Legislative Activity

This bill extends the temporary increase in the share of federal excise taxes on distilled spirits that is covered over to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It pushes the expiration date of this favorable tax treatment from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2032. Essentially, this legislation ensures the territories maintain their current revenue-sharing arrangement for another decade.

This bill amends tax code rules to provide special treatment for certain financial guaranty insurance companies under the Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) regulations. It allows these companies to avoid PFIC classification by counting unearned premium reserves as insurance liabilities, provided they meet strict financial and operational conditions. The legislation clarifies definitions and sets effective dates for these changes, generally applying to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 addresses the growing public health crisis of obesity, particularly among Medicare beneficiaries. This bill expands Medicare coverage for intensive behavioral therapy by allowing more types of qualified healthcare providers to furnish the treatment. Furthermore, it amends Medicare Part D to allow coverage for prescription medications used to treat obesity or weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, the Act requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of federal obesity-related efforts.

The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal program to eliminate Hepatitis C by coordinating national strategy, creating a subscription drug purchasing model to provide free treatment to high-risk populations (including incarcerated individuals and the uninsured), and funding public health activities for testing and outreach. Furthermore, the bill eliminates out-of-pocket costs for Hepatitis C treatments under Medicare Part D from 2027 through 2031. All funds appropriated under this Act are restricted for use only by individuals meeting specific lawful immigration statuses.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify how federal excise taxes collected on distilled spirits shipped from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are transferred back to those territories. It removes previous limitations on these tax transfers. Additionally, the bill establishes a new requirement mandating that Puerto Rico dedicate a portion of these transferred funds to its Conservation Trust Fund.

The Informing VETS Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to actively inform eligible veterans about the benefits of the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program. This is achieved by mandating the VA to mail personalized letters detailing VR&E benefits alongside a direct comparison chart against the GI Bill. This essential information must also be made publicly available on a VA website.

The Small Biotech Innovation Act creates an exception to the Medicare drug price negotiation program for small biotech manufacturers heavily invested in research and development. This exception shields certain "qualifying single source drugs" from negotiation for initial years, provided the company meets strict R&D spending thresholds relative to its number of qualifying drugs. To qualify, manufacturers must apply annually and certify their R&D expenditures, with provisions for appealing adverse decisions.

This resolution officially designates June 12, 2025, as "National Seersucker Day" and sets aside every subsequent Thursday through August 2025 as "Seersucker Thursday." It celebrates the history and tradition of the unique, puckered fabric, particularly its connection to Congressional tradition. The bill encourages the public to wear seersucker clothing to honor this American summer staple.

The Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act limits the coinsurance amount Medicare beneficiaries must pay for certain outpatient surgery center services. If the standard coinsurance exceeds the annual inpatient hospital deductible, this bill caps the beneficiary's out-of-pocket cost at that deductible amount. This change aims to reduce unexpected out-of-pocket expenses for patients receiving outpatient care.

The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act aims to improve charter school facilities by supporting states in developing policies that enhance funding and financing options for school buildings. It authorizes a new competitive grant program for states to create or improve their own facility aid programs, prioritizing fairness and access, especially for schools in low-income and rural areas. Furthermore, the bill adjusts existing grant structures to allow states more flexibility in using funds for facility acquisition, renovation, and startup loans for high-quality charter schools.

The Employee Ownership Fairness Act of 2025 seeks to modernize rules governing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) by addressing current contribution limits that hinder employee ownership growth. This bill separates ESOP contribution calculations from other defined contribution plans, ensuring that successful ESOPs do not inadvertently penalize employees or restrict employer matching contributions. Ultimately, the Act aims to remove unnecessary tax roadblocks so that more workers can benefit from owning a stake in their companies.

The Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2025 updates tax rules for direct primary care service arrangements, allowing monthly subscription fees up to \$150 to qualify as deductible medical expenses. This legislation ensures that participation in these arrangements does not disqualify individuals from contributing to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The \$150 limit will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2027.

The Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act lowers the minimum age requirement for younger employees to begin participating in certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s. This change allows employees to count service time toward eligibility starting at age 18 instead of age 21 under both ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The legislation provides alternative eligibility paths while making technical updates to ensure consistency across retirement plan rules. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning one year or more after the Act is enacted.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act aims to ensure that individuals held in custody awaiting the disposition of their charges maintain access to Medicaid coverage. This legislation removes the current automatic ban on Medicaid payments for pre-trial detainees. Furthermore, the bill establishes federal planning grants to help states prepare their systems for this change, focusing on assessing needs and building provider networks.

The Protection Against Foreign Adversarial Artificial Intelligence Act of 2025 prohibits federal contractors from using the DeepSeek AI tool for government work, with narrow national security exceptions. The bill also mandates the Secretary of Commerce to report on the national security threats posed by AI platforms affiliated with countries of concern. This report must analyze risks related to censorship, propaganda, data security, and espionage.

The Protecting Military Servicemembers Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025 prohibits data brokers from selling or transferring lists containing military servicemember information to foreign adversaries or entities controlled by them. This Act grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General to ensure compliance. Furthermore, the Comptroller General must report to Congress within one year on the effectiveness of these protections and recommend necessary expansions.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act standardizes the terminology used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) when discussing retirement ages. This legislation replaces terms like "full retirement age" and "early eligibility age" with clearer, consistent language such as "standard monthly benefit age" and "minimum monthly benefit age." The SSA is mandated to update all official materials to reflect this new terminology by January 1, 2027.

This bill mandates that the Social Security Administration (SSA) implement a new schedule for mailing paper Social Security statements to beneficiaries, beginning no later than January 1, 2027. The frequency of these mailed statements increases with the recipient's age, ensuring regular updates even for those with online accounts. Furthermore, the legislation authorizes necessary appropriations to cover the administrative costs associated with this expanded mailing requirement starting in fiscal year 2026.

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025 significantly enhances the rehabilitation tax credit by setting a standard 20% credit rate and introducing a new, higher 30% rate for qualifying small projects, including special provisions for rural areas. The bill also allows for the transfer of these credits and eliminates the requirement to reduce a property's cost basis when claiming the credit. These changes aim to incentivize the rehabilitation and placement in service of historic properties after the enactment date.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to significantly reform Medicare coverage for supplemental oxygen therapy by ending competitive bidding and establishing new payment rates for suppliers. The bill also protects access to respiratory therapist services by ensuring Medicare reimbursement for their work. Furthermore, it strengthens fraud prevention through mandated electronic documentation while simultaneously restoring clinical judgment in claim reviews. Finally, the Act establishes a comprehensive set of new rights and protections for beneficiaries receiving oxygen equipment and services.