Legislative Activity

The CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act extends enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace health insurance through 2026, while also establishing strict new penalties and verification processes to combat fraud by agents and brokers in health insurance exchanges. Furthermore, the bill imposes significant new transparency and accountability requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D plans. Finally, it extends the 2026 open enrollment period and creates a fast-track legislative process for future premium tax credit reform bills.

The DHS Grants Accountability Act aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of key homeland security grant programs. This legislation establishes stricter deadlines for the Department of Homeland Security to announce funding, issue notices, and for recipients to utilize grant money for preparedness, transit, and port security. Overall, the bill mandates clearer timelines to ensure funds are awarded and spent more predictably.

The Right to Read Act of 2025 amends federal education law to establish a comprehensive "right to read" for all students, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, effective school libraries, and diverse reading materials. The bill defines key terms like "effective school library" and mandates that states and local agencies detail plans to support these resources and protect students' First Amendment rights regarding information access. Furthermore, it authorizes significant new funding to improve literacy programs, support school librarians, and mandates national data collection on school library resources.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill, the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act, withdraws approximately 2,422 acres of Forest Service land known as Oak Flat in Arizona from all forms of mineral entry and development. It specifically cancels the prior land exchange that would have transferred the land to Resolution Copper Mining, LLC. The Act prohibits the transfer of Oak Flat to the foreign-backed mining venture, citing national security and environmental concerns.

The Feeding Rural Families Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to clarify the definition of "State" within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This change specifically ensures that both the urban and rural parts of Hawaii are explicitly included under the SNAP definition.

The Veteran Education Empowerment Act establishes a grant program to help colleges and universities create and operate dedicated Student Veteran Centers. These centers will serve as centralized hubs to coordinate academic support, transition services, and community building for student veterans. The bill authorizes funding for these grants, which can be used for establishing and operating the centers, with specific reporting requirements to track effectiveness.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Partnerships for Agricultural Climate Action Act establishes a grant program managed by the USDA to fund climate mitigation and adaptation activities on agricultural lands. This program provides financial assistance to eligible entities, such as state departments, cooperatives, and Tribal Governments, to implement strategies that increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Priority is given to proposals that support historically underserved producers and incorporate traditional ecological knowledge. The Act authorizes $150 million annually from 2026 through 2034 to support these efforts.

This bill, the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act, updates and increases the authorized funding for education grants to Alaska Native-serving and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. It specifically sets a maximum grant period of three years for these educational awards. The legislation authorizes $10 million for FY 2026, increasing to $15 million annually from FY 2027 through 2031.

This act mandates the Department of Defense to establish a policy requiring immediate notification to parents and Congress upon the discovery of suspected child abuse or neglect within military childcare and youth programs. Covered programs must notify parents within 24 hours and relevant congressional committees and representatives within 72 hours of an allegation. This ensures transparency and timely communication regarding the safety of military dependents in care settings.

The CHARGE Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to fund the installation of solar energy systems and energy storage technologies at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). This initiative aims to enhance the energy resilience of these vital community health providers. The program authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for qualifying projects.

The Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act amends existing legislation to strengthen support for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and culture. This bill specifically revises grant requirements for Native Hawaiian art and culture, ensuring that governing boards are composed of recognized Native Hawaiian cultural experts serving fixed terms. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and representation within the administration of cultural development funds.

This Act, the Indo-Pacific Partner and Ally Tariff Repeal Act, terminates tariffs imposed on goods from 40 specific Indo-Pacific allies and partners. Congress finds that these tariffs undermine collective efforts against the Chinese Communist Party's coercive actions. The bill immediately repeals the tariffs established under Executive Orders 14257 and 14326.

This resolution officially recognizes November 2025 as National Family Caregivers Month to honor the vital, unpaid contributions of the 63 million family caregivers across the nation. It acknowledges the significant financial, physical, and emotional burdens these individuals face while supporting loved ones. Furthermore, the bill encourages federal agencies and the private sector to implement strategies and invest in policies that provide essential support, such as paid leave and tax credits, for these caregivers.

The ROTOR Act aims to enhance aviation safety and transparency, primarily by narrowing exceptions for disabling ADS-B tracking on government aircraft and mandating that aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out must also install ADS-B In technology. The bill further requires the FAA to conduct comprehensive safety reviews of military and civilian operations in complex airspace, such as around Reagan National Airport. Finally, it mandates formal agreements for the FAA and the Department of the Army to share critical aviation safety data.

This bill, the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025, aims to significantly expand Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services. It broadens the list of covered chronic conditions beyond diabetes and kidney disease to include obesity, hypertension, cancer, and more. Furthermore, the legislation allows a wider range of healthcare providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to order these medically necessary nutrition services.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Communities Before Air Tourism Act expands the Secretary of Transportation's authority to restrict or prohibit commercial air tours over national parks and tribal lands. This expansion specifically includes protecting the well-being of nearby communities. The bill mandates consultation with affected communities and Indian tribes when making these decisions.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.