Legislative Activity

This Act officially names the memorial at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery as the "World War II Women's Memorial." It also designates this memorial as a "commemorative work" under existing federal law. Furthermore, the bill allows a specific World War II home front women's commemorative work to be placed in designated areas within Washington, D.C., overriding standard location restrictions.

The Bridges not Bumpers Act of 2025 aims to reduce commercial truck bridge strikes by establishing a DOT working group to improve data sharing on bridge heights and truck routes, especially for GPS systems. The bill also mandates a national education campaign, creates a central clearinghouse for strike data, and establishes a grant program for research on infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, it addresses liability protections for GPS providers and sets new requirements for rental vehicle companies regarding height disclosure.

The PATHS to Tutor Act of 2025 establishes a \$500 million competitive grant program to create high-quality tutoring partnerships between schools and educator preparation programs. These partnerships will deploy trained tutors, often college students, to provide intensive, small-group instruction in high-need and hard-to-staff schools. The grants prioritize programs that align tutoring with curriculum and support aspiring educators through training and service awards.

This resolution condemns the Government of Ethiopia for actions that threaten regional stability and violate fundamental human rights across the country. It expresses grave concern over documented atrocities and urges accountability for gross human rights violations, including war crimes and genocide. Furthermore, the resolution opposes the use of U.S. taxpayer funds to support entities engaged in such abuses and calls for the use of diplomatic and economic tools, including sanctions, to incentivize democratic reforms. Finally, it urges the administration to suspend nonhumanitarian aid until verifiable progress is made toward ending hostilities and protecting vulnerable communities.

This Act mandates the Director of National Intelligence to report on oil and ballistic missile-related transactions between China and Iran, detailing circumvention tactics. Following this report, the Secretary of the Treasury must determine if China is engaged in sanctionable activities related to these transactions. The bill aims to track and restrict adversarial circumvention of existing embargoes.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the critical role of victim service providers. It recognizes these organizations for offering comprehensive physical, mental, emotional, financial, and legal support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill acknowledges that these essential providers are often under-resourced and calls for meaningful investment in their lifesaving work.

This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to deliver timely and relevant information via text message to service members and their adult dependents stationed at Marine Corps bases in Okinawa, Japan. The program will automatically enroll recipients, who will receive updates on employment, childcare, TRICARE benefits, and policy changes. The Secretary must report on the program's implementation, usage, and recommendations for potential expansion by October 2027.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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.