Legislative Activity

This resolution officially supports the designation of the third annual "National Community Health Worker Awareness Week" to recognize the vital role of Community Health Workers (CHWs). It highlights how CHWs serve as trusted cultural bridges connecting diverse communities to essential health and social services. The bill emphasizes the need for sustainable funding to support this proven workforce, which improves health outcomes nationwide.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes a new, refundable tax credit for eligible first-time homebuyers, equal to 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $15,000. This credit is subject to income and home price phase-outs based on local median figures. Homebuyers may elect to transfer this credit directly to their mortgage lender at closing in exchange for immediate cash. The bill also includes recapture provisions requiring repayment if the home is sold within four years.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly clarify that time taken off for an employee's own organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition. This ensures both private and federal sector workers receive FMLA protection for recovery from organ donation. The legislation also specifies how federal employees must substitute existing paid leave when taking FMLA time for this purpose.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion to recognize their crucial and heroic service as the only all-Black unit defending the D-Day invasion in Normandy. The medal will be struck by the Treasury and ultimately deposited with the Smithsonian Institution for public display. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds returning to the U.S. Mint fund.

The Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025 ensures that small businesses receive prompt interim payments when the government mandates changes to their existing construction contracts. Upon requesting an equitable adjustment for contract modifications, the agency must issue an immediate partial payment covering at least 50% of the estimated additional costs. This legislation also mandates that prime contractors promptly pass these interim funds down to affected subcontractors.

The Protect Our TEETH Act mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must seek a rapid evidence review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine before proposing new national safety limits for fluoride in drinking water. The EPA must consider the findings of this review when finalizing any rule changes. This ensures a transparent, expert-backed assessment informs decisions regarding public water fluoridation standards.

The Student Loan Contract Act of 2025 renames the Master Promissory Note for certain federal student loans to a "student loan contract." This new contract can only be used for additional loans taken out within the same award year as the initial signing. The bill also updates disclosure requirements to ensure students receive a copy of this new contract.

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, primarily focusing on defining and regulating "digital commodities" under the CFTC and SEC. It creates registration pathways for exchanges and intermediaries, clarifies rules for asset sales, protects individual self-custody rights, and explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Overall, the bill aims to bring clarity and consumer safeguards to the digital asset market while encouraging technological innovation.

The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act aims to enhance protections for Medicare beneficiaries receiving custom braces and artificial limbs. This bill ensures that payment will not be made for certain devices shipped directly to a patient without required training from a qualified practitioner. Additionally, it expands exemptions from competitive bidding for certain providers and clarifies access to replacement custom orthotic devices.

This resolution formally congratulates the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings for successfully executing Operation Midnight Hammer. The operation involved a historic 36-hour mission by B-2 pilots to strike targets related to Iran's nuclear program. Furthermore, the bill recognizes the long and distinguished service history of both military units.

The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act mandates that electronic communication and remote computing service providers must report to the Attorney General within 60 days upon gaining actual knowledge of illegal activity involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, or counterfeit prescription drugs. This legislation outlines specific reporting requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and privacy protections that limit monitoring and data retention. The Act also requires the Attorney General to issue an annual public report detailing the statistics of these reports.

This resolution declares a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting children due to prior administration directives that promoted fossil fuels and suppressed climate science. Congress asserts that these actions harm children's fundamental rights to life and a stable environment by worsening climate change impacts. The bill demands the current administration cease policies that increase greenhouse gases and restore access to suppressed climate research. Ultimately, it calls for aligning all energy and climate laws with the duty to protect the rights and future of young people.

The Hookah Clarification Act of 2025 establishes a distinct federal tax classification for waterpipe tobacco, commonly known as hookah or shisha. This legislation sets a significantly lower tax rate of $0.5662 per pound specifically for waterpipe tobacco, while maintaining the current rate for other types of pipe tobacco. The Act also provides a clear definition for what constitutes "waterpipe tobacco" for tax purposes.

The Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 extends the timeline for current Sport Fish Restoration funding allocation rules until 2031 and removes the spending cap for Interstate Fisheries Commission activities. The bill also updates boating infrastructure priorities to specifically include funding for alternative marine fuel facilities for larger vessels. Finally, it significantly reduces the federal excise tax rate on portable, electronically-aerated bait containers from 10 percent to 3 percent.

The Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive federal study to investigate the potential link between the use of chemical hair straighteners and the risk of developing uterine cancer. This research must specifically examine disparities in cancer rates among women of color. The study will ultimately recommend whether the FDA should require additional safety testing for these hair products.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research, public education, and provider awareness regarding uterine fibroids. The bill mandates expanded research coordination across federal agencies and authorizes funding to study the condition, which disproportionately affects minority women. It also requires the creation of public awareness campaigns detailing non-hysterectomy treatment options and mandates data collection on Medicaid/CHIP spending for fibroid treatments.