Legislation

The REAL Health Providers Act mandates that Medicare Advantage plans maintain accurate and up-to-date public directories of their network providers starting in 2028. This legislation requires regular verification of provider information and establishes cost-sharing protections for patients who see listed providers who are ultimately out-of-network. Furthermore, plans must annually report their directory accuracy scores to the Secretary, which will eventually be made public.

The U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act mandates a comprehensive review of the current relationship between the two nations based on concerns over South Africa's foreign policy alignment with Russia, China, and Hamas. Following this review, the President must report to Congress and certify whether South Africa's actions harm U.S. national security interests. If such harm is certified, the bill requires the President to identify sanctionable officials and immediately terminate South Africa's eligibility for key trade preference programs.

The STUDENT Act mandates that student loan lenders must now clearly disclose the total amount of interest a borrower will pay over the life of the loan. This calculation must be based on the standard repayment plan for the borrower's total outstanding principal balance. The goal is to provide borrowers with greater transparency regarding the full cost of their student loans.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for designating September as "Dystonia Awareness Month" to promote public understanding of this painful neurological movement disorder. The measure aims to increase awareness about dystonia, which affects hundreds of thousands of Americans, leading to involuntary muscle contractions and significant disability. By supporting this designation, Congress encourages greater public education, supports ongoing research efforts, and commends healthcare professionals working to improve the lives of those affected.

The Royalty Transparency Act expands financial disclosure requirements for certain federal advisory board members and mandates that executive branch employees and covered advisors report the source and value of royalties received, including those from government-developed inventions. The bill also updates federal acquisition rules to prevent organizational conflicts of interest by requiring agencies to review contractor royalty payments during conflict checks. Finally, it establishes new procedures for public access to these financial reports and mandates annual reporting on royalty-related conflicts to Congress.

The District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025 eliminates the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission entirely. This change grants the President the authority to directly nominate and appoint the Chief Judge and all other D.C. judges without receiving a list of candidates from the former commission. The bill makes corresponding technical updates to the D.C. Home Rule Act and related statutes.

The Cable Transparency Act modernizes how cable franchise agreements are managed by streamlining the process for operators to modify existing rules based on good cause, such as new technology or legal compliance. It establishes clear, time-bound procedures for local authorities to approve or deny these requests, often resulting in automatic approval if deadlines are missed. Furthermore, the Act restricts the ability of both operators and franchising authorities to unilaterally terminate existing agreements, setting high standards for revocation.

The Risky Research Review Act establishes the Life Sciences Research Security Board, an independent body tasked with reviewing and issuing binding decisions on federal funding for proposed high-risk life sciences research. This research includes Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) involving high-consequence pathogens or any gain-of-function research. Agencies are prohibited from funding such research without the Board's explicit approval, which is granted only after weighing public safety risks against potential benefits. The Board is composed of non-partisan scientific and security experts appointed by the President.

The Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025 establishes a new 10% tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace aging freight railcars, encouraging investment in updated equipment. This credit is capped annually and requires the scrapping of older railcars to qualify for new replacements. The Treasury Department is mandated to report on the utilization and impact of this three-year incentive program.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to address healthcare staffing shortages by recapturing unused employment-based immigrant visas from previous years. These recaptured visas are specifically reserved for professional nurses (25,000) and physicians (15,000) to expedite their entry into the U.S. The bill also mandates premium processing for these petitions without imposing extra fees and includes worker protection attestations to prevent displacement of U.S. workers.

The District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025 revises the standards for when Metropolitan Police Department officers can engage in vehicular pursuits, generally broadening the circumstances under which chases may be initiated. The bill removes several previous limitations on when officers can start or continue a chase, provided certain safety considerations are met. Additionally, it mandates a Department of Justice review of the feasibility and cost of implementing public warning technology, like PursuitAlert, during police chases.

The Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025 aims to significantly lower out-of-pocket costs for essential breathing medications like asthma and COPD inhalers. This bill caps patient cost-sharing for these products at a maximum of \$15 per 30-day supply across private insurance, Medicare Part D, and a new program for the uninsured. Furthermore, it eliminates deductibles for inhalers under most private and Medicare plans starting in 2026.

The Honoring Our Heroes Act of 2025 temporarily expands the VA's authority to furnish headstones or burial markers for certain veterans who died after December 7, 1941, provided a marker has not already been placed. Additionally, this Act extends the expiration date for specific limitations on veteran pension payments by three months, from November 2031 to February 2032. The VA must also update its website to reflect these changes in eligibility.

The Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act officially terminates the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress. It replaces the committee with a new annual reporting requirement for the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives regarding the management and preservation of Congressional records. Furthermore, the Act mandates regular review meetings between the Archivist of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House to oversee these records.

The Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act updates the operational rules for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), including modernizing service requirements and mandating a new public data dashboard. Crucially, this bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to charge registration fees to OPTN members for patients added to the transplant waiting list. These collected fees must support OPTN operations, and the law requires quarterly transparency regarding fee collection and expenditures. Finally, the GAO must review the implementation and use of these new fees within two years.

The PARTNERS Act aims to boost registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses in high-demand industries. It achieves this by establishing and funding regional partnerships that develop and support work-based learning opportunities. States will receive federal funds to issue grants to these eligible partnerships, which must then focus on curriculum development, business engagement, and providing essential support services to participants. The Act also establishes specific performance reporting requirements for accountability.

This resolution sets the expedited procedural path for the House to consider a bill making continuing appropriations to fund the government through fiscal year 2026. It also establishes the process for honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk. Finally, the measure adjusts key deadlines within a previously agreed-upon House resolution.

The Protecting American Research and Talent Act prohibits the use of federal funds for fundamental research collaborations between U.S. universities and "covered entities." Federal agencies can only waive this restriction if necessary for U.S. national security, provided the university meets strict international student enrollment caps. The bill mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing compliance and any granted waivers.

The FAST VETS Act mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must review and potentially redevelop a veteran's individualized vocational rehabilitation plan if the original goals are no longer achievable due to a change in the veteran's employment handicap. This ensures that veterans have a clear pathway to a new, more suitable plan when their circumstances change. The legislation establishes specific conditions under which the VA must create a revised plan to better support the veteran's employment success.

The Supporting Our Seniors Act establishes a temporary Commission on Long-Term Care composed of 12 appointed members. This Commission is tasked with studying the long-term care system and providing annual policy recommendations to Congress and the President. Its focus areas include affordability, caregiver support, aging in place, and workforce development. The Act authorizes necessary funding for the Commission's operations over its ten-year lifespan.