Legislative Activity

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods. It broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP and modifies retailer eligibility requirements, permitting more stores to accept SNAP if hot food sales do not exceed 50% of their gross sales. This change also updates the language regarding where SNAP-eligible food can be consumed to include "home or immediate consumption".

The "Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to establish a program encouraging SNAP recipients to purchase and consume naturally nutrient-rich dairy products like fluid milk, yogurt, and cheese through purchase incentives. The Act authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to eligible entities for project implementation, mandates rigorous project evaluations, and requires biennial reports to Congress. It appropriates $10,000,000 annually, with an additional $10,000,000 authorized for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, and transitions existing pilot programs into this new initiative.

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 "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 "Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act" directs the Attorney General to produce a series of reports analyzing attacks against law enforcement officers, unreported aggression towards officers, and the mental health and wellness of officers. These reports will include data collection and recommendations for improving training programs, protective gear, and mental health resources for law enforcement. The goal is to provide federal resources to law enforcement and deter attacks against officers. The Attorney General will consult with various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies and relevant organizations, to develop these reports.

The "Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act" aims to reduce fraud within Medicaid by requiring states to cross-reference the Death Master File when enrolling and regularly screening Medicaid providers and suppliers to ensure they are not deceased, starting January 1, 2027.

The National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to develop a national strategy to protect schools from terrorist threats. This strategy will detail federal programs, spending, and activities related to school security, identify vulnerabilities, and set goals to address these vulnerabilities. The strategy will be submitted to specific committees in the House and Senate within one year of enactment and updated annually through 2033, if needed. The strategy aims to streamline efforts, consider existing evaluations, and avoid duplicating work related to school security against terrorism.

This resolution expresses support for designating March 18, 2025, as "National Agriculture Day." It recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture as a leading industry in the United States.

The "DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act" establishes an Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program within the Department of Homeland Security. This program allows analysts in intelligence components to participate in rotational assignments. The goal is to enhance intelligence capabilities and collaboration within the department.

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 "Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025" exempts less-than-lethal projectile devices from certain federal restrictions, defining these devices based on their inability to fire lethal ammunition, a velocity cap of 500 feet per second, design for non-lethal use, and magazine compatibility. It tasks the Attorney General with determining whether a device meets the Act's definition within 90 days of a request.

The "Innovative FEED Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to regulate zootechnical animal food substances—additives that affect digestion or gut health, but are not intended to treat animal diseases. It classifies these substances as food additives, requiring FDA approval based on safety and intended effect, with specific labeling requirements. The FDA retains authority over approval and can reject substances that do not achieve their intended effect. This act does not authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require the use of any zootechnical food substance or food additive.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.

The HELPER Act of 2025 amends the National Housing Act to establish an FHA mortgage insurance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and teachers. This program allows the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages up to 100% of the appraised value for eligible first-time homebuyers, waiving down payment requirements but requiring an up-front mortgage insurance premium. Mortgagors must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a first-time homebuyer, completing a housing counseling program, and meeting employment and good standing requirements as a first responder. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 and requires reauthorization of the program after 5 years.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding waste emissions charges for petroleum and natural gas systems. The rule outlined compliance procedures, netting, and exemptions, but will no longer be implemented.

The "SPEAK Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to form a task force to improve access to healthcare information technology for those who do not speak English. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance within one year, in consultation with various entities, on best practices for telehealth services for people with limited English proficiency. The guidance will cover a variety of topics, including using interpreters during telemedicine appointments and providing accessible instructions on accessing telecommunications systems. The goal is to ensure that non-English speakers have equal access to telehealth services and healthcare information.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' support for maintaining the stepped-up basis under section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows inherited assets to be adjusted to their current market value, protecting family-owned farms and small businesses from increased taxes. It opposes any changes to the tax code that would negatively impact the ability of these businesses to pass their operations on to the next generation. The bill recognizes the importance of generational transfers for the continuation of family farms, ranches, agribusinesses, and small businesses.

The "Productive Public Lands Act" mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue and update specific Records of Decision for Bureau of Land Management field offices within 60 days. It directs the adoption of particular preferred alternatives outlined in the original decisions. The reissued documents and preferred alternatives are exempt from further environmental analysis typically required by federal laws.

The "Pay Our Troops Act of 2025" ensures that members of the Armed Forces, essential Department of Defense civilians, and contractors continue to receive pay and allowances during periods when regular funding is disrupted. This act provides necessary appropriations to cover these costs for fiscal year 2025. The Act's provisions will terminate upon the enactment of regular appropriations, a continuing resolution that provides funding for the same purpose, or on January 1, 2026.

The "Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025" aims to solidify the United States' role in the global energy market by granting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sole authority over approving or denying natural gas export and import facilities. This includes LNG terminals, streamlining the approval process. The Act does not alter the authority of other federal agencies, and it preserves the President's power to restrict imports or exports under existing laws and sanctions, particularly concerning state sponsors of terrorism. "State sponsor of terrorism" is defined by referencing specific sections of existing law.