Legislative Activity

This bill expresses support for designating May 2025 as Renewable Fuels Month to highlight the benefits of renewable fuels, such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting rural economies. It also establishes the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to develop legislative solutions addressing challenges in the renewable fuels sector. The Council is tasked with investigating key areas like E15 sales and the Renewable Fuel Standard, with recommendations due to Congress by early 2026.

The Gerald's Law Act expands eligibility for a veteran's burial allowance. It now covers survivors whose veteran died at home while receiving VA hospice care, provided that care immediately followed a stay in a VA hospital or nursing home. This change ensures benefits for veterans transitioning from facility care to end-of-life care at home.

The Farm and Family Relief Act provides targeted economic assistance to various agricultural sectors, including producers of eligible commodities, sugar beets, and specialty crops, while also delaying scheduled cost-sharing changes for SNAP benefits. Additionally, the bill establishes new programs to support timber businesses through financial assistance and creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service to commercialize research. Finally, it terminates several specific Executive orders imposing tariffs.

The PrEP Access Act aims to expand access to HIV prevention by amending Medicare Part B to cover HIV prevention services, such as PrEP and PEP management, when provided by pharmacists. This coverage will take effect on January 1, 2027. The bill also establishes specific payment rates and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare beneficiaries for these services.

The Vets Connect Act establishes a secure, opt-in platform for verified veterans to reconnect with former service members based on shared service details. This system prioritizes veteran privacy by restricting the sharing of personal contact information unless explicitly authorized by the user. The platform strictly prohibits the use of veteran data for solicitation, marketing, or commercial purposes.

The Capping Costs for Consumers Act of 2026 aims to lower healthcare costs for consumers purchasing insurance through the Exchange. It achieves this by changing the benchmark used to calculate both cost-sharing reductions and premium assistance tax credits from a silver-level plan to a gold-level plan, effective starting in 2028. The bill also permanently funds these expanded cost-sharing reductions.

This resolution initiates impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors. The articles of impeachment charge her with willfully refusing to comply with Congressional oversight laws and violating the Impoundment Control Act by improperly withholding funds. Further articles allege she directed widespread misconduct by ICE agents that violated federal law and constitutional rights, and misused taxpayer funds for personal gain through improper contracting.

The Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act establishes minimum federal salary and wage floors for school support staff, requiring states to implement higher state-level standards. It authorizes significant federal funding through grants to help states and local districts meet these new pay requirements within four years. States must prioritize funding distribution to districts serving high numbers of low-income students to ensure compliance with the mandated pay increases.

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Public Health Nursing Act establishes a ten-year, \$50 billion program to fund and expand the public health nursing workforce across the nation. This funding will provide grants to state, local, and territorial health departments to recruit, hire, and train registered nurses for essential public health services. Priority will be given to applicants serving medically underserved areas facing high rates of chronic disease, infant mortality, or maternal morbidity.

The Duty Status Reform Act aims to modernize and streamline the process for determining and managing duty status for federal employees. This legislation seeks to clarify existing regulations and ensure fair and consistent application of duty status rules across government agencies.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

The Thomas M. Conway Veterans Access to Resources in the Workplace Act mandates that employers prominently display a state-specific notice detailing veterans' benefits. This notice, developed by the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs, will include critical resources like the Veterans Crisis Line. The goal is to ensure veterans in the workplace have easy access to vital federal and state benefit information.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the schools selected as 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools before the program was discontinued. It commends the educators and communities of these exemplary schools for their achievements. Furthermore, the resolution calls upon the Secretary of Education to immediately reinstate the vital Blue Ribbon Schools program.

The Postal Suspension Transparency Act requires the U.S. Postal Service to create a public, searchable website detailing temporary post office closures due to emergencies. This site must provide essential information for each affected location, including the reason for closure, alternative services, and the nearest operating facility. The goal is to ensure the public has timely and accessible information when their local post office is temporarily suspended.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide workers with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request flexible or stable schedules and requires employers to engage in a good-faith discussion about these requests. For covered sector employees (like retail and food service), the bill mandates 14 days' advance notice of schedules and establishes "predictability pay" for last-minute changes or split shifts. The Act also grants employees the right to 11 hours of rest between shifts, with premium pay required if this rest period is violated.

This bill aims to bolster the U.S. bioeconomy and food system resilience by promoting innovation in edible protein production, particularly through biomanufacturing and utilizing under-utilized biomass. It establishes new research centers, prioritizes funding for alternative protein research through existing programs, and creates grant opportunities for commercial-scale production and workforce development. Ultimately, the Act seeks to secure the nation's protein supply, create economic opportunities, and maintain U.S. leadership in food technology.

The USDA Loan Modernization Act updates eligibility requirements for various USDA farm loans, including real estate, operating, and emergency loans. The bill standardizes ownership requirements across these programs, generally replacing "a majority" interest with a clear "at least a 50 percent" ownership threshold. It also introduces new provisions to accommodate complex business structures and recognizes "qualified operators" as automatically meeting certain criteria.

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 strengthens survivor benefits for miners who died from black lung disease by creating stronger legal presumptions and restoring older disability definitions. The bill also establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical costs for protracted claims, paid initially by the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Finally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office review of interim benefit recoupment, payment sufficiency, and survivor claim regulations.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.