Legislative Activity

The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill focused on improving pediatric drug development, FDA oversight, and healthcare infrastructure. It revises requirements for pediatric cancer drug research, extends incentives for developing rare pediatric disease treatments, and enhances transparency in generic drug applications. Additionally, the Act establishes an FDA office to coordinate with Abraham Accords countries and makes technical adjustments to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

This resolution expresses strong support for and officially designates **September 17, 2025, as "Constitution Day."** It recognizes the profound historical importance of the U.S. Constitution as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the day with suitable ceremonies reflecting on the freedoms and responsibilities the document grants.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 comprehensively bans the manufacture, processing, use, and sale of commercial asbestos and products containing it upon enactment. The bill establishes clear definitions for commercial asbestos and includes limited exceptions for existing chlor-alkali plant diaphragms until 2030. It also grants the President authority to issue temporary, renewable national security exemptions under strict conditions. This legislation amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to eliminate most commercial uses of this hazardous material.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.

This bill establishes the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program to correct instances where Jewish American servicemembers buried overseas were mistakenly interred under non-Jewish markers. The American Battle Monuments Commission will contract with a qualified nonprofit over five years to identify these individuals and consult with their descendants. Additionally, the Act extends the expiration date for certain pension payment limitations by a few months.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a system for licensing reciprocity, allowing college mental health providers to offer telehealth services to their enrolled students across state lines. This streamlines care by generally adhering to the provider's home state licensing rules, while ensuring patient safety through required disclosures and identity verification. The Act also encourages interstate agreements to further facilitate this cross-state mental health support for students.

This resolution strongly condemns the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, during his national speaking tour. It honors his life, his founding of Turning Point USA, and his dedication to conservative principles. Ultimately, the document calls for national unity and reaffirms the commitment to protecting the right to peaceful assembly and free expression.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to strengthen the U.S. healthcare system by recapturing unused employment-based immigrant visas from 1992 through 2024. This legislation specifically reserves up to 40,000 of these visas for professional nurses and physicians, ensuring they are not subject to annual country caps. The bill also mandates expedited processing for these healthcare professionals without imposing premium processing fees, while requiring employers to attest that hiring these workers will not displace U.S. employees.

This resolution formally condemns the horrific political assassination of conservative spokesman Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. It expresses deep condolences to his family and recognizes the bravery of the first responders at the scene. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the fundamental American right to peaceful assembly and stands firmly against political violence.

The FIREARM Act aims to protect licensed firearm dealers from overly harsh penalties for minor or self-reported mistakes. It establishes new standards requiring the government to provide notice and an opportunity for dealers to correct violations before license revocation. Furthermore, the bill retroactively applies these protections to licenses previously revoked under a specific 2021 enforcement policy, allowing affected individuals a path to reapply.

This resolution officially supports designating the week of September 8 through September 12, 2025, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week." It highlights the widespread and costly impact of malnutrition across all demographics, particularly among vulnerable populations. The bill recognizes the vital work of nutrition professionals and existing federal programs while encouraging better screening and early intervention to improve health outcomes.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

The Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act aims to integrate Puerto Rico into the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) structure, aligning it with other territories like Guam. The bill mandates a transition period where Puerto Rico must submit a plan of operation to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval to join SNAP. During this transition, existing block grant funding may continue for up to five years while the territory moves toward full participation under federal SNAP rules.

The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act establishes a new, increasing schedule of authorized appropriations for key Impact Aid programs through fiscal year 2031. This legislation specifically sets funding levels for federal property acquisition, basic payments to heavily impacted school districts, payments for children with disabilities, and construction activities. The goal is to gradually increase federal support for these essential educational services.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to ensure continued access to Medicare home health services by pausing automatic payment reductions scheduled for 2026 and 2027. This is achieved by mandating a positive adjustment to the standard payment rate to fully offset proposed cuts. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that these temporary payment increases will not negatively impact future rate calculations for providers.

The BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons issue a REAL ID-compliant photo identification card to all departing federal prisoners, valid for at least 18 months. This federal release card must be accepted for identity verification when accessing major federal benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. Furthermore, the BOP must establish agreements with states to help former inmates use this card to obtain standard state identification. The Attorney General will also issue guidance to states on creating similar release ID programs for state prisoners.

The National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to develop a national strategy to protect schools from terrorist threats. This strategy will detail federal programs, spending, and activities related to school security, identify vulnerabilities, and set goals to address these vulnerabilities. The strategy will be submitted to specific committees in the House and Senate within one year of enactment and updated annually through 2033, if needed. The strategy aims to streamline efforts, consider existing evaluations, and avoid duplicating work related to school security against terrorism.