures the NFIP continues to operate by pushing its expiration date from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2026. The bill also includes a provision to ensure this extension takes effect even if enacted after September 30, 2025.

The Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments (PAAT) Act mandates that Medicare Part D prescription drug plans must cover all specified drugs for autoimmune diseases, hemophilia, and Von Willebrand disease starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill limits the requirement for prior authorization for these specific treatments to no more than once every 12 months. This aims to improve patient access and reduce administrative hurdles for individuals managing these chronic conditions.

The Uniform Standards Protection Act of 2025 prohibits states from enforcing any law that dictates the uniform requirements for federal law enforcement officers operating within their jurisdiction. This legislation ensures that federal agents are exempt from state-level dress codes, regardless of existing state regulations. Furthermore, the Act mandates the dismissal of any pending legal actions against federal officers based on prior violations of these now-preempted state uniform rules.