Legislative Activity

The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act establishes a pathway for certain individuals who provided essential services during the rescue and cleanup efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. This relief is available to workers and volunteers who meet specific service hour requirements at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or Shanksville sites, or those who maintained contaminated vehicles. The bill also mandates fee waivers for eligible applicants and protects their privacy regarding public benefit usage and future immigration enforcement actions.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce patient out-of-pocket costs for essential prescription inhalers and nebulizers used to treat conditions like asthma and COPD. This bill caps patient cost-sharing for these products at a maximum of \$15 per 30-day supply for most private insurance and Medicare beneficiaries, effective in 2026. Additionally, it establishes a new program to provide similar cost relief for uninsured individuals. The legislation ensures that payments made toward these caps count toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

The Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025 aims to stop companies from secretly shrinking the size or quantity of consumer products while keeping the packaging the same, a practice known as "deceptive downsizing." This Act prohibits manufacturers from misleading consumers through this practice unless they provide clear, conspicuous notice of the reduced size on the product's principal display panel. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with writing the necessary regulations and enforcing compliance using its existing authority against unfair or deceptive business practices.

The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act enables states to establish specialized Medicaid health homes focused exclusively on individuals with sickle cell disease starting in 2026. If a state adopts this program, it must provide mandatory dental and vision coverage to enrolled patients, regardless of standard state Medicaid policies. States implementing these health homes will also be required to report on patient outcomes, access to care, and expenditures.

The Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act of 2025 updates the criteria for clinics to qualify as Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) under Medicare. This legislation revises the definition of an "urban area," setting a new population threshold of 50,000 people to determine eligibility. These changes to the location standards will take effect starting January 1, 2027.

The Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act of 2025 updates Medicare payment requirements for facilities not directly directed by a physician. It mandates that these facilities must have formal arrangements with Physician Assistants (PAs) or Nurse Practitioners (NPs) whose practice adheres to state laws and regulations. These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance behavioral healthcare access in rural areas by modifying Medicare coverage rules. This bill specifically removes the existing exclusion that prevents Medicare payment for services provided in facilities primarily focused on treating mental diseases. This significant change is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

This resolution affirms strong Congressional support for the independence of the Federal Reserve System, its Chairman, and the Board of Governors. It emphasizes that the Fed must be free from political pressure to effectively manage monetary policy and maintain financial stability. The bill specifically warns against any executive interference that could undermine the Fed's integrity or global trust in the U.S. financial system.

The BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons issue a REAL ID-compliant photo identification card to all departing federal prisoners, valid for at least 18 months. This federal release card must be accepted for identity verification when accessing major federal benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. Furthermore, the BOP must establish agreements with states to help former inmates use this card to obtain standard state identification. The Attorney General will also issue guidance to states on creating similar release ID programs for state prisoners.

The FEMA Act of 2025 establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent, cabinet-level agency to lead a unified, all-hazards approach to national emergency management. The bill enacts sweeping reforms across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation programs to accelerate recovery, streamline funding, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disaster survivors and communities. Furthermore, it mandates significant new transparency measures, including public data reporting and GAO oversight, to ensure accountability for federal disaster spending.

The UNLOCK Act amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to expand how federal housing funds can be used. This legislation now allows local entities to directly use these funds for the construction of new housing specifically for low- and moderate-income residents. The bill removes the requirement for these entities to partner with a nonprofit organization to carry out the new construction projects.

The Protect Patients from Costly Care Act aims to reverse recent changes to Medicaid cost-sharing requirements and the Drug Price Negotiation Program. This bill effectively deletes specific sections from a previous reconciliation act that altered these healthcare provisions. By repealing these changes, the Act restores the original rules regarding Medicaid cost-sharing and the exclusion of orphan drugs from price negotiations.

This resolution commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, recognizing the immense devastation and loss suffered across the Gulf Coast. It honors the heroic efforts of first responders and the resilience of the affected communities. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms the commitment to supporting the ongoing rebuilding, renewal, and restoration of the vital Gulf Coast region.

The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard Act (SUN Act) enhances Congressional oversight of the President's domestic deployment of National Guard and reserve forces. It requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress within 15 days outlining the legal justification, goals, costs, and impact of any domestic deployment. This reporting requirement is waived only when reserve forces are deployed specifically following a Presidential declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act for a natural disaster.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The Keep Seniors Fed Act makes technical amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 regarding how income is calculated for food assistance eligibility. Specifically, it mandates that income received under Title II of the Social Security Act must now be counted when determining eligibility for benefits. These changes will take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.