Legislative Activity

This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct several comprehensive studies regarding the impact of obesity within the Armed Forces. These studies will examine the link between obesity, service member injuries and discharges, the quality of military food procurement, and the overall effect on national security readiness. The resulting reports must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment.

The "Protecting American Students Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how certain students are counted when determining if private colleges and universities are subject to an excise tax on net investment income. It stipulates that only students meeting specific eligibility requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965 are to be included in this calculation. The Act also mandates that these institutions report the number of students used before and after adjustments when calculating the tax. These provisions are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act allows individuals with health savings accounts to use those funds for certain services and items that help manage chronic conditions. These services and items will be treated as preventive care under IRS guidelines. The Act does not change any other existing or future rules regarding preventative services as long as they remain consistent with the Act.

The American Innovation Act of 2025 modifies the tax code to simplify and expand deductions for start-up and organizational expenditures for new businesses, allowing businesses to deduct up to $20,000 in start-up costs in the first year. The Act also preserves start-up net operating losses and tax credits after an ownership change, with specific conditions to ensure the continuation of the business. These changes aim to support new businesses by providing more immediate tax relief and ensuring that their losses and credits are not entirely forfeited after an ownership change. The provisions of this act generally apply to businesses starting after December 31, 2025.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The "Enhancing Domestic Drug Manufacturing Competitiveness Act" mandates a study by the Comptroller General to identify regulatory barriers hindering pharmaceutical manufacturing in the U.S. compared to other countries. The study will assess the impact of regulations on costs, delays, and supply chain resilience. It will also explore technological solutions and policy recommendations to streamline regulations and boost domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. A report with findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The "Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act of 2025" expands Medicare coverage to include additional FDA-approved lung cancer screening tests. This allows the Secretary to cover these new tests as preventive services, using expert recommendations for coverage decisions. These changes will be effective immediately upon the enactment of the Act.

The "Permanent Telehealth from Home Act" aims to make telehealth access easier and more permanent for Medicare recipients. It eliminates the current expiration dates for telehealth services, ensuring that patients can continue to receive care at home. By removing geographic restrictions, the bill broadens access to telehealth services, allowing more individuals to benefit from remote healthcare options. These changes will remain in effect even after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot "Food is Medicine" program. This program will provide eligible veterans with medically-tailored meals and groceries, nutrition education, and cooking classes. The goal is to improve health outcomes for veterans with chronic conditions or maternal health needs, while also evaluating cost savings and program effectiveness. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2025-2028 and will terminate three years after enactment.

The "Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act of 2025" establishes a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans experiencing a mental health crisis with referrals to non-Department mental health care providers. This three-year program, operating in at least three locations, aims to connect veterans with approved providers within one week. The Act requires annual reports to Congress on the program's implementation and outcomes, as well as a final evaluation report. It also authorizes $3,000,000 to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2027 to carry out the pilot program.

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act aims to combat human trafficking by establishing a demonstration project that trains students, teachers, and school personnel to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of human trafficking and child exploitation. The Act authorizes grants to eligible entities for implementing training programs and requires data collection and reporting to Congress on the project's outcomes, including the number of survivors identified and served. This act allocates $15 million annually from 2026 to 2029 to support these initiatives.

The "CREEPER Act 2.0" prohibits the importation, transportation, sale, and distribution of child sex dolls, defined as anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, or robots with features resembling a minor, intended for sexual acts, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for violations. This bill aims to prevent the exploitation and abuse of minors by criminalizing the trafficking and possession of these dolls.

The "Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act" amends immigration law to define "criminal gang" and broadens the criteria for inadmissibility and deportability to include alien gang members. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate groups as criminal gangs, subject to Congressional notification and judicial review, and mandates the detention of inadmissible or deportable gang members. The Act also restricts asylum, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and parole eligibility for gang members, and applies retroactively.

The Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act classifies a broad range of fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances to increase regulatory oversight. Additionally, the bill removes mandatory minimum prison sentences for offenses involving these substances, granting judges greater discretion in sentencing.

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025 updates tax code deductions for performing artists by allowing them to deduct essential business expenses—including agent and manager commissions—directly from their taxable income. The bill introduces an income-based phaseout for the deduction, increases the "nominal employer" threshold, and implements annual inflation adjustments to ensure the policy remains current. These changes aim to provide greater financial relief for working artists by simplifying how they account for professional costs.

The MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025 establishes a collaborative program between the United States and Israel to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative health care products and services. This initiative fosters joint research, regulatory harmonization, and technological exchange in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and digital health. By leveraging the combined expertise of both nations, the bill aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, advance medical manufacturing, and improve patient outcomes through shared best practices and infrastructure.

The Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act delays the mandatory transition to electronic Clinical Quality Metrics (eCQMs) for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) until January 1, 2030. During this period, the bill establishes a pilot program to test new digital reporting methods and mandates the development of standardized, accessible reporting technology. This approach ensures ACOs can continue using existing reporting methods without penalty while the government works with stakeholders to refine future digital standards.

The "No Tax on Tips Act" proposes a federal tax deduction of up to $25,000 per year for cash tips received by workers in traditionally tipped occupations. Additionally, the bill expands the existing tax credit for employer-paid Social Security taxes on tips to include beauty service establishments. These changes are designed to provide tax relief for service workers and support businesses where tipping is customary.

The Thin Blue Line Act amends federal law to designate the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first responder as an aggravating factor in capital sentencing. This legislation ensures that when a jury considers the death penalty, they must take into account whether the victim was targeted due to their status as a public servant or while performing their official duties.

The TCJA Permanency Act makes the individual tax reforms of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, including lowered income tax rates, an increased standard deduction, and an expanded Child Tax Credit. The legislation also solidifies higher exemptions for the Alternative Minimum Tax to protect more households from the parallel tax system. By locking in these provisions, the bill aims to simplify tax filing while providing long-term stability for families, small business owners, and individual taxpayers.