Legislative Activity

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 aims to combat the growing obesity epidemic, particularly among older adults, by expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy under Medicare. This bill mandates that Medicare Part D plans begin covering FDA-approved medications for obesity and weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, it requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of these new obesity treatment strategies.

The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act (DLARA) aims to increase transparency and improve management of Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans. It mandates stricter monthly reporting requirements for the SBA, imposes new financial breakdowns in the President's budget requests for disaster loan costs, and establishes limitations on new loan commitments when funding runs low. Furthermore, the bill requires comprehensive reports from the GAO and the SBA Inspector General to review past spending accuracy and the impact of recent program changes.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 significantly expands and permanently secures access to Medicare telehealth services by eliminating outdated geographic restrictions and allowing more practitioners to offer remote care. The bill also strengthens program integrity by dedicating funds for telehealth oversight while clarifying rules around providing necessary technology to patients. Finally, it mandates the creation of tailored educational resources and public reporting to improve quality measurement and transparency in remote care delivery.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating **September 25th** as **National Stop SuiSilence Day**. The bill emphasizes that open conversation is crucial for reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and preventing loss of life. It encourages individuals, communities, and the government to actively engage in suicide prevention awareness and action on this designated day.

The Medicare Patient Choice Act expands the freedom of choice for Medicare beneficiaries by explicitly including therapists and qualified audiologists alongside physicians and practitioners in Medicare regulations. This amendment ensures patients can select these specific providers for their care under existing Medicare choice provisions. The bill formally defines the included therapist types (physical, occupational, and speech-language pathologists) for clarity.

The PEARL Act establishes a three-year pilot program for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to adopt and train dogs sourced directly from local animal shelters to serve as support canines. This initiative aims to integrate shelter dogs into CBP's existing canine teams.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

The Prescription Information Modernization Act of 2025 allows drug manufacturers to provide required prescribing information to healthcare providers digitally. This shift is contingent upon manufacturers offering providers the option to receive paper copies upon request, free of charge. The Secretary of HHS must establish final rules for this digital transition within one year of enactment.

This resolution officially supports the designation of Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day to honor the CHamoru people who survived the harsh Japanese occupation during World War II. It recognizes their incredible loyalty and sacrifice while under duress, including aiding American service members. The bill calls for the entire nation to observe this day to ensure their stories of courage are never forgotten.

This resolution formally supports designating July 21, 2025, as "Guam Liberation Day" to honor the island's history. It recognizes the suffering of the CHamoru people under Japanese occupation and commemorates the sacrifices of U.S. servicemembers during the 1944 liberation campaign. The bill encourages the President to issue a proclamation observing this important anniversary across the nation.

The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2025 mandates that group health plans treat the cost-sharing for oral (take-at-home) anticancer drugs the same as they treat cost-sharing for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This ensures patients do not face higher out-of-pocket expenses for necessary oral chemotherapy medications. The Act also requires the GAO to study the financial impact of this new parity requirement on patients.

The Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025 ensures the Secretary of Agriculture has a seat on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for reviews involving agricultural land, biotechnology, or the food industry. This legislation mandates that specific committees review certain agricultural land transactions involving foreign entities from designated adversarial nations. These new provisions aim to enhance national security by scrutinizing foreign investment in critical U.S. agricultural assets.

The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the organ transplant process. This legislation ensures that a disability alone cannot be a basis for denying a transplant, referral, or listing. It mandates reasonable modifications and the provision of necessary support, including recognizing support networks, unless the disability presents a medically significant barrier to the transplant itself. The Act ensures these protections apply from initial evaluation through post-transplant care and does not diminish existing state or local protections.

The Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2025 aims to improve women's health after childbirth by clarifying Medicaid/CHIP coverage for essential pelvic health services. It mandates federal guidance for states on covering services like pelvic floor exams and physical therapy, alongside establishing a national education campaign for both providers and new mothers. The bill also directs the GAO to study existing coverage gaps for postpartum women under Medicaid.

This bill posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall "Major" Taylor, recognizing the pioneering Black cyclist for his historic achievements and his fight against racial prejudice. The medal will be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and presented to Taylor's great-granddaughter. The Act also authorizes the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act aims to clarify and ensure proper coverage of occupational therapy services under Medicare for treating mental health and substance use disorders. It mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to educate stakeholders on billing and payment rules within the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. This ensures providers are correctly reimbursed when using occupational therapy for mental health treatment.

The Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025 establishes a program to create five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers. These centers will focus on research, development, and training to secure the nation's food supply chain against cyber threats. The bill authorizes $25 million annually through fiscal year 2030 to fund these university-led initiatives.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2025 ensures that time spent receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital counts toward the required 3-day inpatient stay needed to qualify for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. This change effectively removes a significant barrier to accessing post-hospital care for many Medicare beneficiaries. The Secretary of HHS is authorized to implement this rule immediately.

The American Flags to Honor Our Veterans Act of 2025 specifically authorizes the placement of the U.S. flag directly next to the gravesite of any individual who served in the Armed Forces or is a veteran. This provision ensures that flags can be displayed securely and upright next to individual graves, regardless of other existing flag display regulations.