Legislative Activity

The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 overhauls food assistance by basing benefit calculations on a new "low-cost food plan" instead of the previous "thrifty food plan." It also introduces new standard medical expense deductions for elderly or disabled households and eliminates a previous time limit restriction for certain program participants. Finally, the bill removes the cap on deductions for excess shelter expenses.

The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act of 2025 prohibits the EPA from reassigning the renewable fuel obligations of small refineries that have received an exemption extension. This ensures that the obligated volume remains with the exempt refinery rather than being shifted to other obligated parties. Furthermore, the fuel produced by these exempt small refineries must still be counted when calculating a company's total production for compliance purposes.

The Nationwide Right To Unionize Act seeks to strengthen union organizing rights across the country. It achieves this by repealing the section of federal law that currently allows state "right-to-work" laws to override federal labor protections. This change effectively removes the federal permission for states to enforce laws prohibiting mandatory union membership or fee payment as a condition of employment.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. It condemns the multiple attempts against his life and other political officials, while honoring the victims and first responders involved in the July 2024 shooting. The measure further calls for an end to the incitement of political violence that threatens the democratic process.

This concurrent resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, a landmark 1975 agreement establishing principles for security, economic cooperation, and human rights among signatory nations. Congress reaffirms the United States' enduring commitment to these foundational principles, especially in light of current violations by some states. The resolution urges all signatories to uphold their commitments and calls for public observance of this diplomatic milestone.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act establishes new federal standards to safeguard warehouse employees from excessive performance quotas and unsafe working conditions. It creates a dedicated office within the Department of Labor to enforce transparency requirements regarding quotas and mandates new OSHA standards to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Furthermore, the bill strengthens labor protections by clarifying when performance targets unlawfully interfere with workers' rights to organize.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

This Act establishes a five-year moratorium on new broker-dealers and investment advisers that are controlled by, or rely on essential services from, entities or residents of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The legislation prohibits these PRC-connected firms from registering or joining national securities associations in the U.S. Financial regulators are granted examination authority over these entities to ensure compliance with the new restrictions.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

This bill mandates an independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction therapy care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) versus non-VA providers. The study will examine differences across various treatment settings and report on key outcomes like patient improvement, use of evidence-based practices, and coordination of care. The findings will be submitted to Congress and made publicly available.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends crucial federal programs aimed at combating vector-borne diseases like those carried by ticks. This legislation reauthorizes funding and support for national strategies, regional centers, and local health departments through 2030. It also updates the composition of the advisory group overseeing the national strategy.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve support for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It mandates a VA report on technology-facilitated MST and overhauls the disability claims process to be more sensitive and evidence-flexible for survivors. Furthermore, the bill expands access to necessary healthcare and support services for a broader range of former service members affected by MST.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to ensure food products labeled as "milk," "cheese," or other standardized dairy terms actually meet established definitions. This legislation prevents companies from selling non-dairy items across state lines using official dairy names unless they meet strict ingredient and sourcing standards. The FDA is required to quickly issue new guidance on enforcing these labeling requirements.

This bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to extend the construction start deadline for certain existing hydropower project licenses issued before March 13, 2020. Licensees of these "covered projects" can apply for up to three separate two-year extensions, totaling an additional six years, to commence construction. Furthermore, the bill allows FERC to reinstate licenses that expired after December 31, 2023, under specific conditions.

The Fight for the American Dream Act expands eligibility for military enlistment to include individuals holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Employment Authorization Documents. This bill also modernizes the process for military naturalization by removing an outdated section and updating requirements for service-based citizenship. Overall, it streamlines pathways to service and citizenship for certain non-citizens.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals a previous ban that prohibited Medicaid payments to certain healthcare entities. This legislation retroactively validates and ensures payment for essential healthcare services provided by these now-unbanned organizations during the period the prohibition was in effect.

The Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025 immediately enacts the final rule from PHMSA regarding gas pipeline leak detection and repair standards upon the bill's signing. This ensures stricter safety measures for finding and fixing leaks take effect without delay. Furthermore, the Act preserves the Secretary of Transportation's authority to issue stronger, more protective regulations in the future.

The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 significantly amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit credit reporting agencies from reporting negative information related to medical debt. Furthermore, the bill mandates that creditors are forbidden from using a consumer's past medical debt information when making credit decisions. This legislation aims to remove the burden of medical bills from consumer credit reports and lending evaluations.

The EATS Act of 2025 revises eligibility rules for students seeking Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by clarifying the definition of a "bona fide student." This legislation removes specific restrictions that previously barred many higher education students from receiving SNAP. The changes, including technical renumbering of relevant sections, will take effect on January 2, 2026.