Legislative Activity

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The College Transparency Act establishes a secure, new national system for tracking student data from postsecondary institutions to improve transparency regarding enrollment, completion, costs, and post-college outcomes. This system will collect detailed, student-level data, securely matched with other federal records, to create public, aggregate reports for comparison. The law mandates strict privacy and security standards while aiming to reduce overall reporting burdens for colleges.

The One Stop Shop for Small Business Licensing Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a centralized, publicly accessible website within one year of enactment. This online resource will consolidate and clearly organize all federal, state, and local permit and licensing requirements for small businesses. The goal is to simplify compliance by allowing users to easily find necessary information based on their location and industry.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

This bill updates the definition of a federal firefighter under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to potentially include those with wildland firefighting experience or those who transitioned into supervisory roles. It allows current federal firefighters to receive credit for past service time that previously didn't count due to stricter definitions, provided they meet new criteria and repay the required retirement contributions with interest. This aims to ensure more federal firefighters receive accurate service credit toward their retirement benefits.

The Partner with Korea Act establishes a new reciprocal temporary work visa category specifically for South Korean nationals seeking employment in specialty occupations within the United States. This program is subject to an annual cap of 15,000 principal applicants. The legislation updates immigration procedures to incorporate this dedicated visa stream, contingent upon employer attestations approved by the Secretary of Labor.

The Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025 seeks to expedite payments to local fire departments for fire suppression cost share agreements. It mandates federal agencies to establish standard payment timelines, revise existing agreements for compliance, and ensure alignment with cooperative fire protection agreements. The bill aims to reimburse local fire departments promptly, ideally within one year of fire suppression activities.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 establishes a structured process for distributing up to 2,000 additional, federally funded residency positions annually between fiscal years 2026 and 2032. This distribution prioritizes hospitals serving in underserved areas, those already training above their limit, and those committed to primary care and general surgery training. The bill also mandates a study and report by the Comptroller General on effective strategies to increase diversity within the health professional workforce.

The Share Holder Allocation for Rewards to Employees Plan Act (SHARE Plan Act) establishes a new corporate tax incentive for U.S. companies that distribute a significant amount of their stock equity to employees through formal, broad-based plans. Eligible "SHARE corporations" receive a 3 percentage point reduction in their corporate income tax rate. Crucially, stock received by employees under a qualified SHARE plan is excluded from the employee's gross income for federal tax purposes. The bill sets strict requirements for plan structure, employee participation, and minimum equity distribution ratios to qualify for these benefits.

The Ensuring Casualty Assistance for our Firefighters Act establishes the Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program to support the next-of-kin of firefighters or staff seriously injured, critically ill, or killed during wildland fire incidents. This program mandates comprehensive support, including travel assistance for families, immediate access to case management and counseling, and clear information on all available federal benefits. It ensures a structured, coordinated federal response to provide timely and thorough assistance to survivors without altering existing death benefits.

This bill reauthorizes key programs under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Specifically, it extends funding for state and community safety improvement grants and related education and awareness initiatives through fiscal year 2027. The purpose is to ensure continued support for vital pool and spa safety efforts.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The ABLE Employment Flexibility Act modifies retirement plan rules to allow eligible individuals with disabilities to direct employer contributions into their ABLE accounts instead of traditional retirement plans. This change aims to help working individuals save money without jeopardizing their eligibility for means-tested federal benefits. The bill also clarifies that employer contributions made directly to an ABLE account are treated as reasonable business expenses.

The Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund local initiatives focused on strengthening community mental wellness and resilience. This program offers planning grants followed by larger competitive program grants to established coordinating networks utilizing a public health approach. A mandatory 20% of funds are set aside to ensure support reaches rural areas.

This bill establishes the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program to provide grants to states and tribes. These funds will help public water systems cover the water and sewer bills for eligible low-income households. The program aims to supplement existing aid by assisting families whose income is at or below 150% of the poverty level or 60% of the state median income. Funding is authorized at $500 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act mandates that the Treasury Department, in coordination with the OMB, include a new analysis of potential financial risks from major "fiscal shocks" in its annual report. This analysis must assess the short-term and long-term financial impacts of events like recessions, natural disasters, or cyber attacks on the federal government. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will subsequently review the methodology and findings of this new fiscal assessment.

The VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must proactively offer an annual mental health consultation to every veteran receiving disability compensation for a service-connected mental health condition. This outreach aims to ensure these veterans are regularly informed about and offered access to available mental health care options. The law also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the implementation and effectiveness of these new consultation requirements within two years.

The Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 establishes a program, led by the Secretary of the Interior, to systematically identify and restore federal lands damaged by unplanned disturbances like wildfires. This program requires the annual proposal of priority restoration projects, funded through grants and contracts, with an emphasis on partner collaboration. Furthermore, the Secretary must regularly report progress and funding needs for seed and seedling supply to Congress.

The Saving Vet Halls Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides funding to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) specifically for repairing facilities and upgrading technology. Grants are capped at $\$75,000$ or the total project cost (whichever is higher), and organizations receiving funds are ineligible to reapply for five years. The legislation authorizes $\$10$ million to support these essential improvements for VSOs.

The GIVE MILK Act aims to address low dairy consumption among Americans, particularly children, by emphasizing milk's essential role in providing key nutrients like calcium and Vitamin D. This legislation specifically grants participants in the WIC program the direct choice of selecting their preferred type of milk—including whole, low-fat, reduced-fat, or nonfat—when receiving benefits. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to update regulations to implement this new participant choice.