Legislative Activity

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods. It broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP and modifies retailer eligibility requirements, permitting more stores to accept SNAP if hot food sales do not exceed 50% of their gross sales. This change also updates the language regarding where SNAP-eligible food can be consumed to include "home or immediate consumption".

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2025 aims to preserve and restore the ecological integrity of the Northern Rockies region by designating wilderness areas, establishing biological connecting corridors, and designating wild and scenic rivers. The Act focuses on protecting biodiversity, facilitating wildlife movement, and safeguarding water resources. It also includes provisions for wildland restoration, implementation monitoring, and the protection of Native American tribal rights and water rights. This legislation seeks to balance conservation with existing rights and uses, ensuring the long-term health and resilience of this vital ecosystem.

This bill designates specific federal lands within Utah's red rock canyons, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin Deserts as wilderness areas, incorporating them into the National Wilderness Preservation System. It outlines detailed administrative and management protocols for these areas, including land management, water rights, and the continuation of livestock grazing. The bill seeks to balance conservation with existing rights, protecting tribal interests, and ensuring state authority over fish and wildlife management. This act withdraws these lands from uses like mining and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights, aiming to preserve these natural landscapes for future generations.

The Support UNFPA Funding Act aims to reinstate U.S. financial support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency. It authorizes appropriations of at least $50 million for fiscal year 2026 and $55 million for fiscal year 2027 to support UNFPA's work in reducing maternal deaths, preventing gender-based violence, and promoting voluntary family planning. The Act asserts that supporting UNFPA aligns with U.S. interests by improving global health, fostering development, and promoting stability.

The White Oak Resilience Act aims to restore and enhance white oak populations and upland oak habitats across the United States through collaborative efforts between federal, state, tribal, and private entities. It establishes initiatives for research, restoration pilot programs on federal lands, and a grant program to support white oak regeneration. The Act also addresses tree nursery shortages and promotes sustainable forest management practices to improve white oak resilience and ensure a sustainable supply of seedlings.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate the restriction that prevents striking workers from being eligible for SNAP benefits. This bill ensures that striking workers are not automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance.

The "SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025" reauthorizes and amends the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) to broaden its services, enhance support activities, and reduce disparities in cancer rates. It emphasizes prevention, detection, and control of breast and cervical cancer, ensuring alignment with evidence-based recommendations. The Act authorizes $235 million annually from 2026 through 2030 and requires a GAO study to assess the program's reach and identify barriers to access. Reporting frequency is adjusted to every 5 years and includes data on the preceding years.

The "Children's Health Protection Act of 2025" codifies and enhances the EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection and the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee. It ensures the EPA prioritizes the identification, assessment, and reduction of environmental health and safety risks to children, including issues of environmental justice. The Act directs the EPA to coordinate federal efforts, conduct research, and promote community programs aimed at protecting children's health from environmental hazards. It also authorizes specific appropriations for these activities through 2030.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements by redefining "sex," modifying the "bona fide factor" defense for pay disparities, broadening the definition of "same establishment," strengthening non-retaliation protections, and enhancing penalties for employers who violate equal pay provisions. The Act also requires training programs, research, education, and outreach initiatives to eliminate pay disparities, and establishes a National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace. Additionally, the Act directs the EEOC to collect compensation data, reinstates pay equity programs, prohibits the use of wage history in determining salary, and establishes a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve compliance and enforcement of equal pay laws.

The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to establish comprehensive standards for dog dealers, focusing on humane treatment. These standards include requirements for flooring, space, temperature, nutrition, exercise, socialization, veterinary care, and breeding practices. The Act sets specific guidelines for breeding frequency, age, and veterinary procedures, as well as humane placement for retired breeding dogs. It directs the Secretary to finalize regulations for these standards within 18 months.

This bill affirms the House of Representatives' belief that every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care. It argues that abortion restrictions endanger lives, force doctors to make impossible choices, and disproportionately harm people of color, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI individuals. The bill emphasizes that delays in emergency care due to abortion bans can lead to life-threatening situations and that everyone, including pregnant individuals, should have access to necessary medical care without discrimination.

The "Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act" amends the Social Security Act to reinforce protections for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. It prevents health plans from discriminating against ESRD patients or making Medicare the primary payer for their healthcare costs. The act clarifies that dialysis services should not be singled out for unfavorable treatment or coverage limits compared to other medical services, while allowing plans to manage their dialysis provider networks.

The "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expanding SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans. It includes veterans with a 60% or higher disability rating, those with multiple disabilities totaling 70% or higher with one at 40%, those catastrophically disabled, and those under 65 receiving certain pensions. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2030.

The Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act clarifies the definition of "crude oil" for excise tax purposes, including oil derived from tar sands and other unconventional sources. It authorizes the Secretary to classify other fuel feedstocks as crude oil if they pose a significant discharge risk and aligns the definition with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This change ensures that these previously untaxed sources are subject to the same excise taxes as conventional crude oil. The amendments made by this act will take effect immediately upon enactment.

The "Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025" mandates the Attorney General and heads of various federal agencies to compile and submit reports to Congress detailing all federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses, including elements, penalties, prosecution numbers, and mens rea requirements. These agencies must also create publicly accessible online indexes of these offenses. This aims to increase transparency and understanding of federal criminal laws. The act does not authorize new funding.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.

The "Expanding Medical Education Act" aims to increase the number of medical schools and osteopathic medical schools, especially in underserved areas, by providing grants to institutions of higher education. These grants will support the establishment, improvement, or expansion of medical schools, with a focus on recruiting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and developing curriculum tailored to the needs of underserved populations. The act requires regular reporting on the program's impact and outcomes, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in addressing healthcare workforce shortages and access to care.

The "Protect Postal Performance Act" modifies the procedures for the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding the closure or consolidation of post offices and processing and distribution centers. It mandates public hearings and transparency requirements for proposed closures, limits closures based on proximity to other post offices or population served, and restricts the USPS from closing or downgrading processing centers if it impacts mail delivery. The bill also requires Postal Regulatory Commission review of proposed changes to mail processing facilities and transportation optimization efforts.

The "Postal Police Reform Act of 2025" expands the authority of USPS police officers to enforce laws related to postal matters. It also clarifies the Postmaster General's authority to create and enforce regulations for Postal Service properties, including setting penalties for violations.

The "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act" mandates the transition of TSA personnel management systems to align with Title 5 of the U.S. Code, ensuring TSA employees receive similar rights and protections as other federal employees, including collective bargaining rights. It protects current pay and benefits during the transition, requires consultation with employee representatives, and addresses concerns related to employee well-being, safety, and diversity. The Act also calls for reports and plans to improve recruitment, address workplace harassment, and update background check requirements.