Legislative Activity

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill, the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act, withdraws approximately 2,422 acres of Forest Service land known as Oak Flat in Arizona from all forms of mineral entry and development. It specifically cancels the prior land exchange that would have transferred the land to Resolution Copper Mining, LLC. The Act prohibits the transfer of Oak Flat to the foreign-backed mining venture, citing national security and environmental concerns.

This bill establishes the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2025 to create a new federal grant program supporting transportation needs for hosting major international sporting events. The program provides funding to state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments for eligible transportation projects within 100 miles of the event site. It also authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide technical and planning assistance to ensure smooth movement of people and goods during these covered events.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 modifies the Small Business Investment Act to redefine "private capital" by excluding direct government funding when calculating Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) leverage. The bill also adjusts the maximum leverage amounts an individual SBIC or commonly controlled group of SBICs can obtain from the SBA. Finally, it creates an exclusion from leverage limits for investments made in small businesses located in low-income or rural areas, or those focused on covered technologies or manufacturing.

This resolution officially recognizes November as National Native American Heritage Month to celebrate the rich heritages, cultures, and vital contributions of Native Americans to the United States. It highlights their historical influence on American governance, their significant achievements in various fields, and their distinguished military service. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting Tribal self-governance and improving resources for Native American communities.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act establishes new cost-sharing limits for certain insulin products in health plans starting in 2026. For selected insulin, patients will pay no more than the lesser of \$35 or 25% of the negotiated price for a 30-day supply. These patient payments must count toward the annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The requirements apply across various federal health plan laws, though they generally do not apply to out-of-network pharmacies.

The Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act amends existing legislation to strengthen support for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and culture. This bill specifically revises grant requirements for Native Hawaiian art and culture, ensuring that governing boards are composed of recognized Native Hawaiian cultural experts serving fixed terms. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and representation within the administration of cultural development funds.

The Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act expands federal disaster assistance to explicitly include support for substance use and alcohol use issues resulting from major disasters. It broadens the scope of crisis counseling and training programs to address these needs alongside existing mental health services. Furthermore, the bill mandates FEMA to update its application processes and requires a GAO report on the program's effectiveness and compliance.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act aims to significantly reduce prescription drug expenses for consumers. It expands the federal drug price negotiation program to cover more drugs and extends negotiated prices to most private health insurance plans. Furthermore, the bill applies inflation rebates to the commercial market and establishes new annual out-of-pocket spending caps for prescription drugs under private insurance starting in 2027. It also sets specific, lower cost-sharing requirements for covered insulin products.

This bill, the Protect Culturally Sensitive Information Act, establishes strict confidentiality protections for information shared by Tribal Governments, Alaska Native Entities, and Native Hawaiian Organizations with the Federal Government. It prohibits the public disclosure of designated culturally sensitive information unless compelled by a lawful court order or with explicit written consent. The Act aims to build trust, strengthen relationships, and advance repatriation efforts by ensuring a safe space for consultation and information exchange.

This bill amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to expand assistance for small and rural water projects by lowering cost thresholds and providing technical support. It also clarifies eligibility for new project types, authorizes collaborative delivery methods like design-build, and adjusts loan maturity dates for long-term infrastructure. Finally, the legislation reauthorizes funding for the Corps of Engineers financing program and mandates several reports to Congress on program implementation.

This bill, the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025, aims to significantly expand Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services. It broadens the list of covered chronic conditions beyond diabetes and kidney disease to include obesity, hypertension, cancer, and more. Furthermore, the legislation allows a wider range of healthcare providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to order these medically necessary nutrition services.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025 expands eligibility for certain USDA programs by including agricultural cooperatives with fewer than 2,500 employees. This amendment modifies the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to broaden access to these federal resources for a wider range of agricultural cooperatives.

The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The Community Investment and Prosperity Act aims to boost community welfare by increasing existing investment limits for financial institutions. Specifically, this legislation raises the statutory investment cap from 15% to 20% within relevant sections of the Revised Statutes and the Federal Reserve Act. This adjustment is intended to encourage greater investment activity.