Legislative Activity

The "EARLY Minds Act" amends the Public Health Service Act to emphasize early intervention for mental health by requiring states to outline prevention strategies in their plans. States can use up to 5% of their funding to support these programs. The Secretary must report to Congress biennially on state prevention and early intervention activities, including outcomes and demographics.

This bill amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to broaden access to telehealth services under Medicare. It expands the types of healthcare practitioners eligible to provide these services. This change aims to increase convenience and access to healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries.

The "Protect and Serve Act of 2025" creates federal offenses for intentionally causing serious injury or death to law enforcement officers because of their status as officers. It sets penalties including imprisonment and fines, with increased penalties if death results or if kidnapping or attempted killing is involved. Federal prosecution requires certification from the Attorney General, based on a request from the state or if it is in the public interest to ensure substantial justice. The act defines "law enforcement officer" and "State" for the purposes of the new offenses.

The Broadband Buildout Accountability Act exempts the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with one specific exception. This exception pertains to 5 U.S. Code § 552, suggesting a limited allowance for information disclosure under specific circumstances within the program.

The "New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act" aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare kidney diseases through research, education, and increased public awareness. It establishes Centers of Excellence for Rare Kidney Disease Research, directs studies on testing and treatment approaches, and promotes provider education in nephrology. The Act prioritizes addressing disparities in affected populations and seeks to delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and transplant. It authorizes appropriations for these activities from 2026 through 2030.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period for drug price negotiations under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It changes the negotiation period for small-molecule drugs from 7 years to 11 years, matching the period already in place for biologic drugs. This adjustment aims to create parity in negotiation timelines between different types of medications, effective as if included in the original legislation.

The "Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act of 2025" streamlines the enrollment process for out-of-state healthcare providers in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring children under 21 have access to care from eligible providers across state lines. By reducing administrative burdens and unnecessary screening requirements, the Act aims to improve healthcare access for children while maintaining necessary safeguards against fraud and abuse. Participating providers will be enrolled for a 5-year period, and the changes will take effect three years after the Act's enactment.

The "Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act" aims to broaden access to dental coverage by enabling individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans via the Health Insurance Exchange, irrespective of their enrollment status in a qualified health plan. This expands options for individuals seeking dental insurance.

The "No Industrial Restrictions in Secret Act of 2025" or "No IRIS Act of 2025" prevents the EPA Administrator from utilizing assessments produced by the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System program. This prohibition extends to developing regulations, enforcement actions, permitting, and informing air toxics assessments.

The Susan Muffley Act of 2025 ensures that eligible participants and beneficiaries under specific pension plans, like the Delphi and PHI retirement programs, receive their full vested benefits. It directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate benefits, provide lump-sum payments for past-due amounts with interest, and establishes a trust fund within the Treasury to cover these increased payments. The act also includes provisions for the tax treatment of lump-sum payments, allowing recipients to spread the income over three years unless they elect otherwise.

The AIMM Act permanently extends a tax provision related to how businesses calculate their interest expense deductions. This extension allows businesses to include depreciation, amortization, and depletion when determining the limitation on business interest expenses. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. Formally, the bill is called the American Investment in Manufacturing and Main Street Act.

The Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act prevents Congress from imposing new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between broadcasters and the recording industry, where radio provides free publicity that boosts music sales and supports artists. The act recognizes local radio's crucial role in communities by providing news, weather updates, and public service announcements. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect local radio stations and businesses from economic harm, ensuring they can continue serving their communities without additional financial burdens.

The Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2025 amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to ensure payment and performance security for construction projects receiving federal assistance. It allows the Secretary of Transportation or the Administrator to consider state or local laws mandating payment and performance security as fulfilling this requirement if they cover at least 50% of the construction contract. If state or local laws don't apply or meet the 50% threshold, adherence to federal bond requirements under 40 U.S.C. 3131(b)(1) and (2) is required.

The "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025" increases penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws, including banning violators and their affiliates from importing goods. It also allows private parties harmed by customs fraud to sue for damages and injunctive relief. The Act excludes those who commit fraud from participating in the importer of record program.

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 "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.

The "PSA Screening for HIM Act" aims to improve early detection of prostate cancer by requiring group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing for high-risk men aged 40 and over, including African-American men and those with a family history of the disease. This coverage mandate ensures that high-risk individuals have access to potentially life-saving screenings, aligning with the goal of reducing prostate cancer-related deaths and improving treatment outcomes. The Act defines "men with a family history of prostate cancer" as those with a first-degree relative with prostate cancer, associated cancers, or genetic alterations linked to increased risk. This provision is set to take effect for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 expands milk options available to students in the National School Lunch Program by allowing schools to offer organic or non-organic whole milk. This legislation provides greater flexibility for schools in providing fluid milk choices while maintaining accommodations for students with special dietary needs. Importantly, the saturated fat content of these offered milk options will not count toward the meal's overall saturated fat limits.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.