Legislative Activity

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 Keep the Watchdogs Running Act ensures Inspectors General can continue operations during government shutdowns. It allows them to use funds, up to the level of their last appropriation, even when Congress hasn't passed a budget. This maintains oversight and prevents disruption of critical watchdog functions.

The Air America Act of 2025 authorizes the Director of the CIA to award payments to former employees of Air America and affiliated companies who supported the U.S. government between 1950 and 1976, or to their survivors. Eligible individuals or their survivors could receive up to $40,000 for five years of qualifying service, with additional amounts for longer service, with a cap on total awards at $60 million. The Act establishes application procedures, limitations on attorney fees, and prohibits judicial review of the Director's decisions, while also requiring regular reports to Congress on the status of the award payments. This act does not qualify anyone for federal benefits like retirement, disability, or death benefits.

The Transportation Equity Act establishes a Transportation Equity Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary of Transportation on transportation equity issues. This committee will provide recommendations on national transportation metrics, economic development, community connectivity, and public engagement. The committee will consist of members from diverse backgrounds and expertise, meeting regularly to evaluate and improve the Department's efforts in connecting people to economic opportunities. A Designated Federal Officer will manage the committee's operations and ensure transparency through public meetings and record-keeping.

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 Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing services, including preventative care, exams, and devices like dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Coverage for most services begins in 2026, with specific cost-sharing arrangements and limitations outlined in the bill. The Secretary has the authority to implement additional limitations and modify coverage based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill also requires the United States Preventive Services Task Force to include at least one oral health professional.

The "Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act" directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program members, also known as the Donut Dollies, for their service during the Vietnam War. It instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and made available for research. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs, with proceeds going back to the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The "Caring for Survivors Act of 2025" increases dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It changes the calculation of benefits to be based on 55 percent of a specified monthly compensation rate and includes a provision to ensure those receiving benefits based on a veteran's death before January 1, 1993, receive the greater of their current amount or the newly calculated amount. The Act also modifies the requirements for survivor benefits related to veterans who die while having a total disability rating, reducing the required period of disability from 10 to 5 years, and proportionally reducing benefits for those rated totally disabled for less than 10 years.

The Stop Comstock Act seeks to revise Title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Tariff Act of 1930, narrowing the scope of prohibited materials that cannot be sent through the mail or interstate commerce to only obscene materials, thus removing restrictions related to abortion and contraception. This bill aims to repeal sections of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that criminalized the dissemination of certain materials through the mail. By amending these laws, the bill intends to clarify and limit the federal government's power to regulate the distribution of materials deemed to be obscene.

This bill prohibits the President from selling or licensing the export of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE is not providing material support to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The restriction applies to a wide range of military equipment and technologies listed under specific categories of the United States Munitions List.

The "Access to Family Building Act" establishes a federal right for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) services and for healthcare providers to offer these services, free from undue restrictions. It allows the Attorney General and affected individuals to file lawsuits against those who limit ART access and permits states to enforce health and safety regulations that are the least restrictive means to ensure safety. The act overrides conflicting federal and state laws, ensuring its provisions are upheld, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations for implementation.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2025 reauthorizes and reforms the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to provide affordable housing by allocating funding, modifying qualification thresholds, and streamlining processes for participating jurisdictions. It modifies affordable housing qualifications, eliminates deadlines for committing funds, reforms homeownership resale restrictions, requires on-site inspections of home properties, and establishes a home loan guarantee program. The bill also refines the processes for community housing development organizations to better serve low- and moderate-income individuals, and makes technical corrections to fix errors and modernize the language in the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. These changes aim to increase the availability of affordable housing options, improve living conditions, and ensure efficient use of government funds.

The Pink Tariffs Study Act mandates a study by the Treasury Secretary to assess if U.S. tariffs disproportionately affect consumers, particularly based on gender. The study will analyze the impact of tariffs on different consumer groups, considering gender, household type, and income. A report of the findings must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The American Teacher Act aims to address teacher shortages and improve teacher compensation by establishing grants for states to increase teacher salaries, with the goal of ensuring a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers at qualifying schools, adjusted for inflation. The Act also allows for a national campaign to raise awareness of the value of the teaching profession and clarifies that the Act does not alter existing employee rights or agreements. Finally, the Act defines key terms and authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the grants and awareness campaign.

The "Securing American Agriculture Act" mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress, assessing U.S. dependency on critical agricultural products and inputs that could be weaponized by China. This report will analyze domestic production capacity, identify supply chain vulnerabilities, and recommend ways to reduce reliance on China, encouraging domestic or near-shore production. The assessment covers key areas such as agricultural equipment, fuel, fertilizers, feed, veterinary products, crop protection chemicals, and seeds. The Secretary is required to protect the confidentiality of information provided for the assessment.

The "Woman on the Twenty Act of 2025" mandates that all $20 bills printed after December 31, 2028, will feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on the front. It also requires the Secretary of the Treasury to release the preliminary design of the new $20 bill to the public by December 31, 2026.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act amends the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include projects that connect bike and pedestrian paths and reduce safety risks for vulnerable road users. It allows the federal government to cover up to 100% of the cost for these safety projects and broadens the scope of relevant safety plans to include measures for bicyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, the act permits the non-federal share of project costs to be calculated across a project, multiple projects, or a program.

The 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act directs the Treasury Secretary to produce gold and silver coins to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The coins' designs will represent the courage and resilience of those affected, with at least one coin bearing the inscription "Never Forget." Surcharges from the sale of these coins will be donated to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance. The Act ensures that the coin production does not create any net cost to the Federal Government.

The "Do No Harm Act" amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to ensure religious freedom is not used to justify discrimination or harm. It clarifies that the Act does not override federal laws protecting against discrimination, ensuring equal opportunity, or safeguarding access to healthcare and other essential services. This amendment confirms that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies only when the government is a party in a judicial proceeding.

The "Mamas and Babies in Underserved Communities Act of 2025" aims to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities in underserved communities by providing grants to healthcare providers. These grants will support the expansion and enhancement of maternal health services, including prenatal, postnatal care for infants, and postpartum care for mothers. Priority is given to entities serving minority, low-income, or medically underserved areas, particularly those led by community members. The act allocates necessary funds from 2026 to 2030 to facilitate these improvements.