Legislative Activity

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 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.

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 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 "Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025" amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to increase weatherization funding and program efficiency. It establishes a "Weatherization Readiness Program" to address structural and safety issues in low-income homes, preparing them for weatherization. The bill increases the average weatherization cost per dwelling to $12,000 and reauthorizes the weatherization assistance program through 2030. It allocates $50 million annually from 2026-2030 for the Weatherization Readiness Program.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act formally recognizes the installation of high-efficiency mechanical insulation as a key energy and water efficiency measure for federal buildings. This legislation mandates that mechanical insulation must meet or exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements to qualify for these efficiency designations. Consequently, future energy and water evaluations for federal facilities must specifically identify potential savings opportunities related to mechanical insulation upgrades.

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 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 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 Veteran Education Empowerment Act establishes a grant program to help colleges and universities create and operate dedicated Student Veteran Centers. These centers will serve as centralized hubs to coordinate academic support, transition services, and community building for student veterans. The bill authorizes funding for these grants, which can be used for establishing and operating the centers, with specific reporting requirements to track effectiveness.

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 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), recognizing its landmark achievement in guaranteeing a free, appropriate public education for every child with a disability. It honors the law's transformative impact since 1975, which ensured access, protected rights, and established critical early intervention services. The resolution reaffirms the commitment to fully implementing IDEA so all students with disabilities have the opportunity to thrive.

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.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 modifies the Small Business Investment Act to redefine "private capital" by excluding direct government funding when calculating Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) leverage. The bill also adjusts the maximum leverage amounts an individual SBIC or commonly controlled group of SBICs can obtain from the SBA. Finally, it creates an exclusion from leverage limits for investments made in small businesses located in low-income or rural areas, or those focused on covered technologies or manufacturing.

This bill, the Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act, amends the Small Business Act to strengthen the SBA's Office of Rural Affairs. It updates the office's leadership structure, expands its duties to actively promote federal assistance and coordinate tourism efforts, and mandates regular public reporting on its activities and impact on rural small businesses. The legislation also requires the office to host regional outreach events to better serve these businesses.

The Stop Illegal Fishing Act aims to combat harmful global illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. This legislation mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset blocking and immigration restrictions, on foreign individuals, entities, and vessels involved in IUU fishing. The Act also requires regular reporting to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions.

The Save the Green to Gold Program Act amends how service time is calculated for certain ROTC officers to include prior enlisted service. This change allows officers to count qualifying service in the Selected Reserve dating back to August 1, 1979, and all subsequent enlisted service across any military component toward their total years of service for pay and retirement.

The Main Street Home Builders Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support small businesses involved in building or managing build-to-rent multifamily housing. This program will provide loans through State development companies to help these small businesses construct or improve rental housing projects. The initiative includes specific requirements for lenders and ensures that funded projects result in the creation of new dwelling units.

This bill, the Retirement Simplification and Clarity Act, amends tax code to allow participants aged 50 and older to roll over employer contributions from their 401(k) plan directly into an individual retirement annuity before retirement. It also updates the required written explanation provided to taxpayers regarding rollover rules to ensure it is concise and clearly outlines key tax implications and options. These provisions are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.