Legislative Activity

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allowed California to set its own vehicle emissions standards under the Advanced Clean Cars II Waiver. By disapproving this rule, the bill prevents California from implementing stricter emission standards and effectively maintains federal control over vehicle emission standards.

This bill disapproves of and nullifies the Department of Energy's rule on energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allows California to set its own pollution control standards for motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad engines. The bill prevents the implementation of the EPA's rule outlined in the Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 643).

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act" aims to broaden access to remote monitoring services under Medicare by reducing the minimum data collection period required for reimbursement to 2 days within a 30-day period. It mandates a report to Congress with recommendations for a payment system that considers patient needs and the cost of remote monitoring, as well as analysis of staffing and potential savings. This adjustment seeks to improve patient care, lower healthcare costs, and increase care options by making remote monitoring more accessible.

The "Fight Fentanyl Act" amends the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998, requiring High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) to report on fentanyl trafficking investigations and any limitations in meeting their goals, while allocating \$333,000,000 annually from 2025-2030 for HIDTAs. It also increases funding for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) to assist law enforcement with fentanyl interdiction. The Act mandates the Attorney General to prioritize fentanyl trafficking investigations and prosecutions by providing sufficient resources, including temporary reassignment of assistant U.S. attorneys.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The "Safeguarding American Property Act of 2025" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to mandate the detention of criminal aliens who commit trespassing, vandalism, or arson. This bill expands the list of offenses that trigger mandatory detention for certain non-citizens.

The "Promoting New Bank Formation Act" aims to encourage the creation of new banks by easing regulatory burdens during their initial years. It allows for a phased-in approach to meeting capital requirements, simplifies business plan adjustments, and provides a more favorable leverage ratio for new rural community banks. The Act also expands agricultural lending authority for Federal savings associations and mandates a study on the decline of new banks to identify ways to promote their formation in underserved areas.

This bill calls for the recognition of March 2025 as Bulgarian-American Heritage Month, celebrating the rich contributions of Bulgarian immigrants and their descendants to American society. It highlights the historical ties and enduring friendship between the United States and Bulgaria, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration and the cultural enrichment that Bulgarian-Americans bring to the U.S. The resolution encourages the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate events and activities.

The Maximum Pressure Act aims to increase pressure on Iran by codifying and expanding sanctions related to its nuclear program, ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, and human rights abuses. It targets key Iranian leaders, entities involved in arms sales, and various sectors of Iran's economy, while also enhancing congressional oversight of actions related to Iran sanctions. The bill also seeks to intensify financial pressure on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and prevent Iran from accessing international funds. Additionally, the act reinforces restrictions and oversight related to the IRGC and Ansar Allah (Houthis) and mandates a series of determinations and reports from government officials regarding Iran's activities.

This bill designates March 2025 as "Bulgarian-American Heritage Month" to honor the contributions of Bulgarian immigrants and their descendants to American society. It recognizes their impact across various fields, the long-standing ties between Bulgarians and Americans, and the importance of the U.S.-Bulgaria relationship. The bill encourages the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate events and activities. It also reaffirms the importance of continued collaboration between the two countries.

The "Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025" aims to streamline healthcare access for Medicare patients by setting clear standards for medical necessity determinations and preauthorization processes used by Medicare contractors, Medicare Advantage plans, and prescription drug plans. It mandates the use of evidence-based clinical criteria, requires physician input in developing these criteria, and ensures transparency through public posting of preauthorization requirements and statistics. The bill also requires that licensed and board-certified physicians make all preauthorization and denial decisions. Ultimately, this bill seeks to reduce unnecessary delays in care and ensure that medical decisions are based on sound medical judgment and nationally recognized standards.

The "No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act" prohibits federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). This includes direct funding, indirect support, or purchasing programming. The prohibition extends to any successor organizations of NPR and PBS.

The "Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act" or "SHORT Act" modifies firearm regulations by redefining "firearm" under the National Firearms Act, removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from certain restrictions, and preempting state laws that tax, mark, record, or register these weapons. The Act also mandates the destruction of records related to these specific weapons held by the Attorney General.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.

The Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act modifies the Social Security Act to revise physician self-referral exemptions, particularly for rural hospitals. It exempts "covered rural hospitals" located in rural areas far from other hospitals from certain restrictions. Additionally, it allows existing physician-owned hospitals to expand their facilities.

The "Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act" amends the Social Security Act to reinforce protections for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. It prevents health plans from discriminating against ESRD patients or making Medicare the primary payer for their healthcare costs. The act clarifies that dialysis services should not be singled out for unfavorable treatment or coverage limits compared to other medical services, while allowing plans to manage their dialysis provider networks.

The Major Richard Star Act amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to allow disability retirees with combat-related disabilities to receive both veterans' disability compensation and retired pay concurrently, without reduction. It ensures that eligible veterans are not penalized by reductions under sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38. This change is effective the first day of the month following the bill's enactment.