Legislative Activity

The Strengthening Housing Supply Act of 2025 amends the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to explicitly allow federal funds to be used for the **new construction of affordable housing**. This change broadens the eligible uses for CDBG funds while maintaining existing requirements that the housing benefits low- and moderate-income persons. These new provisions only apply to funds appropriated by Congress after the Act's enactment.

The HEALTH AI Act establishes a new grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund research on using generative artificial intelligence in healthcare. These grants will support projects aimed at improving clinical efficiency, reducing administrative burdens, and processing claims faster. Priority will be given to research that focuses on workforce training, reducing staff burnout, and improving health equity for underserved populations.

The No Advanced Chips for the CCP Act of 2025 establishes a stringent, two-step approval process for exporting advanced AI semiconductors to China, requiring both executive branch approval and specific Congressional resolution. This process mandates a thorough national security review by multiple federal agencies before any transfer can be considered. The Act defines "advanced AI semiconductor" based on specific performance thresholds and includes a three-year sunset provision.

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 establishes a permanent Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the State Department to streamline and support the resettlement of Afghan allies. This Act mandates the creation of a secure, centralized database to track all applicants, beneficiaries, and relocation progress, ensuring accountability to Congress. The Coordinator will manage interagency efforts, resolve family reunification roadblocks, and provide integration support for covered persons. This entire framework is set to automatically expire five years after enactment unless otherwise specified.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 mandates that the Departments of HUD and Agriculture create a joint agreement to speed up environmental reviews for federally funded rural housing projects. This partnership aims to designate a lead agency and streamline the acceptance of environmental documentation between the two departments. The Act also establishes an advisory group composed of diverse stakeholders to guide implementation and requires a final report to Congress suggesting further efficiency improvements without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The CLEAN Pacific Act of 2025 establishes the Pacific Counternarcotics Initiative to help partner nations in the Pacific combat illegal drug production chemicals. This program focuses on improving the seizure, destruction, and safe disposal of seized chemicals while boosting international law enforcement cooperation. The Secretary of State must submit a detailed five-year implementation plan to Congress outlining strategy, benchmarks, and funding, followed by annual progress reports. Funding for the initiative will be redirected from existing authorizations under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

The High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Exemption Reauthorization Act extends the federal regulations governing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facilities. Specifically, this bill pushes back the expiration date for these existing HOV facility rules from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2031. This ensures the current federal guidelines remain in effect for an additional six years.

The Taskforce for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams Act (TRAPS Act) establishes a new Task Force led by the Secretary of the Treasury. This diverse group, including federal agencies, industry experts, and consumer advocates, will study evolving payment scams. The Task Force is charged with developing cross-sector prevention strategies and submitting comprehensive recommendations for new laws and improved coordination to combat these fraudulent activities.

The Afghan Adjustment Act establishes new pathways for certain Afghan nationals already in the U.S. to obtain conditional permanent resident status, contingent upon rigorous security vetting. It also creates a special referral process for at-risk Afghan allies still outside the U.S. to access the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remotely. Furthermore, the bill extends deadlines and expands eligibility for existing Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) while mandating significant interagency coordination and reporting to Congress on processing efficiency.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The BUILD Housing Act streamlines environmental reviews for certain HUD housing assistance programs by allowing the Secretary to designate them as "special projects." This change enables the use of specific, established review procedures under the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority for environmental review responsibilities to include federally recognized Indian Tribes alongside states and local governments.

The Community College Educational Exchange Act aims to expand international educational opportunities by establishing new programs for foreign scholars to study at U.S. community and vocational colleges. It also creates a capacity-building initiative to help these U.S. institutions develop more study abroad options, particularly in STEM and technical fields. The legislation mandates increased outreach and technical assistance to ensure eligible colleges can successfully participate in federal exchange programs.

The VISIBLE Act mandates that federal immigration enforcement officers, such as those from CBP and ICE, must clearly display their agency name and either their last name or badge number during all public-facing civil immigration enforcement activities. This requirement ensures officers are easily identifiable to the public from a distance, promoting transparency and public trust. The law also establishes disciplinary procedures for non-compliance and requires annual reporting to Congress on enforcement activities and violations.

The Partner with Korea Act establishes a new reciprocal temporary work visa category specifically for South Korean nationals seeking employment in specialty occupations within the United States. This program is subject to an annual cap of 15,000 principal applicants. The legislation updates immigration procedures to incorporate this dedicated visa stream, contingent upon employer attestations approved by the Secretary of Labor.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 establishes a structured process for distributing up to 2,000 additional, federally funded residency positions annually between fiscal years 2026 and 2032. This distribution prioritizes hospitals serving in underserved areas, those already training above their limit, and those committed to primary care and general surgery training. The bill also mandates a study and report by the Comptroller General on effective strategies to increase diversity within the health professional workforce.

The Burma Genocide Accountability and Protection Act (Burma GAP Act) establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to address the ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya people in Myanmar. The bill mandates the appointment of a Special Representative for Burma, increases humanitarian and protection support for refugees, and prioritizes accountability for genocide and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, it commits the U.S. to isolating the military junta until civilian rule is restored.

The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 allows eligible veterans to use their existing educational assistance benefits to pay for specific exams and assessments designed to earn college credit. This provision caps the benefit usage at \$500 per covered test, including DSST and CLEP exams. Using these benefits for testing will count against the veteran's total entitlement time, calculated based on the cost of the exam.

The EACH Act of 2025 aims to ensure equal access to abortion coverage by requiring all federally funded health programs and facilities to cover abortion services. This legislation prohibits federal interference with state or private insurance coverage of abortion and repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate financial and insurance barriers to abortion care, particularly for low-income individuals relying on programs like Medicaid.