Legislative Activity

The Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media Act (FREEDOM Act) mandates the Secretary of State to report on internet freedom in Iran. This report must assess the feasibility of using emerging technologies, like direct-to-cell wireless, to expand internet access. It will also analyze the impact of current drone and jamming technologies on these efforts.

The Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 significantly boosts funding for cleaning up contaminated sites by increasing the maximum grant amount per site to $1 million and authorizing $250 million annually through 2030. This legislation also expands the eligible uses for state response program grants. Overall, it strengthens federal and state efforts to revitalize brownfield properties.

The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act establishes a Department of Agriculture program to provide financial assistance to farmers whose land or water is contaminated by PFAS from off-site sources. This program authorizes grants to eligible governments to fund remediation, testing, producer assistance, and research related to the contamination. The bill also establishes a task force to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on broader PFAS issues within farm programs.

The Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone Calls Act of 2025, or the DO NOT Call Act, establishes new criminal penalties for willful violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This legislation also significantly increases the civil fines associated with providing inaccurate caller ID information. These measures aim to deter illegal and unwanted telemarketing and robocalls.

The New Essential Education Discoveries Act of 2025 establishes a National Center for Advanced Development in Education to research and promote breakthrough solutions in teaching and learning based on the science of learning. The bill also authorizes competitive grants for states to design, develop, and improve comprehensive statewide longitudinal data systems linking education and workforce data. These provisions aim to accelerate educational innovation and enhance data-driven decision-making to improve student outcomes.

The Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 establishes a special registration process for physicians to administer certain unapproved, experimental Schedule I investigational drugs to terminally ill patients under existing "Right to Try" laws. This process, overseen by the Attorney General, requires physicians to meet specific criteria regarding state compliance, manufacturer agreements, and drug handling to prevent diversion. The Act mandates a swift approval timeline for these applications, enabling terminally ill patients greater access to promising treatments.

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 act establishes the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project, a five-year pilot program to reduce veteran suicide rates. The initiative will implement the Zero Suicide Institute's curriculum across five selected VA medical centers, including one serving rural veterans. The program focuses on intensive staff training, policy development, and rigorous data collection to evaluate effectiveness. Annual reports will track progress and compare outcomes against other VA facilities.

The STOP Scams Against Seniors Act amends existing law to allow federal Byrne JAG grant funds to be used by states and local governments to establish and operate elder justice task forces. These task forces will focus on combating financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting individuals aged 60 and older. The legislation also mandates detailed reporting on the task forces' activities, case outcomes, and victim support provided.

The Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act amends federal law to allow states to provide greater financial assistance, such as principal forgiveness, for wastewater projects that address affordability concerns. This legislation specifically targets helping communities afford wastewater services by expanding the use of water pollution control revolving loan funds. It also sets minimum requirements and provides extra support for rural, small, and tribal water systems.

The Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 significantly increases funding authorization for the Weatherization Assistance Program through 2030. This bill also raises the maximum average cost allowed for weatherizing a single home from $6,500 to $12,000. Finally, it mandates that the Department of Energy's annual readiness report to Congress include details on how enhancement efforts impact program eligibility.

The Farm Transitions Act of 2025 updates the Commission on Farm TransitionsNeeds for 2050, requiring its swift establishment by the Secretary of Agriculture. This Commission will study and recommend policy solutions regarding credit, training, land succession, and barriers faced by underserved farmers during farm transitions. The final report is due within two years of enactment, with funding authorized through FY 2029.

The Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act establishes a new grant program to expand digital workplace skills training across the nation. This initiative aims to build digital competency for workers in high-demand industries and foster digitally resilient education and workforce systems. Funds will be distributed to states via formula grants, which must then be used to award subgrants to local entities, alongside direct competitive grants from the Department of Labor. The overall goal is to help individuals access better jobs by closing digital skill gaps.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act officially recognizes the installation of mechanical insulation in federal buildings as a qualifying energy or water efficiency measure. This legislation defines compliant mechanical insulation as meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements and resulting in energy loss reduction. Furthermore, the Act mandates that comprehensive evaluations of federal buildings must identify these specific energy and water-saving insulation opportunities.

The Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act mandates the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to improve mental health services and address suicide among service members. This plan requires establishing uniform protocols for the self-initiated mental health referral process and implementing standardized mental health training for all personnel. The goal is to ensure service members are fully aware of and can easily access mental health support.

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 End the Cyprus Embargo Act lifts the existing policy that automatically denies requests to export U.S. defense articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus. Congress finds that allowing these defense sales strengthens U.S. security interests in Europe by reducing Cyprus's reliance on other nations for military equipment. This change is contingent on Cyprus meeting certain requirements and allows the President to reinstate the denial policy temporarily for national security reasons.

The American Decade of Sports Act establishes a "Mega-Decade Sports Diplomacy Strategy" to leverage major international sporting events hosted in the U.S. between 2024 and 2034 to enhance America's global standing. This requires the State Department to create comprehensive 5-year plans detailing diplomatic goals, partnerships, and visa facilitation efforts. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of a dedicated Office of Sports Diplomacy to coordinate and execute these strategy objectives across government and private sectors. The Secretary of State must provide annual progress reports to Congress on the implementation of these goals until the end of 2034.

The Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen support for orphans and vulnerable children globally. This bill establishes a Special Advisor for Assistance to Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the Department of State and extends the authorization for related programs through 2030. It also adjusts the deadline for issuing necessary implementing directives.

This resolution commemorates World AIDS Day and recognizes significant progress made in combating HIV/AIDS globally and domestically through programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White Act. It highlights ongoing challenges, particularly disparities in impact, while encouraging continued robust funding for research, prevention, and treatment efforts worldwide. The resolution supports the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 through zero new transmissions and zero discrimination.