Legislative Activity

Violet's Law mandates that federal research facilities establish procedures to place retired research animals, including dogs, cats, and primates, into new homes. These facilities must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act standards and ensure animals are certified healthy by a veterinarian before adoption. Eligible placements include registered animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or private individuals.

The Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Inclusion Act establishes new grant opportunities through the National Science Foundation to fund local programs that teach essential AI literacy, prioritizing underserved communities. It also mandates key federal agencies, including Labor, Commerce, and Education, to report on strategies for integrating AI education into job training, business support, and K-12 schooling. The goal is to boost public understanding and responsible use of artificial intelligence across the nation.

The Taiwan International Solidarity Act clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 does not determine Taiwan's status and affirms U.S. opposition to any change in Taiwan's status without its consent. The bill directs the U.S. government to actively advocate in international organizations against the People's Republic of China's (PRC) distortion of the "One China" position regarding Taiwan. Furthermore, it mandates encouraging allies to resist PRC efforts to undermine Taiwan's international partnerships and requires expanded reporting on these PRC actions.

The Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 amends the Lacey Act to prohibit the importation, sale, breeding, and possession of most nonhuman primates across state lines. This sweeping ban includes species like monkeys and lemurs, with limited exceptions for registered research facilities and existing owners who register their animals promptly. The law establishes immediate prohibitions, even before the Secretary of the Interior finalizes all associated regulations.

The PFAS Alternatives Act aims to protect firefighters by funding research and development for next-generation turnout gear that eliminates harmful PFAS chemicals. The bill establishes grants through NIOSH to create safer, PFAS-free protective equipment and separate funding for training programs on the proper care of this new gear. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to reduce occupational illness and injury among fire and EMS personnel.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week" to honor the dedication of public school teachers nationwide. It recognizes the crucial support teachers offer for key educational policies, including funding for students with disabilities and loan forgiveness programs. Furthermore, the bill affirms that teachers must have a voice in shaping federal, state, and local education policy.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Honoring our K9 Heroes Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Homeland Security to help cover medical expenses for retired Federal working dogs. Eligible non-profit organizations with a history of supporting these retired K9s can apply for funding. This initiative is authorized with $1 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to support dogs living with their former handlers.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act aims to strengthen consumer protections for service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This bill mandates improved financial literacy training focusing on SCRA interest rate caps and requires specific notifications of these benefits upon entry or mobilization to active duty. Additionally, it ensures financial institutions must retroactively apply maximum interest rates to pre-service debts from the start of active duty and expand those protections to all debts held by the creditor.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2025 temporarily modifies the physician self-referral prohibition (Stark Law) to allow physician practices to dispense certain Medicare Part D prescription drugs directly to their patients between 2026 and 2030. This exception is subject to specific conditions regarding prescribing, patient history, and dispensing location. The bill also mandates a GAO study to examine trends in physician office drug dispensing and makes a minor adjustment to the allocation for the Medicare Improvement Fund.

The Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025 establishes aggressive national goals for the agricultural sector to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, mandating rapid changes in farming practices, research funding, and land management. It significantly reforms federal conservation and insurance programs to prioritize soil health, climate adaptation, and the development of resilient food systems. The bill also boosts support for on-farm renewable energy, strengthens local food infrastructure, and standardizes food labeling to reduce waste. Overall, it directs substantial federal resources toward transforming agriculture to meet ambitious climate targets while supporting farmers through new incentives and research.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025 ensures that group health plans and insurers must cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. This means no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance will apply to these necessary exams. These provisions take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill amends Medicare rules to cap the out-of-pocket coinsurance amount beneficiaries must pay for certain services provided in an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). If the standard ASC coinsurance exceeds the annual inpatient hospital deductible, the beneficiary's cost will be limited to that deductible amount. The Secretary will cover the difference owed to the ASC.

The GUARD Act expands the use of federal grant funds to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement investigate elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" scams, and general financial fraud. This legislation allows agencies to hire specialized staff, receive advanced training on emerging technologies, and acquire necessary investigative tools. Furthermore, the Act mandates comprehensive federal reports to Congress detailing the scope of these scams and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.

The Deafblind DATA Act aims to establish a more accurate count of Americans who are deafblind by directing the Census Bureau to cross-reference existing survey data. This new law mandates the annual publication of a public table detailing the demographic and economic characteristics of the deafblind population by state, starting in 2026. The goal is to provide essential data to ensure these individuals receive necessary support and resources.

The Gabriel Rosenberg Dyspraxia/DCD Coverage Act mandates a comprehensive study on how current health insurance plans cover treatments for Dyspraxia/DCD. The Comptroller General must report to Congress within one year, detailing coverage gaps across Medicare, Medicaid, federal programs, and private insurance. This study will specifically examine what treatments are covered, any age restrictions, and barriers to access. Ultimately, the Act seeks recommendations for improving coverage under all major insurance sectors.