Legislative Activity

This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, affirming the validity of the 1986 Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement unless superseded by future agreements between the Grand Ronde Community and Oregon. It clarifies that any new agreements cannot infringe upon the rights of the Grand Ronde Community or other tribes and that the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Grand Ronde Community in future agreements derive solely from the authority of Oregon. The bill also allows for the review of applications to modify the Consent Decree by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. This amendment does not determine or affect the treaty or sovereign rights of any Indian Tribe.

The "Affordable Child Care Act" aims to ease the financial burden of childcare for families by doubling the child and dependent care tax credit, increasing the tax-free amount for dependent care assistance programs, and doubling the tax credit for employer-provided childcare. These changes are intended to make childcare more accessible and affordable for working families. The provisions of this act will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2025 amends the eligibility requirements for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This act increases the maximum age for eligible children to receive medical care under the program to 26 years old, regardless of their marital status. This change does not affect benefits for children incapable of self-support and takes effect for medical care provided on or after the enactment of this act.

The "Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025" extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, providing continued financial support to states and counties with federal lands through 2026. It extends secure payments, distribution of payments, and the authority for special projects on federal land. Additionally, it extends the Resource Advisory Committee pilot program and makes several technical corrections to the original Act.

The "Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act" authorizes the creation of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of women in the United States, seeking guidance from varied sources. The Act mandates regular reports to Congress on the museum's efforts to meet these diversity requirements.

The "I CAN Act" is comprehensive legislation designed to remove existing practice and billing barriers for various Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)—including Nurse Practitioners, CRNAs, and CNMs—within Medicare and Medicaid. It aims to expand patient access to care by allowing these qualified professionals to supervise, order, and bill for services to the full extent of their state-defined scope of practice. Furthermore, the bill enhances transparency and accountability for Medicare's local coverage decisions affecting APRN services. Overall, this act seeks to integrate APRNs more fully into federal healthcare programs, improving efficiency and service delivery.

This bill expresses support for designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week," celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.

The "Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2025" establishes an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Justice, led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General, to coordinate gun violence prevention efforts, evaluate related laws and programs, and recommend evidence-based policies to Congress and the President. The Director will also convene an advisory council comprising various officials and at least 12 additional individuals representing gun violence survivors, community violence intervention service providers, and other relevant groups. The Office will also assist communities affected by gun violence with crisis response activities, such as providing access to mental health services and suicide prevention resources. Finally, the act authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to carry out the provisions of the bill.

This bill recognizes the significant contributions of immigrants to the United States and condemns discriminatory immigration policies. It urges the protection of immigrants' rights, the implementation of humane immigration policies, and supports comprehensive immigration reform. The bill aims to honor the legacy of immigrants and promote a welcoming immigration system that benefits the nation.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 expands public safety officer benefits to include deaths and disabilities caused by exposure-related cancers, presuming that certain cancers diagnosed within 15 years of service are line-of-duty injuries if the officer served for at least 5 years. It defines "exposure-related cancer" and allows for updates to the list based on medical evidence, while also permitting individuals to petition for additions. The Act also clarifies "line of duty action" and applies retroactively to claims dating back to January 1, 2020, with a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments.

This proposed constitutional amendment clarifies that constitutional rights are exclusively for natural persons, not corporations or other artificial entities, which can be regulated by the people. It aims to ensure equal access to the political process by allowing regulation of campaign finance, stating that spending money to influence elections is not protected speech. The amendment also explicitly protects the freedom of the press.

The "Protect US National Security Act" ensures that federal funds cannot be used to eliminate the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent entity. It asserts that only an act of Congress can eliminate USAID. The Secretary of State must certify compliance with this requirement to Congress within 30 days of the act's enactment and annually for 5 years.

The Fair Play for Women Act aims to bolster Title IX enforcement in athletics by increasing transparency, enhancing training, and establishing clear accountability measures for educational institutions. It mandates detailed reporting on athletic opportunities, participation, and funding, broken down by sex and race, for both colleges and K-12 schools. The Act also requires annual Title IX training for athletic staff and athletes, and establishes a public database of Title IX coordinators. Finally, the Department of Education is empowered to impose civil penalties on institutions found to be non-compliant with Title IX.

The "Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for modernizing freight railcars, encouraging investments in newer, more efficient railcars. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 10% of their freight railcar fleet modernization expenses, with a limit of 1,000 qualified freight railcars per year. The credit applies to railcars that increase capacity, improve fuel efficiency, or meet updated performance standards, and is available for three years after the Act's enactment. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the credit's usage and impact on railcar modernization and scrapping.

The "Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act" aims to ensure more veterans can access housing assistance by excluding certain disability benefits from income calculations for specific housing programs. This exclusion applies to the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and when determining eligibility to rent residential housing on Department of Veteran Affairs property constructed after the enactment of this act. This exclusion does not apply to the definition of adjusted income. By excluding these benefits, the bill seeks to make housing more affordable and accessible for disabled veterans.

The SAFE Act amends the Social Security Act to include physical and occupational therapy benefits in Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams starting in 2026 for individuals determined to have fallen in the previous year. It mandates that these individuals receive falls risk assessments, fall prevention services, and outpatient therapy services. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress on falls experienced by individuals aged 65 and older.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

This bill establishes a Department of Peacebuilding within the executive branch to coordinate and promote peace-related efforts, both domestically and internationally, through nonviolent conflict resolution and violence reduction strategies. The department will be led by a Secretary of Peacebuilding and will include offices focused on peace education, domestic and international peacebuilding, technology for peace, and human rights. It emphasizes collaboration with other agencies and allocates resources, with a focus on domestic peace programs, to implement these initiatives. The bill also directs the Secretary to propose legislative changes, encourages the promotion of peace through Peace Days, and defines key terms to ensure clarity in the Act's implementation.

This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a grant program through the Department of Labor, awarding funds to community colleges for the development of high-quality workforce programs that lead to credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs. These grants require partnerships with employers and a focus on serving individuals with barriers to employment, with the aim of improving program quality, accessibility, and alignment with workforce needs. The bill authorizes appropriations of $65,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2031 for this purpose.

The Scientific Integrity Act mandates that federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research establish and enforce scientific integrity policies. These policies aim to protect scientists from political interference, ensure the open communication of scientific findings, and establish clear processes for reporting and addressing scientific misconduct. The Act requires agencies to appoint Scientific Integrity Officers, provide regular training, and report on misconduct complaints, with oversight from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Congress. It also protects the rights of federal employees and contractors to share their findings and prevents the suppression or distortion of scientific data.