Legislative Activity

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to the safety and well-being of refugees and displaced persons globally, recognizing the severity of the current worldwide displacement crisis. It strongly advocates for upholding U.S. legal and moral obligations by restoring and strengthening the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and full asylum protections. The measure specifically calls on federal leaders to reverse recent restrictive policies that have suspended refugee admissions and limited access to protection. Ultimately, this statement urges the U.S. to resume its leadership role in humanitarian aid and international refugee resettlement efforts.

The Election Worker Protection Act of 2025 establishes federal grants to states for recruiting, training, and securing election workers, while also enhancing the Department of Justice's resources to address threats. The bill creates new federal crimes prohibiting the harassment, doxxing, and intimidation of election workers involved in federal elections. Furthermore, it empowers election officials to remove disruptive poll observers and strengthens protections for election worker personal information.

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 secures dedicated funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through fiscal year 2029 and beyond. This bill authorizes the Secretary to allocate increasing amounts, starting at \$25 million in 2025 and stabilizing at \$50 million annually from 2029 onward. The funding will be sourced from the Commodity Credit Corporation.

The POST Act of 2025 updates the "85/15 rule" for private, for-profit higher education institutions receiving federal student aid. This new requirement mandates that these schools must derive at least 15 percent of their total revenue from non-federal sources to maintain eligibility. Failure to meet this threshold results in an immediate two-year suspension from federal student aid programs. The Act also establishes strict guidelines for calculating qualifying revenue and requires annual reporting to Congress on institutional funding sources.

This Act, named in honor of Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert, aims to reduce veteran suicide by strengthening mental health resources during the transition from military service to civilian life. It mandates updated mental health and suicide risk briefings within the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Furthermore, the bill enhances the VA's Solid Start Program by requiring specific outreach regarding healthcare enrollment and mental health services.

The HCBS Relief Act of 2025 significantly increases federal Medicaid funding for states that commit to improving their Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs. This temporary boost requires states to use the extra funds to raise provider reimbursement rates, increase worker compensation, and expand access to services for eligible individuals. States must ensure this new federal money supplements, rather than replaces, existing state spending on HCBS.

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality rate. This is achieved by reassigning their worksites to the nearest established pay locality offering a potentially higher adjustment. The bill also mandates that prevailing rate employees in specific "Rest of US" wage areas receive a higher wage rate based on the nearest comparable locality or the highest rate within their broader pay zone. These changes will take effect 180 days after the date the Act is signed into law.

The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 expands essential healthcare coverage under both programs. This bill mandates that Medicare begin covering routine dental, vision, and hearing services, including hearing aids, through a phased-in payment schedule reaching 80% coverage by the eighth year. Additionally, it increases the federal matching rate to 90% for states covering these specific dental, vision, and hearing services for certain adults under Medicaid. These comprehensive changes aim to integrate crucial preventative and restorative care into federal health programs.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 significantly overhauls federal protections for child victims and witnesses in court proceedings by expanding definitions of abuse and strengthening rules around protecting personal information. It mandates stricter reporting requirements for online service providers regarding child sexual exploitation material and imposes substantial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the Act expands civil remedies, allowing victims to sue online platforms directly for damages related to hosting or promoting such content. Finally, it facilitates the payment of restitution to vulnerable victims by allowing for the appointment of trustees to manage those funds.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act restricts how consumer reporting agencies can share your credit report when you are seeking a residential mortgage loan. Specifically, it limits the sharing of these reports unless they are connected to a firm offer of credit or are being sent to parties directly involved in your current mortgage, such as the originator or servicer. This ensures that your sensitive financial information is only accessed by relevant parties during the home loan process.

The State Public Option Act establishes a new Medicaid buy-in option for eligible individuals starting in 2026, with federal support for state administrative costs. The bill also mandates that Medicaid payments for certain primary care services must meet Medicare Part B rates and requires states to cover comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services, including abortions. Finally, it updates federal funding timelines for newly eligible individuals and directs a review of Medicaid quality measures.

The Choose Medicare Act establishes a new "Medicare Part E Public Health Plan" offering comprehensive, gold-level coverage that mandates the inclusion of reproductive health services, overriding state restrictions. It also caps annual out-of-pocket costs for traditional Medicare Part A and B services starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill enhances ACA premium subsidies by using gold plans as the benchmark for calculation and removes the income cap for eligibility. Finally, it requires certain employers to refer uninsured full-time employees to ACA navigators for coverage assistance.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 aims to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within our National Forests. This legislation mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture must adhere to the existing "Roadless Rule," prohibiting the construction of new roads, the reconstruction of old roads, and timber harvesting within these designated areas. The Act seeks to preserve critical watersheds, support wildlife, and maintain areas for traditional recreation without imposing new restrictions outside of these roadless zones.

The Court Legal Access and Student Support Act of 2025 (CLASS Act) prohibits institutions of higher education receiving federal aid from forcing students into mandatory arbitration or waiving their right to sue the school in court. This legislation exempts student enrollment agreements from federal arbitration requirements, ensuring students retain the ability to pursue legal claims against their institutions. These new provisions will take effect one year after the bill is enacted into law.

The My Body, My Data Act of 2025 establishes strict rules for how businesses (regulated entities) can collect, use, and share sensitive reproductive and sexual health information. This Act grants individuals the rights to access, correct, and delete their personal health data held by these entities. Furthermore, it mandates transparent privacy policies and explicitly prohibits entities from retaliating against individuals who exercise their new privacy rights.

The Protect IVF Act establishes a federal right to access fertility treatments, such as IVF, based on widely accepted medical standards. It prohibits states from enacting or enforcing rules that create unnecessary roadblocks or conflict with these established medical practices. The law empowers individuals, providers, and insurers to sue to strike down restrictive state laws that interfere with evidence-based fertility care. Ultimately, this Act ensures that decisions regarding fertility treatment remain between patients and their doctors, overriding conflicting state regulations.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 comprehensively updates federal support for vulnerable youth by modernizing grant programs for basic centers and transitional living. This legislation enhances services by mandating trauma-informed care, improving coordination with other federal agencies, and explicitly addressing the needs of youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking. Furthermore, it expands outreach methods to include digital communication and establishes new funding streams specifically for prevention services.

The Protecting Community Television Act revises the definition of a "franchise fee" under the Communications Act of 1934. This change modifies the language from "includes" to "means" and adds "other monetary assessment" to clarify what payments local governments can charge cable operators. Ultimately, this bill refines how franchise fees are calculated and assessed.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through new reporting requirements and procedural changes. It mandates increased transparency on claim processing times and requires the VA to establish clearer guidelines for expediting cases. Furthermore, the bill grants the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) new authority to group similar appeals and expands the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims' (CAVC) jurisdiction regarding class actions.

This bill, the Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act, prohibits employers from terminating or altering group health plan coverage for employees during a lawful strike or a lockout intended to gain leverage in collective bargaining. The Act establishes significant civil penalties, up to $\$150,000$ per violation, for employers who illegally cut off this coverage. Furthermore, it allows for individual directors and officers to be held personally liable for these violations.