Legislative Activity

The "Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025" aims to promote healthier lifestyles and prevent obesity-related diseases by making physical fitness activities more affordable and accessible. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to use pre-tax dollars for qualified fitness expenses, including gym memberships, fitness classes, and exercise equipment, up to certain limits. This bill defines qualified expenses and sets specific requirements for fitness facilities and equipment to be eligible for the tax benefit. The goal is to encourage individuals and families to engage in regular physical activity by providing financial incentives for doing so.

The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 allows state and federal correctional facilities to use jamming systems that interfere with wireless communications to or from contraband devices within the facility. The jamming system's operation must be limited to the housing facilities, and the state is responsible for funding the entire cost if a state correctional facility operates the system. Before implementing the system, correctional facilities must consult with local law enforcement and public safety officials and notify the Director of the Bureau of Prisons about its operation. This act limits the FCC's authority regarding jamming systems in correctional facilities.

The "Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing private-sector employees to choose compensatory time off instead of overtime pay, under certain conditions like a pre-work agreement and a cap of 160 hours accrued. The Act requires employers to compensate employees for unused time and prohibits coercion regarding the choice of compensatory time. The Secretary of Labor must update employee notices, and the Comptroller General will report to Congress on the use and impact of compensatory time. This act will automatically terminate 5 years after it becomes law.

The "Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act" mandates and expands the use of E-Verify for all employers in the United States, phasing in requirements for federal agencies, contractors, and critical infrastructure employers first. It increases penalties for employers who fail to comply with E-Verify or who hire unauthorized workers, and it protects employers from liability if they act in good faith based on E-Verify information. The act also includes provisions for information sharing between agencies, improvements to the E-Verify system, measures to combat identity theft, and the establishment of an Employer Compliance Inspection Center. Additionally, the bill requires reverification of employees' work authorization and simplifies the Form I-9 process.

The "Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act" restricts U.S. funds from being used in Gaza if they would benefit members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any foreign terrorist organization. It also restricts funds from being used through any United Nations entity that promotes anti-Israel or anti-Semitic ideas. These restrictions will be in place unless the President certifies to Congress that these conditions are not met.

The "Stop CARB Act of 2025" prevents California and other states from setting their own emission standards for nonroad vehicles and engines used in sectors like construction, agriculture, and rail. This bill eliminates existing and denies any pending waivers that allow states to exceed federal emission standards. By amending the Clean Air Act, the bill ensures that only the federal government can regulate emissions for these types of vehicles and engines. Additionally, the bill repeals the ability for states to adopt California's stricter emission standards for new motor vehicles.

The TRACE Act mandates the Attorney General to enhance the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System by including a data field to track missing persons whose last known location was on Federal land. It also requires an annual report to Congress detailing the number of missing persons cases linked to Federal lands.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The PARC Act ensures that all National Park System units that charge an entrance fee must accept cash as a form of payment. This guarantees that individuals have access to these parks, regardless of their payment method.

The "Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act" amends title 49 of the United States Code to broaden criminal penalties for damaging or destroying pipeline facilities. It expands the scope of prohibited actions to include vandalizing, tampering, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of pipelines.

The "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025" repeals the EPA's multi-pollutant emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles. It also amends the Clean Air Act to prevent regulations from mandating specific technologies in vehicles or limiting vehicle availability based on engine type. The EPA must revise existing regulations to comply with these changes within 24 months.

The "Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act" reauthorizes and amends section 508 of the Public Health Service Act. It updates language, adds a requirement for service provision plans that may include outreach to women greatly affected by maternal substance use disorder, and increases funding to $38,931,000 annually from 2025 through 2029.

The "Freedom to Haul Act of 2025" prevents the EPA from enforcing the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. It also amends the Clean Air Act to ensure that vehicle emission regulations do not mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new vehicles based on engine type. The EPA must revise existing regulations to comply with these changes within two years.

The "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025" amends the Clean Air Act to limit states' ability to set emission standards that restrict the sale or use of new gas-powered vehicles. It clarifies that state standards limiting gas-powered vehicles are subject to federal regulation and requires the EPA to revoke any conflicting waivers granted after January 1, 2022. This bill aims to preserve consumer choice in vehicle purchases by preventing states from effectively banning gas-powered cars.

The "Protect Our Military Families 2nd Amendment Rights Act" ensures that military members and their spouses have equal rights to receive firearms, regardless of their duty station location. It amends federal law to define residency for military families, allowing them to purchase firearms in the state where they maintain legal residence, where the member is stationed, or where the member commutes from daily to their permanent duty station. These changes will take effect 180 days after the law is enacted.

The "Securing American Agriculture Act" directs the Secretary of Agriculture to annually assess and report on the United States' dependency on critical agricultural products and inputs from China. The report will identify supply chain vulnerabilities and recommend ways to reduce reliance on China, including boosting domestic production. This aims to safeguard American agriculture by addressing potential threats and vulnerabilities in the supply chain.

The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2027, to commemorate Roberto Clemente's life and legacy. The coins' designs will represent Clemente's human rights work and baseball achievements, with surcharges on the sale of the coins benefiting the Roberto Clemente Foundation. These funds will support the foundation's mission, including educational programs, youth sports, disaster relief, and historic preservation. The Act ensures that the coin program will not create net costs to the government and outlines specific consultations for the coin designs.

The Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act designates a site within the Reserve area of Washington, D.C., for the construction of the National Medal of Honor Monument. This monument, authorized in 2021, will honor Medal of Honor recipients from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The goal is to commemorate their valor and inspire future generations by establishing a lasting tribute near the Lincoln Memorial. Construction will adhere to federal regulations, ensuring the monument appropriately represents the extraordinary actions and spirit of American heroes.

The HELP Copays Act ensures that financial assistance from non-profits and drug manufacturers counts towards a person's deductible, coinsurance, and copay limits for health insurance plans. Beginning in 2026, this includes a "safe harbor" provision to protect high-deductible health plans. These changes apply to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management, while still allowing the use of tools like prior authorization. The Act is effective for health plans starting on or after January 1, 2026.

The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to modernize regulations around online data collection, use, and deletion for children and teens. It expands the definition of personal information, requires verifiable consent for data collection and usage, and prohibits individual-specific advertising to children and teens. The Act also mandates FTC reports on mobile app oversight and enforcement, a GAO study on teens' privacy using financial technology, and includes a severability clause.