Legislative Activity

The Campus Housing Affordability Act removes existing federal prohibitions that prevent students from receiving housing assistance. This legislation allows eligible students living in institutional housing to receive tenant-based rental assistance without that aid counting against their eligibility for federal student financial aid or other benefits. The bill grants the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the authority to waive certain requirements to facilitate this assistance.

The ESTUARIES Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to officially add the Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program and extends the program's funding authorization through fiscal year 2031. However, the bill places specific restrictions on the EPA Administrator regarding the use of funds to implement this addition during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This ensures that the expansion of the program is contingent upon specific funding levels in the near term.

The Professional Student Degree Act seeks to amend the Higher Education Act by formally defining what constitutes a "professional degree" for student loan purposes. This definition specifies degrees that prepare students to immediately begin practicing in a profession and require a skill level beyond a standard bachelor's degree. The bill explicitly lists numerous professional degrees, such as Law, Medicine, and specialized health fields, under this new classification.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to create an exception to the automatic enrollment requirements for certain retirement plans. Specifically, it exempts multiemployer plans from these automatic enrollment provisions. This change will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025 aims to secure the U.S. supply of critical minerals by establishing a **Critical Minerals Security Alliance** with trusted international partners to counter market dominance by foreign adversaries. The bill authorizes the creation of a **trust fund**, financed by duties on imports from countries of concern, to support domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing projects. It also increases U.S. tariffs on certain critical minerals and derivative products sourced from designated "foreign countries of concern."

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025 ensures that veterans whose benefits are misused by a fiduciary will have those funds promptly reissued by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill mandates the VA to make a good faith effort to recover the misused funds from the fiduciary after reimbursing the veteran. Furthermore, it establishes procedures for payment if the veteran dies before reimbursement and requires the VA to assess potential negligence in benefit oversight.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in hiring, retaining, and training prosecutors and support staff. Administered by the Attorney General, the program will award competitive grants, prioritizing offices in underserved or budget-impacted areas. This initiative is authorized with $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030, requiring a 25% non-federal match unless waived.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to support the creation and operation of statewide senior legal hotlines. These grants, administered under the Older Americans Act, will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide free legal advice, counseling, and referrals to older individuals across an entire state. Grantees must meet specific operational requirements, including ensuring adequate staffing and coordinating services with existing legal and aging networks.

This bill establishes the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2025 to address critical shortages in mental health care. It creates a federal program administered by HRSA to repay student loans for eligible mental health professionals. In exchange, participants must commit to up to six years of full-time service in designated mental health professional shortage areas. The program aims to incentivize practitioners to serve in underserved communities through significant loan forgiveness, capped at $250,000 per individual.

The Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2025 establishes new federal regulations to control the discharge of harmful PFAS chemicals into U.S. waters. This bill mandates the EPA to set strict, industry-specific pollution limits and human health water quality criteria on aggressive timelines. It also immediately requires monitoring for PFAS discharges from several key industries and authorizes funding for local treatment works to address contamination.

This bill reauthorizes critical research and development programs related to PFAS chemicals through fiscal year 2030. It amends existing law to extend the authorization period for these important initiatives.

The Temporary Family Visitation Act establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category specifically for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to visit the United States for family purposes. This visa limits stays to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and requires financial support, medical insurance, and a sworn declaration of intent to depart. Individuals admitted under this category are prohibited from changing their status while in the U.S.

The CARE for First Responders Act expands crisis counseling assistance to include emergency responders and public safety telecommunicators following major disasters. The bill establishes a comprehensive mental health program providing 24/7 confidential support, including a dedicated hotline and peer counseling. Additionally, it creates a grant program to fund mobile crisis units offering on-site mental health services to first responders during disaster response.

The Veterans Earned Transportation Act (Vets ETA) permanently authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide transportation for veterans attending vocational rehabilitation or counseling at VA facilities. This legislation removes the temporary pilot program designation, ensuring ongoing access to necessary transportation services.

The CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act extends enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace health insurance through 2026, while also establishing strict new penalties and verification processes to combat fraud by agents and brokers in health insurance exchanges. Furthermore, the bill imposes significant new transparency and accountability requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D plans. Finally, it extends the 2026 open enrollment period and creates a fast-track legislative process for future premium tax credit reform bills.

The Clergy Act allows certain religious workers currently exempt from Social Security self-employment taxes to voluntarily revoke that exemption and begin paying into the system. This option for revocation must be exercised by a specific deadline in 2030 or 2031, with the change being permanent once elected. The legislation also mandates that the IRS develop a plan to inform eligible clergy about this new option.

The Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive one-year study by the Comptroller General on the use of drones and counter-drone technology by all levels of government. This report must analyze current agency deployment, sourcing of equipment, and operational policies. Crucially, it will provide recommendations for updating legal authorities and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities for UAS technology.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the "Mary Elizabeth Bettie Cole Post Office Building." This change ensures all future federal references use the newly established name for the building.