Legislative Activity

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to adjust federal regulatory authority over insurance data by limiting the subpoena power of the Office of Financial Research against insurance companies. It also strengthens confidentiality protections for data shared with and held by the Federal Insurance Office and other financial regulators. Furthermore, the bill mandates that financial regulators must seek existing data from other sources before directly collecting information from insurance companies, ensuring data privacy is maintained.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

The Fiscal Commission Act establishes a bipartisan commission tasked with developing legislative recommendations to improve the nation's long-term fiscal health, aiming to reduce the national debt ratio to 100% of GDP by 2039. This Commission, composed of appointed members from both chambers of Congress and outside experts, must submit its final report and proposed legislation within a specific timeframe. The Act also creates an expedited, amendment-free process for Congress to consider and vote on any resulting "implementing bills."

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

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). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act aims to combat sophisticated, cross-border criminal organizations driving massive increases in retail and supply chain theft. This bill updates federal laws regarding stolen goods and money laundering to strengthen enforcement tools against these groups. Furthermore, it establishes a new federal Coordination Center within Homeland Security to share intelligence and coordinate efforts between federal, state, and private sector partners. The legislation recognizes that these theft rings often fund other serious criminal activities, threatening national security and the economy.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 final rule removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 60 days of enactment. This action is intended to finalize the gray wolf's delisting status. Furthermore, this section prohibits any judicial review of the Secretary's reissued rule.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for audiology services, beginning in 2027. This legislation allows qualified audiologists to provide diagnostic and treatment services without physician referral or supervision, as permitted by state law. The bill also specifies payment rates and includes audiologists in coverage for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The Nuclear Family Priority Act significantly restructures U.S. family-based immigration by redefining "immediate relatives" to only include spouses and children of U.S. citizens, removing parents from that top category. It also establishes a new, temporary nonimmigrant visa for parents of adult U.S. citizens, which prohibits work and public benefits. Furthermore, the bill revises the annual cap for family-sponsored visas and makes numerous technical amendments across immigration law to align with these changes.

The 1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act aims to eliminate the mandatory data collection and reporting requirements for small business loans previously established under Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Proponents argue that these regulations impose unnecessary compliance costs on lenders, potentially hindering small business access to credit. This bill repeals those specific reporting mandates to reduce regulatory burdens on financial institutions.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act significantly raises the resource limits for individuals and couples applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), starting in 2025. This legislation also mandates that these new resource limits will be automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. The goal is to allow SSI applicants to save more money without losing eligibility for benefits.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights to join single-sex social organizations at colleges receiving federal funding. This bill prevents institutions from taking adverse action against students or groups solely because of sex-based membership policies. It ensures these organizations are treated fairly compared to other campus groups regarding participation and privileges. Ultimately, the Act safeguards a student's freedom to choose their associations, including single-sex clubs.

The Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act (RIFLE Act) eliminates the existing federal tax on firearm transfers. This legislation strikes the relevant section from the Internal Revenue Code and makes necessary technical updates to related statutes. Importantly, this Act does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any new authority over regulated firearms.

The Worker Enfranchisement Act establishes stricter requirements for a union to become the exclusive representative for a group of employees. Under the new rules, a union must win a secret ballot election where more than half of the votes cast favor the union, and at least two-thirds of all eligible employees must participate in the vote. These new turnout and majority standards will apply to elections held six months after the Act's enactment.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to test methods for increasing the purchase of nutrient-rich dairy products by households using SNAP benefits. The Secretary of Agriculture will award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement incentive projects at the point of sale. These projects must prioritize direct incentives that can only be spent on buying more eligible dairy items, and all projects will undergo rigorous independent evaluation. The Act also mandates the transition of existing dairy incentive projects into this new framework without interruption.

The Free Speech Fairness Act amends tax law to allow 501(c)(3) organizations to make political campaign statements without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. This protection applies only if the statement is made as part of the organization's ordinary course of activities and incurs only a de minimis (trivial) cost. This ensures non-profits can speak on political matters related to their mission without penalty, provided spending remains minimal.

The DETERRENT Act significantly increases transparency requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts, contracts, and investments, especially those involving "countries or entities of concern." It mandates detailed public disclosure reports, establishes strict prohibitions and waiver processes for contracts with risky foreign entities, and imposes severe financial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires specified large private institutions to report their holdings in concerning foreign assets annually.

The SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 aims to overhaul poverty measurement by mandating more detailed data collection and establishing new valuation methods for federal benefits. Additionally, the bill significantly modifies the SNAP program by tightening work requirements, increasing state financial responsibility for administration, and imposing new eligibility hurdles for recipients. These changes seek to better reflect economic reality while increasing incentives for employment within the nutrition assistance program.