Legislative Activity

This Act appropriates **$15 billion** in supplemental emergency funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover costs associated with the major flooding events that occurred in Texas during 2025. The funds are designated for disaster response and recovery efforts under the Stafford Act. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular reporting from FEMA to Congress detailing how these emergency funds are obligated and spent across Texas.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.

The Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Act amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to increase federal support for colonias. Specifically, this legislation doubles the annual set-aside funding for the Colonia Set-Aside Program from $\$1,000,000$ to $\$2,000,000$. This action ensures greater financial resources are dedicated to housing assistance in these underserved communities.

The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability across the prescription drug supply chain. It mandates fairer pharmacy network access for Medicare beneficiaries and imposes strict new financial reporting and service fee requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) working with Medicare and private health plans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new federal mechanisms to accurately track drug acquisition costs in Medicaid and explicitly bans the practice of "spread pricing" in state Medicaid contracts.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors the essential and dangerous work performed by these skilled professionals, especially their heroic efforts in restoring power after major disasters. The day serves to recognize their service and remember those who have lost their lives performing this vital work.

The Anti-Rigging Act of 2025 asserts Congress's constitutional authority to regulate the process by which states redraw congressional districts following the decennial census. This law generally prohibits states from making mid-cycle changes to their congressional maps after the initial post-apportionment redistricting. Any required changes before the next census can only occur if mandated by a court ruling concerning constitutional or Voting Rights Act violations. This legislation specifically does not affect the administration of state or local elections.

The REMIT Act of 2025 aims to protect the integrity of international money transfers while minimizing burdens on legal remittance services. This legislation restricts the federal government's ability to impose new excise taxes or fees on money transmitting businesses. Before any such tax or fee can be implemented, the Treasury Secretary must certify that it will not aid criminal money laundering or place an excessive burden on these businesses. This framework seeks to prevent regulatory changes from inadvertently benefiting informal and illicit transfer systems.

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 aims to combat the growing obesity epidemic, particularly among older adults, by expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy under Medicare. This bill mandates that Medicare Part D plans begin covering FDA-approved medications for obesity and weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, it requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of these new obesity treatment strategies.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 significantly expands and permanently secures access to Medicare telehealth services by eliminating outdated geographic restrictions and allowing more practitioners to offer remote care. The bill also strengthens program integrity by dedicating funds for telehealth oversight while clarifying rules around providing necessary technology to patients. Finally, it mandates the creation of tailored educational resources and public reporting to improve quality measurement and transparency in remote care delivery.

The Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act amends SEC reporting requirements for certain investment companies. This change allows these companies to exclude the indirect fees and expenses incurred from investing in an Acquired Fund, provided that Acquired Fund is a business development company. This simplifies the calculation of total "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" disclosed on registration statements.

This resolution expresses the strong support of the U.S. Congress for Israel's recent military actions aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities. It condemns Iran's advancement toward nuclear weapons and its retaliatory attacks against Israeli civilians. Furthermore, the bill urges Iran to immediately cease all nuclear activities and reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security.

The PHARA Act of 2025 mandates the immediate release of all existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding and prohibits the cancellation of active research agreements. Moving forward, all new NIH grant agreements must include specific termination clauses requiring a 90-day notice and good-faith negotiation before ending the funding. Furthermore, this Act explicitly prevents the NIH from terminating agreements solely because the research no longer aligns with current agency goals or priorities.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

This bill authorizes the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept external funds from various sources for projects related to wastewater treatment, water conservation, and flood control. These funds will be deposited into a dedicated, non-expiring Treasury account for authorized use. The legislation also establishes specific reporting requirements to Congress regarding the use of these accepted funds.

The AADAPT Act reauthorizes the Project ECHO Grant Program and establishes new, dedicated grants to support technology-enabled collaborative training for healthcare professionals in underserved areas. These new grants specifically focus on improving the early diagnosis and quality of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The bill outlines funding levels and reporting requirements to track the impact of these specialized training models on provider retention and patient outcomes.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

The Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act aims to reform the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty structure. This bill lowers the penalty rate, changes how long the penalty lasts, and excludes periods of coverage under COBRA, retiree plans, or VA health care from penalty calculations. Additionally, it removes employment status restrictions for qualifying for a special enrollment period when COBRA or retiree coverage ends.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The STOP Screwworms Act mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile New World screwworm flies in high-risk areas to combat infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture must build these modular facilities within 180 days of enactment and provide annual public reports on the threat and control efforts. The bill authorizes up to $300 million to fund these necessary actions.

The Depot Investment Reform Act of 2025 updates how the Department of Defense calculates the minimum capital investment required for certain depots. This reform shortens the look-back period for these investment calculations from three preceding fiscal years to only the preceding, current, and following fiscal years. This change aims to ensure investment levels are based on more current financial data.