Legislative Activity

The "Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025" increases penalties for stealing firearms from licensed dealers. It sets stricter punishments, including up to 20 years in prison, for violating laws related to firearm theft. The act also mandates minimum prison sentences of 3 years for burglaries and 5 years for robberies targeting licensed firearm businesses.

The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act directs the Department of Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2027 to commemorate the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente. The coins' designs will represent Clemente's life, including his baseball achievements and humanitarian work. Surcharges from the coin sales will benefit the Roberto Clemente Foundation, supporting their educational programs, youth sports initiatives, disaster relief efforts, and historic preservation projects. The Act ensures that the coin program will not incur any net cost to the United States government.

The Care Across Generations Act aims to improve care for both children and older adults by establishing a competitive grant program. These grants will be awarded to long-term care facilities to operate or contract with qualified child care facilities and coordinate activities between the two. Grant recipients must evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and report their findings, which will then be used to inform policy recommendations to Congress. This act seeks to foster multigenerational connections and provide comprehensive care solutions.

The Veterans Readiness and Employment Transparency Act of 2025 aims to improve outreach by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities by establishing a dedicated phone number and contact information on regional office websites. It also mandates monthly Q&A sessions between VA employees and school certifying officials, as well as in-person briefings at educational institutions. The Act requires the Secretary to submit an annual report on vocational rehabilitation program extensions and approve or reject extension requests within 30 days.

The "GUARD VA Benefits Act" reinstates penalties for individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees for assistance with their VA benefits claims. This bill amends title 38 of the United States Code to ensure that those who exploit veterans by charging unlawful fees face appropriate fines. The aim is to protect veterans from financial exploitation related to their benefits claims.

The Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to include rural areas, not just highly rural ones. It broadens the range of eligible grant recipients to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations. The bill also increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000, with a possible increase to $80,000 for vehicle purchases needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and authorizes necessary funding by removing the previous funding limit.

The Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025 aims to address historical inequities by extending housing and educational benefits to Black World War II veterans and their direct descendants who were previously denied these benefits due to racial discrimination. The bill amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to include these veterans and their families in housing loan and educational assistance programs. It also establishes a panel to identify and recommend additional support for female and minority veterans.

The "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act" amends the Social Security Act to revise eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It ensures these individuals are eligible for SSI regardless of their spouse's income and resources. This change allows eligible individuals to receive the standard individual SSI rate, reduced only by their own income.

This bill redesignates the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It changes all references to the site in law and documentation to reflect the new name. The bill also repeals the previous resolutions that designated the site as a memorial to Robert E. Lee.

The Guarding Readiness Resources Act allows the National Guard Bureau to accept funds from states and territories as reimbursement for the use of military property. These funds will be used by the Department of Defense for the repair, maintenance, and replacement of assets used by National Guard units on state active duty.

The APLUS Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to update regulations, permitting market agencies to have financial interests in smaller meatpacking companies, defined by specific slaughter capacities. These market agencies must disclose these financial ties to livestock sellers. The Act does not reduce the Secretary's authority to enforce rules protecting producers, competition, and market integrity under existing law.

The "Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025" updates how Medicare reimburses hospitals for the costs of running nursing and allied health education programs. It broadens the definition of "reasonable costs" to include both direct and indirect expenses, regardless of whether they are incurred directly by the hospital or through related entities. The Act also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue rules implementing these changes and to refund hospitals for past cost reductions that would now be allowable. This aims to provide greater financial support for these crucial healthcare education programs.

The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act establishes a grant program to expand commercial truck parking and improve safety. The program provides funds to states, local governments, and tribal entities for projects that increase parking availability, improve existing facilities, and use technology to manage parking. The Act also requires a biennial report to Congress on the availability of truck parking and the effectiveness of funded projects. It authorizes $151 million per fiscal year from 2025 through 2029 for these initiatives.

The "EARLY Minds Act" amends the Public Health Service Act to emphasize early intervention for mental health by requiring states to outline prevention strategies in their plans. States can use up to 5% of their funding to support these programs. The Secretary must report to Congress biennially on state prevention and early intervention activities, including outcomes and demographics.

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 bans cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and restricts the use of animal testing data for cosmetic safety, with certain exceptions. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to impose civil penalties for non-compliance and preempts states from enacting conflicting regulations. The Act defines key terms related to cosmetic animal testing and cosmetics.

This bill directs Congress to convene a joint session in Philadelphia on July 2, 2026, to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The session will take place at Independence National Historical Park, recognizing Philadelphia's pivotal role in the nation's founding.

The "Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act" allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to complete Medicare paperwork for covering therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes, increasing access to this benefit.

The "Student Debt Alternative and CTE Awareness Act" aims to increase awareness of career and technical education (CTE) programs as alternatives to traditional four-year degrees. It mandates the Department of Education to publish CTE program details, including costs and employment rates, on its website and to include CTE information on the FAFSA application. No additional funds will be authorized to implement the requirements of this Act.

This bill expresses support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic, while condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, support for terrorism, and attempts to develop nuclear weapons. It affirms the right of the Iranian people to self-determination and supports continued sanctions against the current regime. The bill also calls for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Albania.

The "Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act" expands healthcare coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP to include comprehensive cancer diagnostic and laboratory tests, such as genomic sequencing, starting in 2027. It ensures coverage upon diagnosis, recurrence, and as needed for treatment planning. Additionally, the Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an education program to raise awareness among healthcare providers and the public about genomic testing and its applications in cancer care.