Legislative Activity

This bill authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal for Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, posthumously recognizing his courageous actions during World War II when he saved approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers from Nazi persecution by defying a direct order to identify them. The medal will be presented to his next of kin, and the bill also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to commemorate his heroism.

The MEDAL Act of 2025 seeks to honor Medal of Honor recipients by increasing their special monthly pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33, recognizing their extraordinary heroism and inspiration to the Armed Forces. The bill maintains the surviving spouse's special monthly pension at $1,406.73, subject to periodic adjustments.

The ACES Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on cancer rates and mortality among veterans who served as active duty aircrew, identifying potential links between military exposures and specific cancers. The study will utilize data from multiple government sources to determine cancer rates and mortality among aircrew members. A report of the findings will be submitted to the Secretary and the Veterans Affairs Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

This resolution expresses concern over China's growing influence in Panama, particularly regarding the management of key ports, and its potential threat to the Panama Canal's neutrality and U.S. interests. It urges Panama to expel Chinese officials and terminate agreements that allow Chinese entities to manage critical infrastructure. The resolution also calls on the U.S. to utilize the Neutrality Treaty to address these threats, provide support to Panama, and explore a partnership to restore operational control of the Panama Canal, ensuring its security and freedom of navigation.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the deduction for qualified business income permanent. This is achieved by eliminating the expiration date for this deduction. This change provides long-term tax certainty for small businesses.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025" seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortions and for health benefits coverage that includes abortion coverage, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It clarifies that premium credits and cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be used for health plans that include abortion coverage, allowing for separate purchase of abortion coverage without federal tax credits. The Act also requires health plans to transparently disclose the extent of abortion coverage and any related premium surcharges to enrollees.

The Dismantle Iran's Proxy Act of 2025 redesignates Ansarallah as a foreign terrorist organization, imposing sanctions and requiring a strategy to restore freedom of navigation in key waterways. It mandates a report on obstacles to humanitarian aid in Yemen under Ansarallah's control and requires the president to determine if Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim are officials, agents, or affiliates of Ansarallah.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" (SAVE Act) aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens register to vote in federal elections by requiring documentary proof of citizenship during voter registration. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include citizenship verification and mandates states to verify citizenship using various databases and federal information. The Act also establishes penalties for registering non-citizens and provides guidance for states to implement these changes.

The "Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act" aims to reduce drug costs by clarifying that generic drug manufacturers are not infringing on patents when seeking FDA approval for a use of a drug that is no longer covered by patent ("skinny label"). The bill amends patent law to create a safe harbor for generic drug manufacturers who seek FDA approval for a drug with a label that excludes any uses still covered by patents. This exemption extends to the promotion and marketing of the drug, as long as it does not reference the patented condition of use. The bill also includes similar provisions for biosimilar biological products.