Legislative Activity

The Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act modifies the existing Safe Streets and Roads for All program. This legislation mandates that at least 20% of available funds must be dedicated to planning grants annually, replacing previous requirements. Additionally, it increases the total funding pool for the program by an extra \$5 billion for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act establishes a high-level Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to develop and execute a comprehensive U.S. strategy against transnational criminal organizations running massive online scams, often utilizing victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This strategy must focus on disrupting these operations, sanctioning responsible parties, and providing support for rescued victims. The bill authorizes $30 million over two years to fund these efforts and requires annual reporting to Congress on progress and impact.

The No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act amends the tax code to clarify and expand the definition of "qualified overtime compensation." This change ensures that overtime pay earned above a standard rate, whether mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act or agreed upon beforehand with an employer, is treated favorably for tax purposes. The goal is to incentivize and reward workers for putting in extra hours.

This resolution expresses strong support for and officially designates **September 17, 2025, as "Constitution Day."** It recognizes the profound historical importance of the U.S. Constitution as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the day with suitable ceremonies reflecting on the freedoms and responsibilities the document grants.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025 secures vital funding for the Healthy Start Initiative, a program dedicated to improving maternal and child health outcomes. This legislation specifically authorizes a consistent annual appropriation of \$145,000,000 for the program through fiscal year 2030. This reauthorization ensures predictable budgetary support for this critical public health effort.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

This Act, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, aims to speed up Medicare coverage for innovative, FDA-approved "breakthrough devices." It establishes a process for manufacturers to gain a four-year transitional coverage period for these devices, ensuring patients have timely access while long-term coverage decisions are finalized. The bill also allocates funding to CMS to manage these expedited reviews and allows for oversight of provider billing practices related to these new technologies.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 30, 2025, as "Rare Cancer Day" to shine a light on the significant challenges faced by patients with rare cancers. It highlights that these cancers affect a substantial portion of patients and often result in lower survival rates compared to common cancers. The bill encourages increased awareness of rare cancer symptoms to improve early diagnosis and calls for greater collaboration to advance research and treatment options.

This bill establishes a six-year pilot program for hospitals to provide medically tailored, home-delivered meals and nutrition therapy to eligible Medicare patients upon discharge. The goal is to improve health outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions for individuals with diet-sensitive conditions who have difficulty with daily living activities. Participating hospitals will receive payment for these services, which must be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will evaluate the program's effectiveness using data collected from the participating sites.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend certain leave benefits currently available to commissioned officers in the Army to commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and their beneficiaries. It directly incorporates leave provisions from Title 10 of the U.S. Code into the PHS framework. The legislation also repeals an outdated section of the Public Health Service Act.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.

The Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act increases the federal share of grant funding for certain public safety activities from 50% to 60%. This change aims to reduce the financial burden on states for purchasing essential equipment. Additionally, the Act authorizes $60 million annually for this program from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

This Act, the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act, updates federal grant guidelines to allow local law enforcement agencies to use public safety funds for hiring and retention bonuses. These bonuses are specifically permitted when departments face significant recruitment challenges or high attrition rates. The bill also clarifies the definition of a "law enforcement officer" for grant eligibility purposes.

The Food Farmacy Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund the creation and operation of "healthy food pharmacies." These pharmacies will provide free, nutritious food and professional nutritional counseling, primarily targeting low-income and food-insecure communities. The goal is to improve public health outcomes by integrating access to healthy food with medical care. The program authorizes $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

The Nitazene Control Act of 2025 permanently classifies the entire class of highly potent synthetic opioids known as nitazenes (2-Benzylbenzimidazole opioids) as Schedule I controlled substances. This action is taken due to their extreme danger, high potential for abuse, and role in fatal overdoses across the country. By scheduling the entire chemical class at once, the bill aims to proactively stop the emergence of new, dangerous analogs. This permanent scheduling subjects nitazenes to the strictest federal controls, mirroring those applied to fentanyl.

This act establishes the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program to correct historical errors where Jewish service members killed in WWI and WWII were mistakenly buried under non-Jewish grave markers overseas. The American Battle Monuments Commission will contract with a nonprofit organization to identify these "covered members" and contact their survivors over a five-year period. The legislation also extends a deadline related to certain pension payments.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital contributions of medical research to public health and economic growth across the nation. It specifically designates September 15 through September 19, 2025, as "Medical Research Week." The bill emphasizes the critical role of sustained federal funding, particularly for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in driving life-saving discoveries and ensuring national health security. It encourages public appreciation for the scientists and institutions conducting this essential work.