Legislative Activity

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.

The Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act establishes a 25% tax credit for purchasing U.S.-made printed circuit boards and integrated circuit substrates starting in 2026. It also creates a federal incentive program, managed by the Commerce Department, to provide up to $3 billion in funding to boost domestic manufacturing and research and development in these critical electronic components. The program prioritizes national security needs, workforce development, and supports for small and diverse-owned businesses.

The Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act authorizes the relocation of a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members lost in a 1982 training crash. The Secretary of Agriculture can permit the move to the Stratton Ridge rest area, provided private landowner consent and approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are secured. Crucially, this act mandates that all costs associated with the relocation, installation, and maintenance must be covered entirely by non-federal funds.

The ANCHOR for Military Families Act aims to significantly improve how the military informs service members and their families about available relocation assistance programs before a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). This bill mandates the delivery of comprehensive, accessible information packets covering housing, education (including school enrollment rules), and mental health support at least 45 days prior to a move. Furthermore, it requires the Department of Defense to report annually to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these new information delivery standards.

The Guidance Clarity Act mandates that federal agencies must include a prominent "guidance clarity statement" on all new official guidance documents. This statement must explicitly inform the public that the guidance does not create new legally binding requirements. The purpose is to ensure that agency advice clearly explains existing laws and policies without asserting new legal authority.

The Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program designed to increase the number of mental health professionals working in schools. This program creates matching grants where the government helps cover graduate students' educational costs if their institutions agree to match the funding dollar-for-dollar. The goal is to incentivize graduate schools to support students who commit to careers in school-based mental health services, with specific outreach targeting low-income students.

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 establishes a federal civil cause of action against the creation, possession with intent to share, or sharing of nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries, often known as deepfakes. This legislation updates existing law to specifically address image-based sexual abuse created through AI or digital manipulation, regardless of whether the image is labeled as fake. Victims can sue for significant statutory damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief to stop the spread of the harmful content. The Act ensures that this new federal standard does not preempt or limit stronger existing State or Tribal laws.

The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025 modifies federal securities laws to update exemptions for 403(b) retirement plans. This legislation clarifies requirements under the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act. The changes generally condition these exemptions on the employer taking on specific fiduciary responsibilities regarding the selection and approval of investment options offered to participants.

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 Supporting Our Surviving Spouses Act removes the statute of limitations for certain survivor benefit claims filed by the spouses of armed forces members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. This change allows eligible survivors to file these specific claims at any time after the law is enacted. The bill ensures that no deadline prevents these survivors from seeking entitled benefits.

The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025 significantly increases the penalty-free withdrawal limit from retirement accounts for first-time homebuyers. This legislation raises the maximum allowable distribution from $\$10,000$ to $\$50,000$. This change is designed to provide greater financial flexibility for individuals purchasing their first home, taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent review of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forms sent to claimants to ensure they are clear and easy to understand. The VA Secretary must hire an outside entity to assess these forms and implement recommendations for improvement within a set timeline. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

The Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits life insurance companies from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or canceling policies solely because an individual is a living kidney donor. This federal law ensures that living donors are not penalized financially for their altruistic act, unless unrelated health risks are present. Individuals harmed by discrimination under this Act have the right to sue in federal court.

This bill amends Medicare to require cognitive impairment screening during the Annual Wellness Visit and the Initial Preventive Physical Examination. It mandates the use of specific, approved screening tools to detect potential issues like Alzheimer's disease early. The goal is to ensure timely diagnosis, allowing patients and caregivers to access necessary planning and support services sooner.

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.

This bill mandates comprehensive federal reporting to better understand and address violence, aggression, and wellness challenges facing law enforcement officers. It requires the Attorney General to produce detailed reports analyzing attacks on officers, potential new data collection methods for non-criminal aggressive incidents, and the state of officer mental health resources. The goal is to use this improved data to recommend better federal, state, and local responses and support systems for officers.

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

The Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act extends the life of the Historic Preservation Fund through the year 2035. This legislation also increases the maximum annual funding available for the program from \$150 million to \$250 million. Essentially, this bill ensures continued and increased financial support for preserving historic sites across the nation.

The Alzheimer’s Law Enforcement Education Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a free, online training course for law enforcement and corrections personnel regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This course will teach officers how to recognize symptoms, communicate effectively, use alternatives to physical restraints, and identify potential abuse of affected individuals. The bill encourages states to accept completion of this specialized training toward required professional development hours.

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 aims to standardize and nationalize racehorse health, medication control, and racetrack safety across state lines. It achieves this by establishing a new governing body, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), tasked with creating science-based rules and maintaining a national safety database. The bill also mandates specialized scientific committees to develop breed-specific medication standards and establishes strict disciplinary processes for rule violations. Overall, this legislation centralizes oversight to improve industry-wide safety and integrity.