Legislative Activity

The "New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act" aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare kidney diseases through research, education, and increased public awareness. It establishes Centers of Excellence for Rare Kidney Disease Research, directs studies on testing and treatment approaches, and promotes provider education in nephrology. The Act prioritizes addressing disparities in affected populations and seeks to delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and transplant. It authorizes appropriations for these activities from 2026 through 2030.

The "Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025" ensures Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving uninterrupted physical therapy services. It allows physical therapists to utilize temporary staffing arrangements, known as "locum tenens," when the regular therapist is temporarily unavailable. This ensures Medicare payments for services provided by qualified substitute physical therapists, maintaining consistent care for patients.

The LIVE Beneficiaries Act aims to prevent improper payments in state medical assistance programs by requiring states to cross-reference their enrollee lists against the Social Security Death Master File quarterly, starting in 2027. States must disenroll deceased individuals and stop payments, but also reinstate coverage retroactively for anyone incorrectly disenrolled. States can use other data sources to identify deceased beneficiaries, but must still comply with the Death Master File requirements.

The "Protecting Our Children in an AI World Act of 2025" aims to combat AI-generated child pornography by removing an affirmative defense related to child pornography. It broadens the definition of "sexually explicit conduct" to include simulated obscene exhibitions. The Act ensures that if any part is deemed unconstitutional, the remaining sections will still be enforced.

The "Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act" prohibits federal funding to colleges and universities that have diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or offices. To be eligible for federal funds, institutions must certify they do not have DEI programs that classify or give preferential treatment based on race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The Secretary of Education is responsible for verifying certifications and enforcing the Act, with an appeals process available for institutions that have funding terminated.

The Student Visa Security Improvement Act aims to bolster national security by enhancing background checks for individuals applying for student visas (F, J, and M visas). It mandates stricter monitoring of student and exchange visitor programs, ensuring active participation and timely reporting of any changes. The Act also expands access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for institutions and exchange programs and allows for the immediate decertification of programs posing security threats. Additionally, it requires a review of program fees and biannual reports on compliance and data analysis.

The "Retired Pay Restoration Act" expands eligibility for military retirees to receive both retired pay and veteran's disability compensation, regardless of disability rating. It removes the previous requirement that retirees have a service-connected disability rated at 50% or higher to receive both payments. This change ensures that qualified retirees, excluding certain Chapter 61 retirees, can receive both benefits without reduction. The act takes effect on January 1, 2021, applying to payments for months beginning on or after that date.