Legislative Activity

The Limiting ICE’s Nationwide Encroachment Act (LINE Act) prohibits federal health agencies, like CMS and HHS, from sharing the personally identifiable Medicaid enrollment data of individuals with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This measure is designed to protect the private health information of Medicaid recipients from being used for immigration enforcement purposes.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives opposing the implementation of the proposed Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. The House believes this model would severely undermine beneficiary access to necessary healthcare by significantly expanding prior authorization requirements in traditional Medicare. It urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to terminate the plan due to concerns over patient access and the poor track record of private entities managing these reviews.

The Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2025 establishes a system of advance appropriations for key Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and Indian Health Service (IHS) programs starting in fiscal year 2026. This legislation mandates that budget requests must include forward-looking funding estimates for the subsequent fiscal year to improve agency planning and transparency. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on resource adequacy for these critical services after consultation with Tribal nations.

The Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2025 imposes a federal income tax penalty on corporations whose CEO-to-worker pay ratio exceeds 50-to-1, calculated using a five-year average. If the ratio is too high, the standard 21% corporate tax rate will increase according to a specified penalty table. This measure applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, with exceptions for smaller companies below a $100 million revenue threshold.

The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025 (RESULTS Act) aims to improve Medicare payment rates for clinical lab tests by mandating the collection of more accurate, real-world payment data directly from large, independent private insurance claims databases. This legislation updates definitions, collection timelines, and calculation methods to ensure Medicare payments for widely available tests reflect current market rates. It also establishes default payment rules if sufficient private payor data cannot be secured.

The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act strengthens oversight of animal transportation by establishing new inspection and investigation powers for federal agencies. It also strictly prohibits the interstate movement of livestock deemed unfit to travel, based on established international animal health standards. This ensures that only healthy and capable animals are shipped across state lines, with an exception made only for necessary veterinary care.

The HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 removes a federal payment limitation for certain home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers under Medicaid. This change grants states greater flexibility in receiving federal matching funds for these essential community services.

The Nationwide Right to Unionize Act eliminates federal permission for states to enact or enforce "right-to-work" laws by repealing Section 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act. This action ensures that union security agreements negotiated between unions and employers are governed exclusively by federal labor law. Consequently, state laws that prohibit mandatory union membership or fee payment as a condition of employment will no longer apply where federal law permits such agreements.

The HIV Prevention Now Act secures **\$2.165 billion** in dedicated funding for the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention for Fiscal Year 2026. This appropriation is specifically earmarked to support the center's prevention programs and activities. This funding is supplemental to, and cannot be transferred from, other existing appropriations.

The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act mandates that essential HIV prevention services, including FDA-approved medications like PrEP and PEP, must be covered at no cost to the patient across private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. This law eliminates financial barriers such as deductibles, copays, and prior authorization requirements for these preventive treatments and necessary related care. The goal is to ensure universal, barrier-free access to critical HIV prevention tools.

The Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to ensure continued access to Medicare home health services by pausing automatic payment reductions scheduled for 2026 and 2027. This is achieved by mandating a positive adjustment to the standard payment rate to fully offset proposed cuts. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that these temporary payment increases will not negatively impact future rate calculations for providers.

The Quiet Communities Act of 2025 addresses the growing public health crisis caused by noise pollution by reestablishing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Noise Abatement and Control. This office will be tasked with researching noise impacts, supporting state and local noise control efforts through technical assistance and grants, and conducting a specific study on aircraft noise. The Act authorizes \$25 million annually through Fiscal Year 2030 to fund these critical national noise reduction initiatives.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act seeks to federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, which will retroactively apply to past offenses. The bill establishes an Opportunity Trust Fund, financed by new cannabis taxes, to reinvest in communities harmed by prohibition. Furthermore, it mandates the expungement of non-violent federal cannabis convictions and opens up Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to legitimate cannabis businesses.

The Greyhound Protection Act of 2025 seeks to end commercial greyhound racing and related cruel training practices nationwide by October 1, 2027. This legislation bans all forms of wagering on greyhound races and prohibits the use of live animals for training or coursing events. Violators face significant fines and potential imprisonment under the strengthened Animal Welfare Act. The bill reflects concerns over widespread animal injuries, drug use, and inhumane confinement within the declining industry.

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 establishes a permanent Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the State Department to streamline and support the resettlement of Afghan allies. This Act mandates the creation of a secure, centralized database to track all applicants, beneficiaries, and relocation progress, ensuring accountability to Congress. The Coordinator will manage interagency efforts, resolve family reunification roadblocks, and provide integration support for covered persons. This entire framework is set to automatically expire five years after enactment unless otherwise specified.

The Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act addresses the increasing danger from severe weather events driven by climate change. This bill mandates that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) be fully staffed, including reinstating recently departed employees, to ensure accurate forecasting and public alerts. Furthermore, it secures specific funding for NOAA in Fiscal Year 2026 and requires the immediate reinstatement of critical data tools, such as the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters tracker.

This resolution officially establishes August 20th as **Original Slavery Remembrance Day** to formally recognize and condemn the history of slavery in the U.S. and globally. It commemorates the lives of enslaved people, honors historical figures who fought for freedom, and acknowledges the lasting effects of slavery on contemporary society. The resolution requests the President to issue a proclamation calling for appropriate national observance of this day.

The Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025 aims to protect consumers by prohibiting grocery stores from charging "grossly excessive" prices for food items. The bill also bans stores from adjusting prices based on personal tracking data, such as facial recognition, and requires clear signage if facial recognition technology is used. Furthermore, it mandates that large physical grocery stores must use printed signs instead of electronic shelf labels for displaying prices.

The Public Utility Remediation and Enhancement for Water Act establishes a new federal grant program administered by the EPA to help public wastewater treatment plants upgrade facilities. These grants specifically target the planning, design, and construction needed to treat or eliminate emerging contaminants like PFAS chemicals. The federal government will cover at least 75% of eligible project costs to improve water quality.

The Keep Seniors Fed Act makes technical amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 regarding how income is calculated for food assistance eligibility. Specifically, it mandates that income received under Title II of the Social Security Act must now be counted when determining eligibility for benefits. These changes will take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.