Legislative Activity

The Kari's Law Reporting Act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issue a public report detailing its enforcement activities regarding Section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Kari's Law). This report must summarize compliance by multi-line telephone system manufacturers, identify enforcement challenges, and propose necessary regulatory or legislative changes. The goal is to assess and improve the implementation of existing safety requirements for emergency calling systems.

The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act enables states to establish specialized Medicaid health homes focused exclusively on individuals with sickle cell disease starting in 2026. If a state adopts this program, it must provide mandatory dental and vision coverage to enrolled patients, regardless of standard state Medicaid policies. States implementing these health homes will also be required to report on patient outcomes, access to care, and expenditures.

The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025 ensures the continued operation and funding of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program through fiscal year 2031. This bill specifically increases the authorized annual funding level for the program starting in 2027. Additionally, it extends the federal government's commitment to the national cord blood inventory program until 2031.

The FEMA Act of 2025 establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent, cabinet-level agency to lead a unified, all-hazards approach to national emergency management. The bill enacts sweeping reforms across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation programs to accelerate recovery, streamline funding, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disaster survivors and communities. Furthermore, it mandates significant new transparency measures, including public data reporting and GAO oversight, to ensure accountability for federal disaster spending.

The Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act officially recognizes and integrates "cottage family homes" into federal foster care regulations. This allows these specialized homes to receive federal maintenance payments if they meet strict standards focused on family connection, trauma-informed care, and prohibiting harmful restraints. The bill ensures states maintain flexibility in utilizing these placements while upholding high standards for child well-being.

The Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification 2.0 Act (BENES 2.0 Act) mandates that the Social Security Administration proactively inform individuals approaching retirement age about their Medicare eligibility. This is achieved by including a standardized, comprehensive notice about Medicare basics, penalties, and coordination with other insurance within their Social Security statements starting at age 60. The goal is to ensure beneficiaries receive critical enrollment information early enough to avoid late enrollment penalties. The required notice content will be developed in consultation with various stakeholder groups and reviewed regularly for updates.

The Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act mandates that candidates' leftover campaign funds must be spent down within two years after an election, unless the candidate immediately runs again. Remaining funds must be used to pay debts or donated to specific political or charitable organizations. Furthermore, former candidates who become registered lobbyists or foreign agents must certify that their past campaign committees complied with these new disbursement rules. These provisions take effect starting with the general federal elections in November 2026.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Share Holder Allocation for Rewards to Employees Plan Act (SHARE Plan Act) establishes a new corporate tax incentive for U.S. companies that distribute a significant amount of their stock equity to employees through formal, broad-based plans. Eligible "SHARE corporations" receive a 3 percentage point reduction in their corporate income tax rate. Crucially, stock received by employees under a qualified SHARE plan is excluded from the employee's gross income for federal tax purposes. The bill sets strict requirements for plan structure, employee participation, and minimum equity distribution ratios to qualify for these benefits.

The BRAVE Burma Act extends existing accountability measures and strengthens U.S. efforts against the Burmese military regime. It mandates annual reviews of sanctions targeting Burmese state-owned businesses and the jet fuel industry. Crucially, the bill establishes a Senate-confirmed U.S. Special Envoy for Burma to coordinate policy, push for international sanctions, and advocate for a return to civilian-led democracy. The Act also directs the Treasury to oppose increases in Burma's shareholding at the IMF while the military junta is in power.

The Ally's Act mandates that certain private health insurance plans must cover auditory implant devices, related supplies, and necessary services for qualifying individuals. This coverage must be comparable to other medical and surgical benefits regarding cost-sharing and treatment limitations. Furthermore, plans cannot deny coverage if a physician or qualified audiologist determines the required hearing items or services are medically necessary. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly clarify that time taken off for an employee's own organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition. This ensures both private and federal sector workers receive FMLA protection for recovery from organ donation. The legislation also specifies how federal employees must substitute existing paid leave when taking FMLA time for this purpose.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

The Microplastics Safety Act mandates the FDA to conduct a comprehensive study on the human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and water. This research must specifically investigate risks to children's health, endocrine function, cancer, and reproduction. Following the study, the FDA is required to report its findings and recommend necessary legislative or regulatory actions to Congress.

The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act aims to enhance protections for Medicare beneficiaries receiving custom braces and artificial limbs. This bill ensures that payment will not be made for certain devices shipped directly to a patient without required training from a qualified practitioner. Additionally, it expands exemptions from competitive bidding for certain providers and clarifies access to replacement custom orthotic devices.

The Health Records Enhancement Act establishes a system allowing designated individuals or immediate family members to supplement the health records of deceased veterans held by the DoD and VA. This process permits the addition of post-mortem health observations or relevant details to the existing official records. The goal is to ensure a more complete historical health record for deceased service members.

The District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act prohibits the District from establishing new Sister City relationships with any city or region located in a country designated as a foreign adversary. Existing partnerships with such nations must be terminated within 180 days or upon the agreement's expiration. Furthermore, the District cannot use federal funds for international liaison services without certifying compliance with this Act to the President.