Legislative Activity

The "Pay Our Military Act" ensures that members of the Armed Forces, including reserves, receive their pay and allowances during any period when regular appropriations are not in effect. It also covers civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense who support these service members. The appropriations are available until a regular appropriation bill is enacted, a continuing resolution is passed without funding for this purpose, or until January 1, 2026. The act defines key terms related to military service and personnel for clarity.

The "No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act" mandates that Members of Congress will have their pay reduced for each day the government is shut down or the public debt limit is reached, starting after the November 2026 general election. During the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, pay will be withheld and placed in escrow, later released to members at the end of the Congress. The Secretary of the Treasury will assist in implementing these provisions.

The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025 modifies the tax treatment of research and experimental expenditures, allowing taxpayers to deduct these expenses in the year they are incurred rather than capitalizing them. This change applies to expenses related to the taxpayer's business and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. The act also includes provisions for electing to treat these expenditures as deferred expenses and updates related sections of the tax code.

The "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025" directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program providing veterans and certain former service members with secure firearm storage items or vouchers to obtain them, along with information on secure firearm storage options. The program aims to promote firearm safety and suicide prevention among veterans, while ensuring that participation does not infringe upon lawful firearm ownership rights. The Act allocates $5,000,000 annually from 2026 to 2036 for program implementation and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress and impact.

The 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act directs the Treasury Secretary to produce gold and silver coins to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The coins' designs will represent the courage and resilience of those affected, with at least one coin bearing the inscription "Never Forget." Surcharges from the sale of these coins will be donated to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations and maintenance. The Act ensures that the coin production does not create any net cost to the Federal Government.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act amends the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include projects that connect bike and pedestrian paths and reduce safety risks for vulnerable road users. It allows the federal government to cover up to 100% of the cost for these safety projects and broadens the scope of relevant safety plans to include measures for bicyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, the act permits the non-federal share of project costs to be calculated across a project, multiple projects, or a program.

The "Promoting Precision Agriculture Act" aims to advance precision agriculture in the United States by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to develop voluntary interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and best practices. It also requires the Comptroller General to periodically assess these standards to ensure they are voluntary, developed with industry input, and effective in promoting the adoption of precision agriculture technologies. Ultimately, the goal is to promote U.S. leadership in setting voluntary standards for precision agriculture.

The American Teacher Act aims to address teacher shortages and improve teacher compensation by establishing grants for states to increase teacher salaries, with the goal of ensuring a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers at qualifying schools, adjusted for inflation. The Act also allows for a national campaign to raise awareness of the value of the teaching profession and clarifies that the Act does not alter existing employee rights or agreements. Finally, the Act defines key terms and authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the grants and awareness campaign.

Tyler's Law mandates a study by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on fentanyl testing practices in hospital emergency departments, including frequency, costs, benefits, risks, and patient experience. Following the study, the Secretary will issue guidance on routine fentanyl testing for overdose patients, ensuring clinicians are aware of substances included in drug tests, and the potential impact on future overdose risk and general health.

The "Protect Our Probationary Employees Act" allows federal employees who were involuntarily separated from service between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2029, to resume their probationary period if reappointed to a similar position in their former agency. The resumed probationary period will only last the duration of the original probationary period. This provision terminates on January 20, 2029.

The "Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act" broadens Medicare eligibility for home healthcare services to include individuals who require occupational therapy, not just speech therapy. This expansion ensures more beneficiaries can receive necessary care in their homes. These changes will take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

The Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to enhance wildfire management and support communities by focusing on workforce development, firefighter support, mitigating public health impacts from wildfire smoke, and improving fire mitigation and technology. This includes establishing training programs, expanding benefits for firefighters and their families, creating a national smoke monitoring system, and streamlining access to resources for wildfire risk reduction and recovery. The Act seeks to bolster the wildland fire workforce, improve interagency coordination, and provide timely assistance to those affected by wildfires.

The BAH Restoration Act aims to restore the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover 100% of service members' housing costs. This will be done by amending title 37 of the United States Code, ensuring that the monthly BAH is equivalent to the determined monthly cost of adequate housing based on pay grade, dependency status, and location. The Secretary of Defense will determine the specific housing costs in each area.

The "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act" amends existing laws to allow civil actions against individuals who disclose intimate digital depictions without consent, defining key terms and outlining available relief. It also establishes federal offenses for disclosing or threatening to disclose such depictions with harmful intent, setting penalties and protecting interactive computer service providers. This bill aims to protect individuals from the nonconsensual spread of digitally altered intimate images.

The TREAT PTSD Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to provide stellate ganglion block (SGB) to veterans and members of the Armed Forces diagnosed with PTSD who elect to receive it after being fully informed of its risks and benefits. It allows the treatment to be furnished through VA or military medical facilities, or qualified healthcare providers. The bill also requires updating the VADOD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD management to include SGB as a therapy option.

The Rural Wellness Act extends provisions from the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to 2029, adjusting specific allocation timelines. It prioritizes rural development program grants for projects that include behavioral and mental health treatment services. This prioritization includes facilities for prevention, treatment, or recovery and applicants focusing on behavioral and mental health education.

The "Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025" establishes a program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to mass mark hatchery fish in the Great Lakes. This program aims to evaluate the success of fish hatchery operations and fisheries management, supporting the recovery of native species, recreational fishing, and the Great Lakes regional economy. The Act authorizes $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2030 for program implementation, including equipment, tagging, personnel, and data sharing among stakeholders. This collaborative effort will involve federal, state, and tribal agencies to improve fisheries management and ecosystem restoration in the Great Lakes.

The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and equipment for veterans under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program from $1,000 to $1,400. Beginning in 2026, this stipend will be subject to annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index.

The DELIVER Act of 2025 increases the standard mileage rate for delivering meals to elderly, disabled, frail, and at-risk individuals. This adjustment aligns the rate with the standard mileage rate used for business and medical expenses, providing volunteers with increased reimbursement for their services. This change aims to encourage volunteer engagement and support programs that deliver meals to vulnerable populations.

The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025 aims to improve compensation and working conditions for federal wildland firefighters by establishing special base rates of pay, providing incident response premium pay, and granting paid rest and recuperation leave following deployments to qualifying incidents. These changes will take effect after the expiration of previously authorized temporary salary increases for federal wildland firefighters. The Act also allows for the transfer of funds to ensure the continuation of base salary increases.