Legislative Activity

This bill establishes an "External Provider Scheduling Program" within the VA to streamline appointment scheduling for veterans receiving care under the Veterans Community Care Program. The program will utilize technology to allow VA schedulers to view healthcare providers' schedules and book real-time appointments, aiming to reduce scheduling times and wait times. The VA Secretary will oversee the program's implementation, provide annual progress reports, and ensure program availability across all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025.

The ENABLE Act permanently extends provisions that allow for increased contributions to ABLE accounts and rollovers from 529 education savings accounts, providing ongoing financial benefits for individuals with disabilities. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove the expiration date for increased contributions and ensures the continuation of rollovers from 529 programs to ABLE programs indefinitely. The act also modifies retirement savings contribution definitions and repeals a paragraph from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 to align with these changes. These amendments are effective for taxable years ending after the enactment date of this act and for distributions made after this enactment.

The "Improving Veteran Access to Care Act" establishes an integrated project team within the VA to improve healthcare appointment scheduling. This team will develop a scheduling system for VA personnel and patients to view and book appointments across all VA facilities, create a self-service scheduling platform for patients, and establish a phone-based scheduling process. The team must be fully established within 180 days and complete its objectives within one year, with regular reports to Congress on progress and challenges.

The "Caring for Survivors Act of 2025" increases dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It also modifies the requirements for survivors of veterans who were totally disabled at the time of death, reducing the required period of continuous disability rating before death from 10 to 5 years, and introduces proportional compensation for ratings less than 10 years.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ensuring consistent enforcement against antisemitism in federally funded programs. This bill aims to increase awareness and improve the safety of Jewish communities by codifying the use of the IHRA definition. The Act does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change harassment standards, reduce existing rights, or diminish First Amendment rights.

This resolution expresses gratitude to the various groups and individuals involved in ensuring the success of the Presidential Inauguration, including the Joint Congressional Committee, Architect of the Capitol, law enforcement, emergency personnel, and volunteers. It recognizes their hard work, professionalism, and adaptability in overcoming challenges to maintain safety and security. The resolution also thanks the families of those involved for their support and encourages Americans to acknowledge their vital role in the inauguration's success.

The "Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025" amends the Animal Health Protection Act to provide compensation to poultry growers and layers in areas under federal control due to animal health concerns. It mandates payments based on lost income, ensuring producers are compensated for flocks they were unable to raise during the control period. The compensation is capped to avoid duplication of benefits from other sources and must be paid within 60 days of request. This act aims to support poultry farmers affected by disease control measures.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, while also modifying gift tax laws. It adjusts gift tax calculations, addresses transfers in trust, sets an initial $10,000,000 amount for calculating tentative tax, and adjusts for inflation. These changes apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers occurring, and gifts made on or after the enactment date of this Act.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in logistical transactions of Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical products. It mandates the President to block the property of sanctioned individuals and entities within the U.S. and deny them U.S. visas, with potential waivers based on national interest. The Act also establishes an Interagency Working Group to coordinate and enhance the enforcement of sanctions against Iran, and encourages the formation of a multilateral contact group with similar countries to coordinate international enforcement of sanctions against Iran. Finally, the Act amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include identifying individuals or entities involved in activities that violate or evade sanctions under the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025.

The "National Right-to-Work Act" aims to protect individual employees' rights to choose whether or not to join or support a labor union. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to eliminate mandatory union membership or fees as a condition of employment. This ensures that employees cannot be forced to join or contribute to a union against their will. The changes apply to agreements made or renewed after the Act's enactment.

The "1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act" repeals Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which mandated data collection on small business loans. This repeal aims to reduce compliance costs for financial institutions, especially smaller ones, and improve small businesses' access to credit by removing regulatory barriers. The act also makes related amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture from banning or regulating lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting and fishing. An exception is allowed in specific areas where lead is scientifically proven to be the primary cause of wildlife population decline, but any restrictions must align with state laws or have the approval of the state's fish and wildlife department. The reasoning for any such prohibition or regulation must be published in the Federal Register.

The "Credit Union Board Modernization Act" amends the Federal Credit Union Act to reduce the frequency of board of directors meetings for well-managed federal credit unions. New federal credit unions are required to meet monthly for the first five years, while those with strong ratings must meet at least six times annually after the initial period. Credit unions with lower ratings will still be required to meet monthly.

The SALONS Stories Act aims to support domestic violence prevention by increasing grant funding to states that require cosmetologists and barbers to undergo training on recognizing and responding to signs of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence. This training will equip them to refer clients to resources for victims. The Attorney General can increase grants to eligible states by up to 10% for up to three years, with $5,000,000 authorized annually from 2027 through 2033 for this purpose.

The "National Plan for Epilepsy Act" aims to improve the lives of individuals affected by epilepsy by establishing a comprehensive national plan. This plan will focus on preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing epilepsy through coordinated federal efforts and increased collaboration. An Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services will be created to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress on epilepsy-related issues and to provide recommendations for improving federal programs and supporting people with epilepsy. The Act requires regular assessments and reports to track progress and ensure accountability in addressing epilepsy.

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" aims to improve access to non-opioid pain management for Medicare Part D beneficiaries starting in 2026. It eliminates the standard deductible and places qualifying non-opioid pain management drugs on the lowest cost-sharing tier. The bill also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, ensuring quicker access to alternative pain relief options.

The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit, originally set to expire after 2025, to encourage investment in low-income communities. The bill also adjusts the credit amount for inflation after 2025 and provides alternative minimum tax relief for credits on qualified equity investments made after December 31, 2024. These changes aim to incentivize ongoing investment in economically distressed areas.

The "Respect State Housing Laws Act" repeals a provision in the CARES Act that restricted states' abilities to enforce their own eviction moratoriums. This change clarifies that state laws regarding evictions should be respected.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" exempts family farms and small businesses from being considered as assets when calculating eligibility for federal financial aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965. This exemption applies to family farms where the family resides and small businesses with 100 or fewer employees that the family owns and controls. These changes will apply to financial aid award years starting after the enactment of this Act.

The "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' personal information with the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) based solely on the appointment of a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Information can only be shared if a judicial authority determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.