Legislative Activity

The "Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act" establishes an interagency strike force to prioritize and expedite the review of requests for communications use authorizations on federal lands. This strike force will set goals, monitor agency performance, and ensure accountability in processing these requests. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information must report to Congress on the strike force's effectiveness. The aim is to speed up broadband deployment by streamlining the authorization process on public lands and National Forest System lands.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

The Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025 prevents Congress from using the budget reconciliation process to cut funding or eligibility for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This protection establishes a significant procedural roadblock against reducing benefits for these essential social programs. However, this restriction is temporary and is set to expire on January 20, 2029.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for audiology services, beginning in 2027. This legislation allows qualified audiologists to provide diagnostic and treatment services without physician referral or supervision, as permitted by state law. The bill also specifies payment rates and includes audiologists in coverage for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE Act) prohibits the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill establishes a formal process managed by the Attorney General and ATF to list prohibited firearms, while grandfathering existing possessions under strict transfer rules. Furthermore, it permits states to use federal Byrne grants for voluntary buy-back programs targeting these newly restricted items. Violations carry significant fines and potential prison sentences.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to review state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. If a state fails to meet these standards, the FLRA will administer federal labor relations rules for the uncovered employees. The Act also prohibits strikes or lockouts that would measurably disrupt emergency or public safety services.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act ensures that congressionally appropriated funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot be unilaterally withheld or transferred without explicit new authorization from Congress. This legislation also provides significant protections for VA personnel by exempting the agency from presidential hiring freezes for a four-year period and establishing strict notification requirements before layoffs or removals of probationary employees can occur. Finally, the Secretary of the VA must regularly certify compliance with these new funding and personnel mandates to relevant Congressional committees.

The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025 establishes a special enrollment period for individuals transitioning from COBRA continuation coverage to Medicare Part B. This allows those currently on COBRA when they become Medicare-eligible to sign up without incurring late enrollment penalties. The Act also clarifies how COBRA plans must treat individuals eligible for, but not yet enrolled in, Medicare Part B.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal criminal penalties for the intentional sharing of both real and digitally forged nonconsensual intimate images, with stricter penalties for images involving minors. It mandates that covered online platforms create a clear process for victims to request the removal of such content within 48 hours. Failure by platforms to reasonably comply with these removal requests will be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

This bill officially terminates the national emergency that the President declared on April 2, 2025, under Executive Order 14257. It utilizes the authority of the National Emergencies Act to immediately end the emergency declaration. Consequently, all special powers and authorities activated by that declaration are rescinded.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a new, streamlined grant program within the Department of Justice to support small local and Tribal law enforcement agencies (under 175 officers). These funds are specifically designated for officer training, mental health resources, and recruitment/retention bonuses. The law mandates a rapid application process and includes strict accountability measures, such as audits and public reporting of bonuses. Congress is authorized to appropriate up to $50 million annually for this program through fiscal year 2031.

The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025 mandates a high-resolution survey and mapping of the Great Lakes lakebeds, to be completed by December 31, 2030. Led by NOAA, this effort requires collaboration with state and regional partners to collect and catalog detailed bathymetric data. The resulting high-resolution map and associated data must be made publicly available as it is completed and fully released within 180 days of project completion.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.

The PEER Support Act aims to formally recognize and strengthen the profession of peer support specialists who use their lived experience to help others in recovery. The bill establishes a new Office of Recovery within SAMHSA, led by an individual with lived recovery experience. Furthermore, it mandates the official classification of peer support specialist roles in the federal job system and directs a review of state criminal background check processes for these specialists.

The Carnivals are Real Entertainment Act establishes a specific P visa pathway for temporary workers employed by traveling carnivals, circuses, and associated concession providers. This new classification ensures essential mobile entertainment staff can enter the U.S. while adhering to existing H-2B temporary worker program regulations. The law mandates that the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Labor develop and finalize the necessary rules within one year of enactment.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow businesses from deducting federal income taxes for expenses incurred while attempting to influence employees regarding union organization or activities. This change is intended to stop companies from subsidizing anti-union campaigns through tax write-offs. The bill also establishes new, significant reporting requirements and penalties for businesses and third-party consultants who engage in these influence expenditures.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act restores key federal tax deductions for employees, effective after 2024. This legislation makes union dues fully deductible "above the line," meaning they reduce Adjusted Gross Income without itemizing. Additionally, it allows itemizers to deduct certain other job-related business expenses that were previously limited.

The Ellie Helton, Lisa Colagrossi, Kristen Shafer Englert, Teresa Anne Lawrence, and Jennifer Sedney Focused Research Act, or "Ellies Law," addresses the high incidence and devastating impact of brain aneurysms in the U.S. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). This dedicated funding is specifically intended to supplement existing research efforts focused on unruptured intracranial aneurysms across diverse populations.