Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating June 11, 2025, as "World Franchise Day." It recognizes the significant role franchising plays in the U.S. economy by fostering entrepreneurship, creating millions of jobs, and providing pathways to ownership. The bill formally endorses the global recognition of this vital business model.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025 reforms federal firearm background check procedures, establishing a formal petition process for buyers when the system delays a decision beyond 10 business days. This bill removes the previous 10-day time limit on background checks under the Brady Act while mandating extensive reporting from the GAO and FBI on the effectiveness and outcomes of these delayed transfers. Furthermore, the Attorney General must report on the law's impact on domestic violence victims within 150 days of enactment.

The Community TEAMS Act of 2025 establishes new federal grants to fund partnerships between medical schools and local health facilities in rural and medically underserved communities. These grants aim to expand clinical training opportunities for medical students in high-need areas. The ultimate goal is to encourage these students to establish long-term medical practices within those communities after graduation.

This bill amends federal law to allow owners of U.S.-flagged vessels and marine terminal operators to establish Capital Construction Funds. These funds can now be used for purchasing, replacing, or upgrading eligible cargo handling equipment at U.S. marine terminals. The legislation also updates definitions and establishes rules regarding fund deposits, qualified withdrawals, and prohibits the use of funds for certain automated or China-manufactured equipment.

The Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through culturally competent care and resource development. These grants strictly prohibit funding for conversion therapy practices. The bill also mandates federal data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and requires a report on the needs of those in foster care.

The Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by updating funding rules based on 2030 data and mandating $500 million in annual funding from 2026 through 2030. The bill doubles funding for food storage and distribution costs to $200 million and extends infrastructure grant eligibility until 2030. Furthermore, it establishes new flexibility for geographically isolated states, allowing them alternative methods for receiving or purchasing necessary food commodities.

The Family Vaccine Protection Act formally establishes the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) into law, requiring all its vaccine recommendations to be based on the preponderance of the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence. This legislation mandates strict procedures for the CDC Director to adopt or reject ACIP advice, including notifying Congress if a recommendation is rejected. Furthermore, the Act requires that any changes to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program's injury table must also be supported by strong scientific evidence.

This resolution formally expresses the House of Representatives' grave concern over the severe humanitarian crisis and widespread suffering of civilians in Gaza, alongside the plight of hostages. It urgently calls on the Administration to use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of all hostages. Furthermore, the bill demands the immediate delivery and secure distribution of essential humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic hunger crisis in Gaza.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House that Congress should enact the Older Americans Bill of Rights to affirm the right of older Americans to live with dignity and independence. It highlights severe challenges facing seniors, including poverty, food insecurity, social isolation, and gaps in healthcare access. The proposed Bill of Rights calls for strengthening Social Security and Medicare, lowering prescription drug costs, and ensuring access to affordable housing and essential services. Ultimately, this measure urges Congress to establish comprehensive protections for the financial security, health, and community participation of older adults.

The FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Taskforce within the FBI to investigate and enforce federal laws against severe animal cruelty, such as dogfighting and crush videos. This Taskforce is also responsible for developing training materials for local law enforcement. Furthermore, it must coordinate with other federal agencies and submit annual reports to Congress detailing enforcement statistics, including charges filed and convictions secured.

The Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to strengthen local business districts, particularly in underserved communities. This program will award grants to larger intermediary organizations, which will then provide technical assistance, training, and capacity building support to smaller, local groups managing neighborhood commercial areas. The goal is to enhance the ability of these local organizations to drive economic growth, job creation, and revitalization in distressed and rural areas.

The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act mandates the National Park Service (NPS) to establish a program to significantly reduce or eliminate the sale and distribution of disposable plastic products, including single-use water bottles, across all park units. Regional directors must implement these changes while considering operational costs, visitor safety regarding water access, and vendor contracts. The law also requires proactive visitor education and biennial reviews to assess the program's effectiveness and public impact.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating July 3 through July 10, 2025, as "National Extreme Heat Awareness Week." The goal is to raise public awareness about the significant dangers and widespread risks extreme heat poses to public safety, infrastructure, and the economy. By establishing this week, Congress encourages nationwide education and preparedness efforts to mitigate heat-related illnesses and fatalities.

This resolution calls upon all Americans to observe Memorial Day, 2025, as a solemn occasion to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and peace. Congress recognizes the profound debt owed to these patriots who have died defending American values globally. The bill encourages a national expression of respect, pride, and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

The Fit to Serve Act prohibits the U.S. Armed Forces from discriminating against service members based on their gender identity. This means military branches cannot set different standards, involuntarily discharge personnel, or deny medically necessary healthcare due to a service member's gender identity. The bill ensures equal opportunity for joining, serving, and receiving care regardless of one's internal sense of self.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 ensures continued federal support for projects that improve access to healthy food options. This bill reauthorizes the initiative by significantly increasing mandatory funding levels, starting at \$25 million in FY 2026 and rising to \$50 million annually by FY 2030. These funds are drawn from the Commodity Credit Corporation to support healthy food infrastructure development.

This bill, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks to recognize her foundational contributions to science and medicine through her immortal HeLa cells. The legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. Furthermore, the Act authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act establishes a new federal grant program to provide operating support for high-quality public transit services. This funding is specifically targeted to improve mobility and environmental outcomes, with a requirement that the majority of funds benefit underserved communities or areas of persistent poverty. The Act also increases the federal share for rural transit operating assistance up to 80%.