Legislative Activity

The Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax exemptions for payments received through the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. This change aligns the tax treatment of these payments with that of other qualified scholarships and loan repayment programs, effective for taxable years starting after the law's enactment.

The "Honoring our K9 Heroes Act" establishes a grant program to help cover the medical costs of retired Federal working dogs. Grants will be awarded to eligible non-profit organizations with a history of assisting retired Federal law enforcement and military working dogs. The bill authorizes $1,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to fund the program.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to strengthen brain tumor research and treatment development through various initiatives. This includes fostering transparency of biospecimen collections, establishing a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network, promoting cancer clinical trial awareness, creating pilot programs for brain tumor survivor care, and directing the FDA to issue guidance that ensures brain tumor patient access to clinical trials. The Act authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

The "Ellie Helton, Lisa Colagrossi, Kristen Shafer Englert, Teresa Anne Lawrence, and Jennifer Sedney Focused Research Act" or "Ellie's Law" aims to address the critical need for more research on brain aneurysms. The act authorizes $20,000,000 to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to conduct comprehensive research on unruptured intracranial aneurysms, with a focus on diversifying the study population by age, sex, and race. These funds are intended to supplement existing funding for brain aneurysm research.

The "Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2025" increases the tax credit to $1.00 per gallon for renewable natural gas used as fuel in vehicles, boats, or aviation, or when sold for such uses, through December 31, 2035. It defines renewable natural gas and sets requirements for producers, sales, and certification, and requires producers to register with the IRS. These provisions are effective for fuel sold or used after December 31, 2025, and do not apply to gas produced and used outside the United States.

The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025" aims to impose significant sanctions on Russia if it refuses to negotiate peace with Ukraine, violates a peace agreement, or initiates further military action against Ukraine. The bill mandates the President to determine and impose sanctions on individuals, entities, and financial institutions affiliated with the Russian government, targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, and restricts trade and financial interactions with Russia. It also increases import duties on goods from Russia and countries purchasing Russian energy products, while providing limited exceptions for humanitarian aid and intelligence activities. The President has the authority to terminate and reimpose sanctions based on Russia's actions.

The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to establish comprehensive standards for dog dealers, focusing on humane treatment. These standards include requirements for flooring, space, temperature, nutrition, exercise, socialization, veterinary care, and breeding practices. The Act sets specific guidelines for breeding frequency, age, and veterinary procedures, as well as humane placement for retired breeding dogs. It directs the Secretary to finalize regulations for these standards within 18 months.

This bill affirms the U.S. government's recognition of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized 1991 borders. It condemns Russia's occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories as violations of international law. The bill also establishes the official policy of the U.S. government to reject Russia's claims over occupied Ukrainian territories.

The "St. Patrick's Day Act" would amend federal law to recognize St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, as a federal holiday. This would add it to the list of holidays observed by the federal government.

The Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Program Act of 2025 establishes a new Medicare payment system for radiation therapy, moving from fee-for-service to per-episode payments to encourage efficient and patient-centered care. This program aims to stabilize payments, reduce disparities, enhance quality, and promote the use of advanced technology while protecting Medicare resources. The act mandates participation for radiation therapy providers and includes adjustments for geographic location, health equity, and practice accreditation, as well as incentives for meeting quality standards. It also revises civil monetary penalties to allow transportation assistance for patients and exempts the program from budget neutrality adjustments to ensure its financial stability.

This bill establishes a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Irish American History in Washington, D.C. The commission will explore the museum's feasibility, including fundraising, location, governance, and potential inclusion within the Smithsonian Institution. It requires the commission to submit reports, fundraising plans, and legislative recommendations to the President and Congress, with the goal of establishing and maintaining the museum through public contributions without federal funding. The commission will terminate 30 days after submitting the final reports and plans.

The "Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act" establishes a temporary "Ukrainian guest status" for eligible individuals paroled into the U.S. under the Uniting for Ukraine program. This status allows beneficiaries to remain and work in the U.S. until 120 days after the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ended and it is safe for civilians to return, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security determines the individual poses a security risk.

The Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the import, sale, and distribution of kangaroos and kangaroo products in the United States for commercial purposes. Violators may face fines and/or imprisonment. The Secretary of Commerce will issue regulations to implement this law, which takes effect 180 days after enactment.

The PAST Act of 2025 amends the Horse Protection Act to strengthen enforcement against horse soring, a cruel practice used to create an exaggerated gait. It bans action devices and weighted shoes, increases penalties for violations, and mandates the licensing and oversight of qualified inspectors, prioritizing veterinarians, to ensure fair competition and protect horses. The Act also requires the USDA to publish violation information and sets clear disqualification periods for horses found to be sore, aiming to eliminate soring in specific horse breeds.

The Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 provides increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from ALS, regardless of the duration of the illness. To be eligible, the surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran for at least eight years, and the veteran must have died on or after October 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress identifying other service-connected disabilities that should receive similar treatment as ALS under existing compensation guidelines.

The MODERN WIC Act of 2025 aims to modernize the WIC program by expanding options for remote certification appointments, including telephone and video calls, and allowing for remote delivery of food benefits. It requires state agencies to offer various formats for certification appointments, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The Act also mandates a report to Congress on the use of remote technologies in WIC, focusing on their impact and best practices.

The "Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes and modifies the Delaware River Basin Conservation Program. It broadens the definition of the Basin to include Maryland, allows prioritization of funding for projects benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities, and extends the program's operation until 2032.

The "Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025" aims to protect postal workers by allocating funds for high-security collection boxes and electronic mailbox keys. It also mandates the appointment of dedicated attorneys to prosecute crimes against postal employees and directs the Sentencing Commission to increase penalties for assaulting or robbing them.

The "Protecting VA Employees Act" repeals and modifies sections of Title 38 and Title 5 of the U.S. Code related to employee removal, demotion, and suspension processes within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It restores specific disciplinary and grievance procedures for Veterans Health Administration personnel to their pre-2017 status. The act also renames and redesignates section 714 to "Protections for whistleblowers from removal, demotion, and suspension" and moves it within Chapter 7 of Title 38.

The Patriot Day Act amends title 5 of the United States Code to include "Patriot Day" in section 6103(a). This act formally recognizes Patriot Day as a day of national observance.