Legislative Activity

The Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act authorizes the relocation of a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members lost in a 1982 training crash. The Secretary of Agriculture can permit the move to the Stratton Ridge rest area, provided private landowner consent and approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are secured. Crucially, this act mandates that all costs associated with the relocation, installation, and maintenance must be covered entirely by non-federal funds.

The Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program designed to increase the number of mental health professionals working in schools. This program creates matching grants where the government helps cover graduate students' educational costs if their institutions agree to match the funding dollar-for-dollar. The goal is to incentivize graduate schools to support students who commit to careers in school-based mental health services, with specific outreach targeting low-income students.

The ANCHOR for Military Families Act aims to significantly improve how the military informs service members and their families about available relocation assistance programs before a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). This bill mandates the delivery of comprehensive, accessible information packets covering housing, education (including school enrollment rules), and mental health support at least 45 days prior to a move. Furthermore, it requires the Department of Defense to report annually to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these new information delivery standards.

The Guidance Clarity Act mandates that federal agencies must include a prominent "guidance clarity statement" on all new official guidance documents. This statement must explicitly inform the public that the guidance does not create new legally binding requirements. The purpose is to ensure that agency advice clearly explains existing laws and policies without asserting new legal authority.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Supporting Our Surviving Spouses Act removes the statute of limitations for certain survivor benefit claims filed by the spouses of armed forces members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. This change allows eligible survivors to file these specific claims at any time after the law is enacted. The bill ensures that no deadline prevents these survivors from seeking entitled benefits.

The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025 significantly increases the penalty-free withdrawal limit from retirement accounts for first-time homebuyers. This legislation raises the maximum allowable distribution from $\$10,000$ to $\$50,000$. This change is designed to provide greater financial flexibility for individuals purchasing their first home, taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025" modifies regulations for 403(b) retirement plans, expanding the types of entities whose assets can be included in collective trust funds. It requires employers to act as fiduciaries and approve investment options for governmental 403(b) plans. The act also adds 403(b) plans to the types of plans that are exempt from certain registration requirements under specific securities regulations.

The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent review of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forms sent to claimants to ensure they are clear and easy to understand. The VA Secretary must hire an outside entity to assess these forms and implement recommendations for improvement within a set timeline. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

This bill, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks to recognize her foundational contributions to science and medicine through her immortal HeLa cells. The legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. Furthermore, the Act authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

This bill amends Medicare to require cognitive impairment screening during the Annual Wellness Visit and the Initial Preventive Physical Examination. It mandates the use of specific, approved screening tools to detect potential issues like Alzheimer's disease early. The goal is to ensure timely diagnosis, allowing patients and caregivers to access necessary planning and support services sooner.

The Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits life insurance companies from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or canceling policies solely because an individual is a living kidney donor. This federal law ensures that living donors are not penalized financially for their altruistic act, unless unrelated health risks are present. Individuals harmed by discrimination under this Act have the right to sue in federal court.

This bill mandates comprehensive federal reporting to better understand and address violence, aggression, and wellness challenges facing law enforcement officers. It requires the Attorney General to produce detailed reports analyzing attacks on officers, potential new data collection methods for non-criminal aggressive incidents, and the state of officer mental health resources. The goal is to use this improved data to recommend better federal, state, and local responses and support systems for officers.

The COUNTER Act enhances the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems targeting U.S. assets. This legislation delegates specific response powers and updates mitigation rules for drone threats. Crucially, it exempts sensitive information regarding these counter-drone technologies and procedures from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill also adjusts several deadlines and clarifies the applicability of certain federal laws when operating overseas to counter these threats.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act formally recognizes the installation of high-efficiency mechanical insulation as a key energy and water efficiency measure for federal buildings. This legislation mandates that mechanical insulation must meet or exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements to qualify for these efficiency designations. Consequently, future energy and water evaluations for federal facilities must specifically identify potential savings opportunities related to mechanical insulation upgrades.

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 aims to standardize and nationalize racehorse health, medication control, and racetrack safety across state lines. It achieves this by establishing a new governing body, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), tasked with creating science-based rules and maintaining a national safety database. The bill also mandates specialized scientific committees to develop breed-specific medication standards and establishes strict disciplinary processes for rule violations. Overall, this legislation centralizes oversight to improve industry-wide safety and integrity.

The Alzheimer’s Law Enforcement Education Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a free, online training course for law enforcement and corrections personnel regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This course will teach officers how to recognize symptoms, communicate effectively, use alternatives to physical restraints, and identify potential abuse of affected individuals. The bill encourages states to accept completion of this specialized training toward required professional development hours.

This resolution expresses the strong sense of the House of Representatives affirming the enduring U.S.-Israel alliance based on shared democratic values. It emphasizes the necessity of expanding defense cooperation to address evolving regional threats and maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. The bill calls for continued joint efforts in missile defense, technology sharing, and intelligence to ensure the security of both nations.

The Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act extends the life of the Historic Preservation Fund through the year 2035. This legislation also increases the maximum annual funding available for the program from \$150 million to \$250 million. Essentially, this bill ensures continued and increased financial support for preserving historic sites across the nation.

This resolution expresses gratitude to the families of first responders who died in the line of duty, known as Gold Shield Families. It recognizes the profound sacrifice made by these families and calls upon local communities to support the nonprofit organizations that provide them with essential resources and aid during their time of need. The bill emphasizes the nation's ongoing commitment to honoring both the fallen heroes and their surviving loved ones.