Legislative Activity

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The SERVE Act addresses the military's severe recruiting challenges by increasing recruiter access to high schools, formalizing JROTC partnership options, and establishing incentives for schools that promote military service. Key provisions mandate regular recruiter visits, allow students to join nearby JROTC programs, and create a pilot program to recognize "Military-Friendly schools." Furthermore, the bill grants priority consideration in service academy admissions to graduates from high schools with above-average enlistment rates.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 declares extreme settler violence and displacement in the West Bank a threat to U.S. national security interests. This Act mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals responsible for undermining peace and stability in the region. The Treasury Department must report to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions every 90 days.

The Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2025 mandates specific, regular cancer screenings for Department of Defense (DoD) firefighters as part of their annual health evaluations. This includes tailored testing for breast, colon, and prostate cancers, based on age and risk factors. While these screenings are offered, participation remains optional for the individual firefighter. The DoD must track participation and anonymized results to monitor cancer trends within the firefighting community.

The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen efforts against human trafficking in the U.S. It renames and prioritizes grants for schools to educate students on recognizing and preventing trafficking, including online exploitation. The bill also establishes a new program to provide comprehensive employment, education, and life skills support for survivors. Finally, it extends and increases the authorization of appropriations for key anti-trafficking and victim assistance programs through Fiscal Year 2029.

The Protect National Service Act affirms the significant societal return on investment provided by national service programs like AmeriCorps. This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) or alter its status as a Government corporation. It ensures that any future reorganization must maintain the Trust's solvency and continue federal commitment to civic engagement. The CEO must annually certify compliance with these protections to Congress for five years.

The ABC-ED Act of 2025 aims to alleviate emergency department boarding and crowding by modernizing public health data systems to track real-time hospital bed capacity. It also directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to pilot programs specifically improving emergency care for older adults and those in acute psychiatric crisis. Finally, the bill mandates a study on best practices for statewide, real-time capacity tracking systems and their impact on ER wait times.

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 mandates the FDA to update federal regulations within one year, replacing references to "animal testing" with the broader term "nonclinical testing" in drug development rules. This change aligns FDA regulations with recent legislative updates, allowing for the use of modern, non-animal testing methods in drug approval processes. The interim final rule implementing these changes will take effect immediately upon publication.

The Shell Company Abuse Act establishes a new federal crime to prevent individuals from using shell companies to conceal illegal election contributions made by foreign nationals in U.S. politics. This legislation specifically targets those who set up or utilize entities with the intent of hiding the source of banned foreign money influencing elections. Violators face up to five years in prison and significant fines for this prohibited activity.

The Veterans for Mustangs Act amends existing law to prioritize humane, on-range fertility control for managing wild horse and burro populations. This legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Interior must prioritize recruiting, training, and hiring military veterans to administer these fertility control measures. This ensures population management goals are met while providing employment opportunities for veterans.

This Act mandates improvements to the mental health components of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program. It ensures transitioning service members and new veterans receive comprehensive information on available mental health services, suicide risk, and related support resources. The Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs must jointly report to Congress on these updates within one year of enactment.

This resolution formally recognizes Clela Rorex, the 1975 Boulder County Clerk who courageously issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in the United States. It honors her pioneering role in advancing civil rights for all couples, four decades before nationwide legalization. The bill also supports the designation of a "Clela Rorex Day" to commemorate her bravery and lasting legacy.

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 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 ENLIST Act mandates that secondary schools receiving federal funding must prominently display and ensure student access to military recruiting information during school hours. This ensures that information about military service and training opportunities is readily available to students.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to significantly advance the fight against brain tumors by increasing research funding and improving patient access to care. This legislation establishes new networks for glioblastoma research, creates a public database for tracking biospecimens, and launches a national awareness campaign about clinical trials. Furthermore, the Act funds pilot programs to improve long-term care for survivors and directs the FDA to ensure brain tumor patients are not unfairly excluded from relevant clinical trials.