Legislative Activity

This bill, the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, updates eligibility requirements for certain school employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It adjusts how paraprofessionals and education support staff meet the required hours of service by using a percentage of expected monthly hours worked during the school year. Furthermore, the bill mandates clear guidelines for calculating FMLA leave entitlement for these employees to account for non-standard school schedules.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a program supporting the defense biotechnology supply chain. The program aims to strengthen military readiness by developing and scaling up promising bio-based materials, fuels, and chemicals from military research. It focuses on reducing reliance on vulnerable foreign supply lines through applied research, prototyping, and public-private partnerships. The authority to run this program will automatically expire ten years after enactment unless extended by the President.

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish clear guidance for private entities on how to demonstrate that their biobased products meet military requirements. It also mandates an audit by the Comptroller General to review DoD procurement standards for any unintentional exclusion of biobased products. The goal is to ensure fair evaluation and increase the adoption of biologically derived products within the DoD supply chain.

This bill establishes a Department of Defense program to support and expand domestic bioindustrial manufacturing capacity for critical products. The program will provide competitive awards to private companies to build, update, or retool U.S. facilities for commercial-scale biomanufacturing. Selections will prioritize strengthening supply chains, meeting future military needs, and ensuring facility flexibility. This initiative aims to secure the nation's access to essential biomanufactured goods for the next decade.

The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act establishes a new, increasing schedule of authorized appropriations for key Impact Aid programs through fiscal year 2031. This legislation specifically sets funding levels for federal property acquisition, basic payments to heavily impacted school districts, payments for children with disabilities, and construction activities. The goal is to gradually increase federal support for these essential educational services.

This bill directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a feasibility study on integrating militarily relevant applications of emerging biotechnology into military wargaming exercises. The study must assess how new biotech could affect soldier capabilities, strategic materials, and potential adversary use. The resulting report, due within 180 days, will recommend necessary updates to ensure wargames reflect current and future technological realities.

The Nationwide Right to Unionize Act eliminates federal permission for states to enact or enforce "right-to-work" laws by repealing Section 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act. This action ensures that union security agreements negotiated between unions and employers are governed exclusively by federal labor law. Consequently, state laws that prohibit mandatory union membership or fee payment as a condition of employment will no longer apply where federal law permits such agreements.

This resolution affirms strong Congressional support for the independence of the Federal Reserve System, its Chairman, and the Board of Governors. It emphasizes that the Fed must be free from political pressure to effectively manage monetary policy and maintain financial stability. The bill specifically warns against any executive interference that could undermine the Fed's integrity or global trust in the U.S. financial system.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The Safe Air on Airplanes Act mandates the phase-out of "bleed air systems" in new aircraft designs to improve cabin air quality. This legislation requires the FAA to ban these systems in future aircraft designs within six months. For existing aircraft designs still in production, the bill requires the installation of specialized filters within seven years, followed by a 30-year timeline for completely eliminating bleed air systems from newly manufactured planes.

The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard Act (SUN Act) enhances Congressional oversight of the President's domestic deployment of National Guard and reserve forces. It requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress within 15 days outlining the legal justification, goals, costs, and impact of any domestic deployment. This reporting requirement is waived only when reserve forces are deployed specifically following a Presidential declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act for a natural disaster.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Exemption Reauthorization Act extends the federal regulations governing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facilities. Specifically, this bill pushes back the expiration date for these existing HOV facility rules from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2031. This ensures the current federal guidelines remain in effect for an additional six years.

The Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must now provide abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of the medical services offered to eligible veterans and certain other beneficiaries. This legislation formally amends existing VA health care provisions to include these reproductive health services.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The LOAN Act significantly overhauls federal student aid by dramatically expanding Pell Grants, making higher education more accessible through increased funding and eligibility pathways. It also restructures federal student loans by eliminating origination fees, introducing new income-driven repayment plans, and stopping interest capitalization to reduce borrower debt. Furthermore, the bill establishes new fixed interest rate formulas for future loans and creates refinancing options for both existing federal and private student loans. Overall, the legislation aims to lower the cost of college and ease the burden of repayment for millions of borrowers.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals an outdated ban that prevented Medicaid from making payments to certain healthcare providers. This legislation ensures that these previously prohibited entities will now be reimbursed for medical services rendered between the enactment of the original ban and the passage of this Act. In short, it restores payment eligibility and retroactively covers past services.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or contracting for the use of certain foreign-made LiDAR technology identified in related defense legislation. This ban applies to purchases, contracts, and the use of federal loan or grant funds for this restricted technology, generally beginning in mid-2026. The Secretary of Transportation may only waive this prohibition if it is certified to be in the national interest of the United States. Certain safety testing and regulatory exemption activities remain exempt from these restrictions.

The EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 establishes a structured process for distributing up to 2,000 additional, federally funded residency positions annually between fiscal years 2026 and 2032. This distribution prioritizes hospitals serving in underserved areas, those already training above their limit, and those committed to primary care and general surgery training. The bill also mandates a study and report by the Comptroller General on effective strategies to increase diversity within the health professional workforce.