Legislative Activity

The Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 aims to streamline how the Department of Veterans Affairs contracts with outside healthcare professionals to conduct medical disability examinations. This bill expands eligibility for temporary licensing arrangements for these contract workers and extends the authority for these contracts until September 30, 2031. Furthermore, it mandates that the VA report on the usage, cost, and quality of these contracted examination services.

The Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the VA's healthcare workforce by mandating that the VA offer full-time clinical employment contracts to scholarship graduates within 90 days of their qualification. Additionally, this Act establishes a comprehensive, property-wide ban on all smoking and the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems within Veterans Health Administration facilities. The VA must also report regularly to Congress on the success of these new placement timelines.

The Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 allows authorized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare professionals to prescribe and dispense controlled medications to eligible veterans via telemedicine. This provision removes the prior requirement for an initial in-person visit before prescribing these medications remotely. The VA is required to establish specific regulations detailing the process for this telemedicine delivery while ensuring compliance with existing federal drug control laws.

This resolution formally honors the victims of Hurricane Helene one year after the storm devastated western North Carolina. It expresses deep condolences to the affected communities and recognizes the heroic efforts of first responders and volunteers. Furthermore, the resolution affirms Congress's commitment to supporting ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the region.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act of 2025 amends existing law to grant the Secretary of Agriculture greater flexibility in restoring disaster-damaged watersheds. This change allows the Secretary to restore areas to a condition better than pre-disaster levels if it ensures long-term watershed health. The bill focuses on proactive, improved recovery efforts following natural disasters.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025 (RESULTS Act) aims to improve Medicare payment rates for clinical lab tests by mandating the collection of more accurate, real-world payment data directly from large, independent private insurance claims databases. This legislation updates definitions, collection timelines, and calculation methods to ensure Medicare payments for widely available tests reflect current market rates. It also establishes default payment rules if sufficient private payor data cannot be secured.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends crucial federal funding for programs supporting law enforcement officers in crisis. This bill specifically reauthorizes existing support and treatment initiatives for an additional five years, running from 2025 through 2029. It ensures continued resources are available for officers needing mental health and wellness assistance.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a program supporting the defense biotechnology supply chain. The program aims to strengthen military readiness by developing and scaling up promising bio-based materials, fuels, and chemicals from military research. It focuses on reducing reliance on vulnerable foreign supply lines through applied research, prototyping, and public-private partnerships. The authority to run this program will automatically expire ten years after enactment unless extended by the President.

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish clear guidance for private entities on how to demonstrate that their biobased products meet military requirements. It also mandates an audit by the Comptroller General to review DoD procurement standards for any unintentional exclusion of biobased products. The goal is to ensure fair evaluation and increase the adoption of biologically derived products within the DoD supply chain.

The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act enables states to establish specialized Medicaid health homes focused exclusively on individuals with sickle cell disease starting in 2026. If a state adopts this program, it must provide mandatory dental and vision coverage to enrolled patients, regardless of standard state Medicaid policies. States implementing these health homes will also be required to report on patient outcomes, access to care, and expenditures.

This bill directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a feasibility study on integrating militarily relevant applications of emerging biotechnology into military wargaming exercises. The study must assess how new biotech could affect soldier capabilities, strategic materials, and potential adversary use. The resulting report, due within 180 days, will recommend necessary updates to ensure wargames reflect current and future technological realities.

This bill establishes a Department of Defense program to support and expand domestic bioindustrial manufacturing capacity for critical products. The program will provide competitive awards to private companies to build, update, or retool U.S. facilities for commercial-scale biomanufacturing. Selections will prioritize strengthening supply chains, meeting future military needs, and ensuring facility flexibility. This initiative aims to secure the nation's access to essential biomanufactured goods for the next decade.

The Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act extends the enhanced financial assistance available for purchasing health insurance through the Marketplace. This legislation pushes the expiration date for these boosted premium tax credits, including those for higher earners, from the end of 2025 through the end of 2026. Essentially, it ensures continued, robust subsidies for Marketplace health coverage.

The National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to develop a national strategy to protect schools from terrorist threats. This strategy will detail federal programs, spending, and activities related to school security, identify vulnerabilities, and set goals to address these vulnerabilities. The strategy will be submitted to specific committees in the House and Senate within one year of enactment and updated annually through 2033, if needed. The strategy aims to streamline efforts, consider existing evaluations, and avoid duplicating work related to school security against terrorism.

The FEMA Act of 2025 establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent, cabinet-level agency to lead a unified, all-hazards approach to national emergency management. The bill enacts sweeping reforms across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation programs to accelerate recovery, streamline funding, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disaster survivors and communities. Furthermore, it mandates significant new transparency measures, including public data reporting and GAO oversight, to ensure accountability for federal disaster spending.

The Greyhound Protection Act of 2025 seeks to end commercial greyhound racing and related cruel training practices nationwide by October 1, 2027. This legislation bans all forms of wagering on greyhound races and prohibits the use of live animals for training or coursing events. Violators face significant fines and potential imprisonment under the strengthened Animal Welfare Act. The bill reflects concerns over widespread animal injuries, drug use, and inhumane confinement within the declining industry.

The FORWARD Act expands eligibility for retired or disabled military personnel to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) using their military retirement or disability pay. This provision allows eligible former service members to make contributions, though these deposits will not receive any government matching funds. The relevant agencies have 180 days to establish the necessary regulations for this new option.