Legislative Activity

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 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 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.

This resolution recognizes and affirms the vital, evidence-based work of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in determining effective preventive health services. It emphasizes the importance of the Task Force's recommendations, which directly influence mandatory coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act. The resolution calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately ensure the Task Force can continue its operations and that current members complete their mandated terms without interruption.

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.

The Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act establishes a new federal funding stream to mandate that states set and meet minimum living wage standards for all school paraprofessionals and support staff. This legislation sets baseline minimum salaries and hourly wages, which increase with experience and are adjusted for inflation after 2030. States must apply for funding and create a four-year plan to ensure all local districts comply with these new pay requirements, using federal funds to supplement, not supplant, existing local education budgets.

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 O DAIRY Act of 2025 aims to support organic dairy farmers by expanding emergency assistance for losses due to high feed costs and establishing new programs for better cost data collection. The bill also mandates the creation of a specific safety net program for organic dairy operations, prioritizing smaller farms. Finally, it invests in local processing infrastructure and creates new market specialist positions to research and improve the organic dairy sector.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 aims to address physician shortages by adding 2,000 new Medicare-funded residency positions annually from 2027 through 2033. These new slots are distributed through an application process, prioritizing hospitals serving rural areas, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), and those supporting new medical schools. Additionally, the bill mandates a study and report on effective strategies for increasing diversity within the healthcare workforce.

The Employee Ownership Financing Act establishes a new Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to oversee initiatives supporting worker ownership. This bill creates a dedicated Employee Ownership Loan Program to help entities like ESOPs and worker cooperatives acquire or expand majority employee ownership. Furthermore, it grants employees a right of first refusal to purchase a facility facing closure under specific conditions. The Act also establishes an advisory council to guide the Secretary of Labor on implementing these employee ownership provisions.

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act establishes federal grant programs and mandates a five-year phase-out to eliminate the practice of paying workers with disabilities sub-minimum wages. It provides funding and technical assistance to states and organizations to transition employers to paying the full federal minimum wage for competitive integrated employment. The bill also institutes rigorous reporting and evaluation requirements to monitor the impact of these changes on workers with disabilities.

This resolution recognizes the foundational importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in promoting independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. It calls for strengthened federal action to dismantle remaining barriers, particularly by expanding vital community-based health care and support services. The bill urges various federal agencies to actively improve access to employment, housing, telecommunications, and emergency preparedness for this community. Ultimately, it declares that fulfilling the ADA's promise requires a committed, ongoing effort to ensure full inclusion.

This resolution supports the designation of the third annual "National Community Health Worker Awareness Week" to recognize the vital role of Community Health Workers (CHWs). It highlights how CHWs serve as trusted cultural bridges, connecting diverse communities to essential health and social services. The bill encourages federal, state, and local efforts to raise awareness and ensure sustainable support for this crucial public health workforce.

The Charting My Path for Future Success Act reestablishes a crucial project managed by a nonprofit organization to support students with disabilities. This project focuses on training high school educators to help students set goals, create action plans, and monitor progress for success both during and after graduation. The awarded contract for this initiative is secured and cannot be terminated without Congressional approval.

The PRIME Act, or Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act, creates an exemption from federal inspection for small-scale slaughter and meat preparation conducted at custom facilities. This exemption applies only if all processing adheres to state laws and the resulting meat is distributed exclusively within that state to households or local businesses serving in-state customers. Furthermore, the bill explicitly ensures that it does not override or preempt any existing state laws regarding meat processing or sales.

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 Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to use portable, specialized solid waste disposal systems for the on-site destruction of seized contraband, counterfeit goods, and unauthorized materials. This legislation explicitly prohibits the use of open-air burn pits for disposing of illicit or classified items. The Act provides $8.95 million in funding for fiscal year 2026, offsetting this cost by reducing funds previously allocated for open-air burn pit operations.

The Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025 authorizes $\$5$ billion annually from 2026 to 2030 to address deferred maintenance and modernize critical infrastructure across the National Laboratories. This legislation mandates comprehensive reporting to Congress on funded projects and updates the Department of Energy's facility strategy to align infrastructure planning with current and future scientific missions. The bill ensures that modernization efforts support cutting-edge research while requiring a detailed 10-year reconfiguration plan for all national laboratory facilities.

The Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states recruit and retain paraprofessionals in public schools. Funds are distributed to states based on Title I allocations and must be used for state administration or competitive subgrants to local entities. Subgrants must support activities like mentoring, professional development, credentialing assistance, or wage increases, with priority given to entities serving high-poverty areas. States must report annually on wage changes and program effectiveness.

The Access to Birth Control Act aims to ensure that individuals can easily obtain FDA-approved contraception and related medications without systemic barriers. This legislation mandates that pharmacies must promptly dispense birth control or immediately facilitate a transfer or order if the item is out of stock. Furthermore, the bill prohibits intimidation, interference, or misleading information when customers seek these essential healthcare services.