Legislation

The SHARKED Act of 2025 establishes a Shark Task Force to address conflicts between sharks and fishing operations, known as shark depredation. This group will coordinate research and develop strategies, including non-lethal deterrents, to minimize harmful interactions. The bill also authorizes dedicated funding for new research projects focused on understanding and mitigating shark depredation issues.

This resolution designates the first week of April 2025 as National Asbestos Awareness Week to highlight the severe, often delayed health risks associated with asbestos exposure. The measure urges the Surgeon General to educate the public about the dangers of these invisible fibers, which cause incurable diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis. By raising awareness, the goal is to reduce future occupational and environmental exposures.

The Public Health Improvement Act establishes term limits for the Directors of the CDC and NIH, restricts the scope of the CDC's strategic plan, and restructures the appointment process for the CDC's advisory committee. It also clarifies the Secretary of HHS's authority to regulate communicable disease vectors and requires Congressional approval for extending public health emergencies. Finally, the Act mandates the transfer of several key public health offices from the CDC to the NIH within two years.

The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to immediately ensure full staffing, including all maintenance positions, across the National Park Service. This Act also requires the reinstatement of any NPS employees involuntarily removed between January 20 and February 25, 2025. Furthermore, it authorizes the continuation of existing, funded National Park Service projects under several key federal acts.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act updates the Highway Safety Improvement Program to prioritize and increase federal funding for projects that protect cyclists and pedestrians. This legislation explicitly expands eligible safety projects to include connecting existing bike/pedestrian paths and implementing risk-reduction strategies for vulnerable road users. Furthermore, it allows states greater flexibility in financing these safety upgrades, including the potential for 100% federal funding for certain projects.

The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 aims to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments for children by expanding the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the incentive program that grants priority review vouchers to encourage the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases. The bill mandates studies on the effectiveness of these new requirements and the existing voucher system.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to combat bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states that accept federal funding to establish clear anti-bullying policies, define prohibited conduct based on protected characteristics, and implement systems for reporting and tracking incidents. This legislation mandates that local districts inform all stakeholders about prohibited conduct and establish formal complaint processes. Furthermore, the bill requires regular state and federal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these measures in reducing harmful behavior while respecting existing non-discrimination laws and free speech rights.

The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act creates an exception to certain income limits for farmers, ranchers, and foresters. This exception applies if at least 75% of an individual's or business's average adjusted gross income is derived from agricultural activities. This change ensures that those heavily reliant on farming income are not disqualified from specific federal agriculture disaster programs.

This Act amends Social Security rules regarding child survivor benefits. It establishes a new condition where children aged 18 or older will cease to qualify as full-time students, thereby stopping their benefits. This cutoff specifically applies only if the deceased parent was already receiving old-age or disability benefits, was over age 67, and earned more than \$125,000 in the relevant taxable year.

The Transparency in Banking Act mandates that key federal financial regulators submit a detailed annual report to Congress regarding their planned activities and positions at the international Basel Committee on Bank Supervision meetings. This legislation requires public disclosure of agency attendance, proposed solutions, and potential new standards affecting U.S. interests. Furthermore, regulators must promptly update Congress on any significant changes to their planned engagement and include this information in required testimony.

This bill amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to establish a uniform 8-digit subheading number for all imported whiskies. It streamlines the classification structure within Chapter 22 of the tariff schedule for duty purposes. The changes also require the USITC to add new statistical codes to better track different types of imported whiskies.

The National STEM Week Act establishes an annual celebration designated by the CoSTEM committee to emphasize the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. This week aims to showcase STEM career paths, encourage family involvement, and foster partnerships between schools and industry leaders to improve access and participation. CoSTEM is required to report annually to Congress on the week's activities and their impact on narrowing educational gaps.

This bill seeks to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt "premium cigars" from certain FDA regulations. It defines a premium cigar based on strict criteria, including being hand-rolled and made entirely of natural tobacco leaf. The exemption is supported by findings that premium cigar use is rare, especially among youth, and poses lower health risks than other tobacco products.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 409 South Hicks Street in Lawrenceville, Virginia, as the "James Solomon Russell Post Office." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new, permanent name for the Lawrenceville post office.

The Social Security Overpayment Relief Act establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for the government to recover Social Security and SSI overpayments. This means the government cannot attempt to collect or offset future benefits for overpayments that occurred ten or more years before the mistake was officially discovered. This provides relief by limiting the recovery period for old benefit errors.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the deep, shared commitment to democracy between the United States and Greece. It recognizes the historical ties, ongoing strategic partnership in security and energy, and the contributions of the Greek-American community. The bill ultimately honors Greece as a vital NATO ally and friend.

The Hearing Device Coverage Clarification Act ensures that surgically implanted active middle ear implants are explicitly covered by Medicare. This is achieved by mandating that CMS classify these devices as "prosthetics." This clarification prevents the implants from being excluded under the existing Medicare rule that generally denies coverage for routine hearing aids.

The Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. National Laboratories from granting access to foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba, regardless of the length of their intended visit. This immediate ban applies to both current and future visitors and assignees from these specified countries. Exceptions can only be granted by the Secretary of Energy if they certify that the benefit to the U.S. outweighs the national security risks, following consultation with the FBI. Any granted waiver must be reported to Congress within 30 days.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include military spouses as eligible hires. This allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring individuals certified as spouses of active-duty military personnel. The provision applies to wages paid for individuals hired after the Act's enactment date.

The Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2025 immediately creates the Space National Guard as the reserve component of the U.S. Space Force, initially drawing personnel from existing National Guard space units across seven states. This Act mandates that the new Guard utilize existing infrastructure and requires regular reporting to Congress on its implementation and operations. The legislation also makes conforming amendments across federal law to formally define and integrate the Space National Guard into the military structure.