Legislative Activity

The DETERRENT Act significantly increases transparency requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts, contracts, and investments, especially those involving "countries or entities of concern." It mandates detailed public disclosure reports, establishes strict prohibitions and waiver processes for contracts with risky foreign entities, and imposes severe financial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires specified large private institutions to report their holdings in concerning foreign assets annually.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow distributions from a Health Savings Account (HSA) for the funeral expenses of the account beneficiary to be treated as qualified, tax-free distributions. These expenses, which include burial, cremation, and related services, are capped at a total of \$5,000 per beneficiary. The legislation also clarifies that funeral expenses incurred within 90 days after the account holder's death can be treated as if they occurred before death for tax purposes.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act aims to encourage more veterinarians to serve in underserved rural areas by making participation in certain loan repayment or forgiveness programs more financially appealing. This bill amends the tax code to exclude amounts received through qualifying state or federal veterinary student loan repayment programs from being counted as taxable income. This tax benefit applies to amounts received for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025 repeals the outdated 12-percent Federal excise tax on new heavy trucks and trailers. This repeal aims to lower costs, encouraging fleet owners to replace aging vehicles with modern, safer, and more fuel-efficient models. By removing this significant tax burden, the bill seeks to accelerate the adoption of cleaner engine technology and improve overall road safety. The Act also includes technical updates to the tax code related to the removal of this long-standing tax.

This resolution officially designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to honor the significant contributions of women across all sectors of U.S. agriculture. It recognizes women as vital producers, leaders, and mentors who drive economic success and support the next generation in farming. The bill encourages the public to celebrate and support the essential role women play in ensuring the nation's food supply and global trade.

The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 updates Medicare coverage to include diagnostic ultrasound tests. This legislation mandates that Medicare establish separate payments for the transportation and setup of portable ultrasound equipment, mirroring existing payments for portable X-ray services. These changes are set to take effect starting January 1, 2027.

The **SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025** seeks to reauthorize and update the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). This legislation expands the program's focus to include cancer prevention and aims to reduce health disparities in screening access. The bill authorizes $235 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and mandates a GAO study on program eligibility and service trends.

The Safer Skies Act of 2025 mandates enhanced security screening for certain smaller charter and commuter air carriers that sell individual passenger seats publicly. This legislation requires these specific operations, currently exempt from TSA checkpoints, to adopt the security standards applied to larger commercial airlines. The goal is to raise the baseline security level across a broader segment of air travel operations.

The Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act of 2025 allows states to use Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funds to purchase life-saving opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, for schools. These funds can also cover essential training for school staff on administering the antagonists and providing fentanyl awareness education to students. This legislation aims to enhance school safety by equipping them to respond to opioid emergencies.

The Helene Small Business Recovery Act grants the President the authority to waive federal rules prohibiting the duplication of disaster benefits upon a Governor's request. This allows small businesses and individuals to receive necessary aid even if they have other forms of assistance, provided it is in the public interest and avoids waste, fraud, or abuse. Importantly, this waiver authority cannot be denied based on the applicant's income level and applies to major disasters declared in 2023 or 2024.

This resolution formally recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps in 2025. Congress is honoring the Corps' long history, core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and its consistent readiness to defend the nation. The bill encourages the public to join in celebrating this significant milestone and acknowledging the service and sacrifice of all Marines.

The Air National Guard Squadron Preservation Act of 2025 mandates the recapitalization of the Air National Guard's fighter fleet with advanced and fifth-generation aircraft. It requires the Air Force to maintain production of these modern jets until all legacy aircraft in relevant Guard units are replaced. The bill also directs the GAO to review acquisition challenges and requires annual progress reports on the replacement timeline.

The Paycheck Fairness Act significantly strengthens federal equal pay protections by broadening definitions of sex discrimination, tightening employer defenses against pay disparities, and increasing penalties for violations. It also prohibits employers from using salary history in hiring decisions and mandates new data collection by the EEOC to better enforce anti-discrimination laws. Furthermore, the bill establishes new training and outreach programs to combat systemic wage bias.

The FRIDGE Act of 2025 aims to boost U.S. agricultural exports by addressing critical infrastructure weaknesses in foreign markets. This legislation authorizes funding to provide technical assistance and training specifically focused on improving foreign cold chain capacity and storage. By strengthening these global supply chains, the bill seeks to reduce spoilage of American food products and expand market access for U.S. commodities.

This Act imposes immediate sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) for their involvement in terrorism, particularly the October 7th attacks. It also mandates a report from the Secretary of State on designating the Lions Den and the PRC as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Furthermore, the bill requires ongoing reviews to identify and potentially sanction successor or affiliated terrorist groups.

The Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act of 2025 aims to ensure equitable treatment of osteopathic (D.O.) and allopathic (M.D.) medical school graduates in residency applications. It requires hospitals receiving Medicare funds to report detailed data on D.O. and M.D. applicants and acceptances for each residency program. Hospitals failing to submit this required data will face a 2% reduction in their Medicare payments. This collected data will also be made publicly available to promote transparency in the residency recruitment process.

The Unity through Service Act of 2025 establishes an Interagency Council on Service to advise the President on strengthening recruitment across military, national, and public service opportunities. The bill mandates joint market research between defense and national service agencies and improves transition assistance for separating service members into public sector jobs. Ultimately, the Act aims to foster civic duty by coordinating federal efforts to promote and measure the impact of all forms of national service.

This bill establishes the Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization to overhaul how the government collects farm data. The Commission will study and recommend ways to modernize the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) using new technology and improved data quality. It is tasked with reducing survey burdens on farmers and improving data timeliness, especially for specialty crops. The Commission must submit its final recommendations to Congress and the President within two years of enactment.

This bill officially ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment, declaring it a valid part of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically removes any previously imposed deadlines for state ratification. If three-fourths of the states have approved the amendment, this law confirms its official status regardless of past time constraints.

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue special commemorative gold, silver, and clad coins honoring the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. These coins will be sold to the public, with surcharges from the sales benefiting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Treasury must ensure that the production and issuance of these coins result in no net cost to the U.S. Government.