Legislative Activity

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 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.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Voting Rights Act by establishing new standards to challenge discriminatory voting practices and updating federal oversight criteria for states. It mandates greater transparency for all changes to voting rules and implements "practice-based preclearance" for certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill creates new federal criminal penalties for using force or threats to intimidate voters or election workers.

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 Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding is specifically designated for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This appropriation is in addition to any existing funds allocated for this purpose.

The Pay Teachers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly boost federal investment in public education across three main areas. Title I guarantees substantial, growing funding for disadvantaged students, rural schools, Impact Aid, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Title II mandates a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000, raises pay floors for support staff, and requires states to address pay inequities. Finally, Title III establishes mandatory, increasing appropriations for programs that recruit, train, and support new educators, especially through paid residencies and specialized disability services.

This Act prohibits discrimination against individuals based on disability or age in federal jury service. It amends federal law to ensure qualified individuals are not excluded from juries solely due to a disability if reasonable accommodations can be made. The bill removes outdated standards that allowed exclusion based on general infirmity.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). This bill extends crucial tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and establishes new offices within the Treasury and Labor Departments to provide technical assistance and advocacy. Furthermore, it amends the Small Business Act to ensure ESOP-owned businesses do not automatically lose small business status when they transition to majority employee ownership.

The Stop the Scammers Act establishes a new whistleblower incentive and protection program within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), allowing individuals to receive awards of 10% to 30% of collected penalties for providing original information leading to successful enforcement actions. Furthermore, the Act invalidates predispute arbitration agreements that attempt to waive these new whistleblower rights. Finally, this bill increases the annual funding cap for the CFPB, allowing it to receive up to 12 percent of the Federal Reserve's prior year earnings.

The EACH Act of 2025 mandates that all federally funded health programs and insurance plans must cover abortion services without imposing restrictions based on income or insurance type. This legislation aims to eliminate existing federal bans and state-level restrictions that prevent access to comprehensive reproductive care. Furthermore, the bill prevents the federal government from interfering with state or private insurance plans that choose to cover abortion services. It explicitly repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act and establishes that this Act takes precedence over all conflicting federal laws.

The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions against selling goods or services at "grossly excessive" prices, particularly during exceptional market shocks like natural disasters. The bill empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these rules, setting specific revenue thresholds for businesses subject to the anti-gouging provisions. Furthermore, it mandates that companies experiencing a market shock must provide detailed disclosures to the SEC regarding changes in pricing, volume, and profit margins in subsequent financial filings.

The Payment Choice Act of 2025 affirms the right of consumers to use U.S. currency for in-person retail transactions up to $\$500$. This Act mandates that businesses accepting in-person payments must offer equal pricing for cash and non-cash transactions. It establishes exceptions for technical failures or lack of change, and outlines a process for consumers to enforce compliance through civil action.

The Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security must keep all information submitted for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program confidential. This law strictly prohibits sharing DACA application data with agencies like ICE, CBP, or local law enforcement for general immigration enforcement purposes. Information can only be disclosed narrowly for DACA program administration, fraud prevention, or in specific, serious criminal or national security investigations.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress conditions. This Act requires the Secretary (of Labor) to rapidly establish comprehensive, science-based worker heat protection standards, including mandatory rest, water, and shade provisions. Furthermore, it grants enforcement power to OSHA, ensuring these new heat safety rules carry the full weight of existing occupational safety law. The legislation also establishes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who report heat hazards.

The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act comprehensively overhauls the nation's unemployment system by strengthening federal support during downturns, establishing robust national minimum standards for regular benefits, and creating a new federal Jobseeker Allowance program. Title I modernizes extended benefits by shifting costs to the federal government and updating activation triggers, while Title II mandates a 26-week minimum duration and eliminates the waiting week for regular state benefits. Finally, Title III establishes a new, federally funded Jobseeker Allowance starting in 2027 to provide ongoing support to those actively seeking work.

The Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act creates a new tax incentive for capturing methane emissions directly from mines. This incentive allows mine operators to claim the existing carbon capture tax credit (Section 45Q) for qualified methane that would otherwise leak into the atmosphere. To qualify, the captured methane must be safely injected into a pipeline or used for energy production, and facilities must meet specific construction and capture thresholds.

The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 officially designates the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates, including Hamas, as terrorist organizations under U.S. law. This act imposes strict prohibitions on their operations within the United States and mandates visa and entry bans for their members. Furthermore, the legislation requires the Secretary of State to annually report on all Muslim Brotherhood branches globally, compelling the President to impose sanctions on those identified.