Legislative Activity

The "Protect Our Clothes from PFAS Act" modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, specifically altering the requirements for a garment to be classified as water resistant by removing a sentence from the additional notes. This change may impact import duties and trade regulations related to water-resistant clothing.

The Parity Enforcement Act of 2025 amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, introducing civil monetary penalties for group health plans, service providers, and administrators that fail to meet mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements. This act enables the Department of Labor to enforce parity in mental health benefits, similar to protections against genetic information discrimination, ensuring equitable access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. These changes will be effective for plan years starting one year after the Act's enactment.

The "Banning Strategic Petroleum Reserve Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act" prohibits the Secretary of Energy from selling or exporting petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or any entities controlled by them, including the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy can waive this prohibition if it is deemed to be in the national security interest of the United States. A rule to carry out this section must be issued within 60 days of the enactment of this Act.

The "Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act" prohibits the United States from recognizing Russia's claim of sovereignty over any portion of Ukraine. It also prevents any federal department or agency from taking actions that would imply recognition of such claims.

This resolution addresses concerns over Iran's nuclear program, support for terrorist groups, and threats to the United States, Israel, and their allies. It highlights Iran's non-compliance with international agreements, advancements in uranium enrichment, and destabilizing actions in the Middle East. The resolution affirms that all options should be considered to address Iran's nuclear threat, while clarifying that it does not authorize military force. It demands Iran cease all activities that threaten the United States, Israel and its allies.

The "American CANS Act" amends the Tariff Act of 1930, mandating that country-of-origin labels for canned agricultural products be clearly displayed on the front label or top of the can. This aims to increase consumer awareness of the source of their canned goods. The updated labeling requirements will apply to imported agricultural products 18 months after the law is enacted.

The "Stop the Wait Act of 2025" eliminates the waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, phasing it out completely by 2030. It also waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for certain SSDI recipients who lack minimum essential health coverage, allowing them to access Medicare retroactively to the start of their SSDI entitlement. The Act establishes special enrollment periods for Medicare Part B for these newly eligible individuals.

The Railway Safety Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive new safety standards across the freight rail industry, focusing heavily on trains transporting hazardous materials. The bill mandates stricter rules for train operations, requires enhanced rail car inspections, and sets a phase-out date for older, less safe tank cars. Furthermore, it increases civil penalties for safety violations, institutes a minimum two-person crew requirement for most freight trains, and funds infrastructure improvements like advanced track monitoring.

The "Health Out-of-Pocket Expense Act of 2025" or the "HOPE Act of 2025" establishes tax-exempt "Hope Accounts" for eligible individuals to pay for qualified medical expenses. Contributions to these accounts are capped at \$4,000 annually for self-only or married individuals with family coverage, and \$8,000 for heads of household with family coverage, with employer and Medicaid contributions limited to 50% of the individual's limit. Distributions used for qualified medical expenses are tax-free, while non-qualified distributions are subject to income tax and a 30% penalty, with exceptions for distributions after death or due to disability. These provisions will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "SAFE Act" amends the Controlled Substances Act to classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, increases penalties for offenses involving fentanyl-related substances, and allows for the review of sentences for past convictions involving substances that have been removed or rescheduled. It streamlines the research registration process for Schedule I substances and requires a report on the impact of these changes. The bill aims to combat the fentanyl crisis by providing law enforcement with tools to prosecute offenders and prevent the distribution of these dangerous substances while ensuring continued research and potential rescheduling based on scientific evaluation.

The "Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act of 2025" establishes a grant program, managed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to support local schools in partnering with community coalitions for effective drug prevention programs. Grants, up to $75,000 per year, will fund the implementation of detailed drug prevention plans developed by the schools and coalitions. The Act allocates $7 million annually from 2026-2031 for these grants, emphasizing the importance of supplementing existing drug prevention funding and utilizing evidence-based evaluation criteria.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "Fighting Budget Waste Act" requires the President and the Office of Management and Budget to consider the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) annual report on government efficiency when preparing the annual budget submission. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must then submit a report to Congress detailing their findings related to the GAO's recommendations. This aims to reduce government waste by incorporating GAO's insights into the budget process.

The IGO Anti-Boycott Act amends the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to include international governmental organizations in the prohibitions against boycotts. It requires the President to submit an annual report to Congress. This report will list foreign countries and international organizations that support boycotts and describe those boycotts.

The "Lower Grocery Prices Act" directs the Comptroller General to study grocery costs for U.S. consumers over the past 20 years. The study will analyze the Consumer Price Index for food and other economic data to understand the impact on consumers. Within 180 days, a report with findings and recommendations to lower food costs will be submitted to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Financial Services, and the Senate Committee on Finance.

The "Expanding Access to High-Impact Tutoring Act of 2025" aims to improve student academic achievement by providing grants to state educational agencies for tutoring programs in elementary and secondary schools. These programs will be implemented by local educational agencies, prioritizing those with high numbers of Title I students or significant learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An Advisory Board will be established to oversee program implementation, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop a nationwide tutoring workforce. The Act emphasizes high-quality tutoring, tutor training, and collaboration with research organizations to ensure programs are effective and aligned with student needs.

Recognizes and supports Catholic schools in the United States for their academic excellence, diverse communities, and values-based education. Designates January 26, 2025, to February 1, 2025, as National Catholic Schools Week, celebrating the commitment of Catholic schools, students, parents, and teachers to academic excellence and community service.

The Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu, recognizing his advocacy for civil rights and justice. This act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and other locations. The legislation also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the gold medal to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. This act commemorates Korematsu's legacy and dedication to equality.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The "Federal Firefighters Families First Act" aims to improve pay equality for Federal firefighters, enhance recruitment and retention, and ensure comprehensive calculation of retirement benefits. It updates the computation of pay and annuity calculations to include additional compensation for overtime hours in regular tours of duty. The Act also directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish a maximum regular workweek for Federal firefighters, not exceeding an average of 60 hours per week. These changes will impact annuity payments for individuals who separate from service 60 days after the law's enactment.