Legislative Activity

The Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act mandates that all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities establish partnerships with local rural medical facilities to enhance care access and lower costs for rural veterans. These agreements can cover services like telehealth, shared resources, and care coordination. The Secretary must report to Congress on implementation and the success of these partnerships in improving veteran accessibility every two years. Existing facilities must comply with this requirement or obtain a waiver within three years of enactment.

The Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act ensures that members of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) receive the same leave provisions currently afforded to members of the Armed Forces. This is achieved by adding a new chapter on "Leave" to the Public Health Service Act, applying military leave standards directly to PHS personnel. The Act also repeals an outdated section of the Public Health Service Act.

The Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans Act (ACE Veterans Act) allows enrolled veterans to receive a full year's supply of FDA-approved contraceptive products at one time. This change applies to birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, and similar items prescribed by a VA doctor. The VA provider must inform the veteran of this option when writing the prescription.

The Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 ties federal justice grant eligibility to responsible firearm purchasing practices. Organizations receiving Edward Byrne Grants must agree not to deal with licensed dealers who have a high number of firearms traced back to them shortly after retail sale. Furthermore, the bill mandates the ATF to regularly share tracing information with state and local law enforcement and publicly list these "covered licensed dealers."

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act establishes a federal grant program to help student parents remain in college by making childcare accessible. The Secretary of Education can award five-year grants to eligible colleges and universities to provide on-campus or subsidized childcare services to student parents who qualify for Pell Grants. Grantees must ensure the funded programs meet specific quality benchmarks within three years and report annually on student outcomes. The Act authorizes $500 million annually for this program from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031.

This bill, the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, modifies the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for school employees. It establishes a new, more flexible standard for paraprofessionals and education support staff to meet the FMLA's hours-of-service requirement based on their typical school-year schedule. Furthermore, the Act mandates the Department of Labor to create specific calculation methods for FMLA leave entitlement tailored to the unique scheduling of educational employees.

This resolution recognizes the foundational importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in promoting independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. It calls for strengthened federal action to dismantle remaining barriers, particularly by expanding vital community-based health care and support services. The bill urges various federal agencies to actively improve access to employment, housing, telecommunications, and emergency preparedness for this community. Ultimately, it declares that fulfilling the ADA's promise requires a committed, ongoing effort to ensure full inclusion.

The EACH Act of 2025 mandates that all federally funded health programs and insurance plans must cover abortion services without imposing restrictions based on income or insurance type. This legislation aims to eliminate existing federal bans and state-level restrictions that prevent access to comprehensive reproductive care. Furthermore, the bill prevents the federal government from interfering with state or private insurance plans that choose to cover abortion services. It explicitly repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act and establishes that this Act takes precedence over all conflicting federal laws.

This Act establishes a five-year pilot program treating pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select. This allows eligible military family members to sign up for expanded coverage upon becoming pregnant. The Department of Defense is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing enrollment changes under this new provision.

The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act aims to strictly limit the Department of Defense's support for civilian law enforcement to only overwhelming crises, requiring explicit Congressional approval for extensions beyond 14 days. It also prohibits active military or DoD civilian personnel from simultaneously holding positions in civilian law enforcement agencies, with exceptions for reservists in non-active duty status. Furthermore, the Act establishes a private right of action, allowing individuals and governments to sue federal entities for violations of these new accountability standards.

This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense establish regulations requiring all optional combat boots worn by service members to be 100% manufactured in the United States, including all components and materials. This "Made in USA" requirement applies to boots purchased by service members as part of their required uniform. Exceptions are permitted only for specific military mission needs or documented medical necessity.

The Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025 makes it illegal to knowingly import, sell, advertise, or distribute kangaroos or any products derived from four specified species within the United States. This legislation establishes clear definitions for protected animals and products, and outlines significant penalties for violations. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with developing the necessary regulations to enforce these prohibitions.

The Protect IVF Act establishes a federal right to access fertility treatments, such as IVF, based on widely accepted medical standards. It prohibits states from enacting or enforcing rules that create unnecessary roadblocks or conflict with these established medical practices. The law empowers individuals, providers, and insurers to sue to strike down restrictive state laws that interfere with evidence-based fertility care. Ultimately, this Act ensures that decisions regarding fertility treatment remain between patients and their doctors, overriding conflicting state regulations.

The Don't Miss Your Flight Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation to fund infrastructure projects connecting to public airports. These grants aim to reduce traffic and improve access by focusing on roads, rail, and transit systems within five miles of an airport. The funding is specifically allocated, with at least 50% reserved for projects supporting large hub airports and 30% for medium hub airports. One billion dollars is authorized annually from 2027 through 2031 to support these critical connection improvements.

The End Diaper Need Act of 2025 aims to combat diaper insecurity by significantly increasing federal funding through the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program to support low-income families, medically complex children, and adults needing incontinence supplies. Additionally, the bill expands tax-advantaged healthcare accounts, such as HSAs and FSAs, to explicitly cover the cost of medically necessary diapers and related supplies. This legislation mandates states to partner with local organizations to distribute these essential items and requires program evaluations to track impact.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act mandates the TSA to develop and update strict hygiene guidelines for screening breast milk, formula, and other essential baby drinks at airport security checkpoints. These rules, created in consultation with maternal health groups, aim to minimize contamination risks during any necessary additional screening. Furthermore, the Inspector General will audit compliance with these new handling standards within one year of the Act's enactment.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 12-16, 2025, as "Veterans Affairs Research Week." It celebrates the Department of Veterans Affairs' 100 years of groundbreaking research and innovation that has significantly improved healthcare for veterans and the public worldwide. The bill applauds VA researchers for their vital contributions, including major medical breakthroughs, and supports continued funding for their essential work.

The MIL FMLA Act significantly expands existing family and medical leave protections for military families and veterans under the FMLA. It broadens the definition of "family" to include domestic partners and extended relatives for leave purposes related to service members. Crucially, the bill grants eligible employees up to 26 weeks of leave to care for an injured service member and grants covered service members up to 26 weeks of leave for their own service-related injuries. These expanded rights and definitions are also applied specifically to federal civilian employees.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the rules governing collective bargaining for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This legislation repeals outdated subsections detailing specific collective bargaining procedures for VHA staff. Crucially, this change preserves the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay and expedited hiring processes.

The Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act establishes new oversight measures for the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) to ensure consistent service delivery. This includes requiring advance notification to Congress before firing VCL staff and mandating detailed, ongoing performance and staffing reports. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to review the VCL's operations and provide recommendations for improvement.