Legislative Activity

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 amends title 38 of the U.S. Code to modify the process and oversight of agents and attorneys who assist veterans with initial and supplemental benefit claims. It mandates increased transparency, including public lists of accredited representatives and warnings about fees, and sets guidelines for fee agreements, including caps and installment options. The Act also expands the grounds for disciplinary actions against agents and attorneys and requires reviews and reports to ensure effective implementation and oversight. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments.

This bill recognizes and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps on November 10, 2025. It acknowledges the Marine Corps' distinguished history, readiness, and role as a premier fighting force. The bill also encourages Americans to celebrate the anniversary through various activities and community engagement.

This bill directs the Comptroller General to review and report on the funding shortfalls in the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024 and the expected funding shortfall in the Veterans Health Administration for fiscal year 2025. It requires a comparison of spending versus the VA's plan, reasons for diversions, and accuracy of projections. The Comptroller General must submit a report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who then submits it to the appropriate congressional committees.

The PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to protect veterans by clarifying who can assist with VA claims, reinstating penalties for charging unauthorized fees, and ensuring fair representation. It requires agents and attorneys to apply for recognition, limits fees for initial claims, and mandates transparency regarding free services available to veterans. The Act also overrides conflicting state laws to ensure consistent enforcement of these protections.

The RELIEVE Act waives the prior care requirement for veterans seeking reimbursement for emergency treatment at non-VA facilities if that treatment was furnished within 60 days of enrolling in the VA health care system. This change applies to emergency treatment received one year after the Act's enactment, removing a barrier to care for newly enrolled veterans facing emergencies. Formally, the bill amends section 1725(b)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code.

This bill authorizes the Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan to manage and transfer its real property without federal approval, excluding lands held in trust by the U.S. The U.S. is generally not liable for losses from these transactions unless directly involved or otherwise liable by law. This authority does not extend to land transferred into federal trust for the tribe.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025 seeks to resolve historical land claims by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community related to the uncompensated use of Reservation Swamp Lands and Reservation Canal Lands. The Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer $33,900,000 to the Community as compensation for these claims. Upon payment, the Act extinguishes all Community claims to the specified lands and confirms ownership by current landowners, while also preventing the use of funds for future gaming-related land acquisition. This aims to provide a fair settlement, protect current landowners, and avoid further litigation.

The "Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act" aims to level the playing field for broadband service providers in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. It directs the Federal Communications Commission to prioritize processing applications from areas with short construction seasons. This ensures that these providers have a fair chance to deploy broadband in underserved rural areas.

The "Rural 340B Access Act of 2025" expands the 340B drug discount program to include rural emergency hospitals. To qualify, these hospitals must be owned/operated by a government entity or a non-profit with governmental powers, or have a contract to provide healthcare to low-income individuals ineligible for Medicare/Medicaid. This expansion aims to improve access to affordable medications in rural communities.

The FIND Act prohibits federal agencies from contracting with entities that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industry. It requires federal contractors to certify they do not discriminate against firearm entities and prohibits them from awarding subcontracts to entities that do not provide a similar certification. Violations of these clauses will result in contract termination. The act defines "discriminate" as making judgments or refusing/limiting services based on biased criteria, rather than case-by-case evaluations, empirical data, financial risk, or legal non-compliance.

The "Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement Restoration Act" or the "VOICE Restoration Act" re-establishes the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, witnesses, and their legal representatives by providing resources, referrals, and information. It mandates VOICE to offer a toll-free hotline, local contacts, and assistance with custody status updates, as well as requiring quarterly reports to Congress and executive leaders analyzing the impact of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.