Legislative Activity

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.

The Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act prioritizes federal funding for research and extension programs specifically aimed at controlling the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. This legislation ensures that developing effective tools and treatments against this pest becomes a high-priority initiative. Additionally, the Act extends the authorization for several existing high-priority agricultural research programs until 2030.

This bill establishes the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act to foster scientific partnerships between the two nations. It creates a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Defense, to fund joint research projects between U.S. academic or non-profit entities and Israeli institutions specializing in PTSD treatment. The goal is to advance new and improved methods for diagnosing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act significantly increases financial penalties for group health plans and insurance issuers that violate balance billing protections. It establishes steep fines, including up to $\$10,000$ per affected individual for serious non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill imposes severe penalties, including triple the disputed amount plus interest, for failing to make required payments promptly after an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) determination. Finally, it mandates more frequent and detailed transparency reporting on enforcement actions and violations.

The Safe Schools and Communities Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund local school districts. These competitive grants must be used to train school staff on identifying and preventing human trafficking, drug abuse (including fentanyl), and gang activity. This initiative aims to enhance safety protocols and awareness within elementary and secondary schools.

The PEACE Act of 2025 imposes strict new financial sanctions on foreign banks knowingly dealing with sanctioned Russian entities following escalating attacks on Ukraine. It mandates the Treasury Department to seize specific Russian Central Bank assets held in the U.S. and transfer them to a fund supporting Ukraine. The Act also requires a review of major Russian energy companies and includes provisions for presidential waivers and a sunset clause tied to Russia ceasing destabilizing actions.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.

This bill establishes a new State judicial threat intelligence and resource center to enhance the security of state and local judges and court staff. The center will provide training, monitor threats, standardize reporting, and create a national database for incidents against the judiciary. It also requires annual reporting to Congress on the number and severity of threats received.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly clarify that time taken off for an employee's own organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition. This ensures both private and federal sector workers receive FMLA protection for recovery from organ donation. The legislation also specifies how federal employees must substitute existing paid leave when taking FMLA time for this purpose.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

The EACH Act of 2025 aims to ensure equal access to abortion coverage by requiring all federally funded health programs and facilities to cover abortion services. This legislation prohibits federal interference with state or private insurance coverage of abortion and repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate financial and insurance barriers to abortion care, particularly for low-income individuals relying on programs like Medicaid.

The Ally's Act mandates that certain private health insurance plans must cover auditory implant devices, related supplies, and necessary services for qualifying individuals. This coverage must be comparable to other medical and surgical benefits regarding cost-sharing and treatment limitations. Furthermore, plans cannot deny coverage if a physician or qualified audiologist determines the required hearing items or services are medically necessary. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Improving Access to Small Business Information Act exempts actions taken by the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation from most requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. This change allows the Advocate to operate more efficiently by streamlining the process for gathering necessary information. While most paperwork reviews are waived, certain procedural oversight responsibilities remain with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Financial Technology Protection Act of 2025 establishes an Independent Financial Technology Working Group to research and recommend regulations combating the illicit use of digital assets by terrorists and criminals. The bill also mandates a presidential report detailing strategies to prevent foreign actors from evading U.S. sanctions using emerging technologies. This legislation aims to secure the financial system against modern threats posed by new financial technologies.

The Protect Our TEETH Act mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must seek a rapid evidence review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine before proposing new national safety limits for fluoride in drinking water. The EPA must consider the findings of this review when finalizing any rule changes. This ensures a transparent, expert-backed assessment informs decisions regarding public water fluoridation standards.

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, primarily focusing on defining and regulating "digital commodities" under the CFTC and SEC. It creates registration pathways for exchanges and intermediaries, clarifies rules for asset sales, protects individual self-custody rights, and explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Overall, the bill aims to bring clarity and consumer safeguards to the digital asset market while encouraging technological innovation.

This resolution formally condemns the slogan "Globalize the Intifada" as a call for violence against Israeli and Jewish people worldwide. It cites the historical context of past Intifadas and recent antisemitic incidents to support this position. The bill urges all levels of U.S. leadership to publicly denounce the slogan.

The Medicare Breast Reconstruction Access and Information Act mandates that suppliers performing medically necessary mastectomies must inform patients about their Medicare coverage for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. This information must be provided and documented in the patient's medical file before the surgery takes place. Failure to comply will result in Medicare withholding payment for the mastectomy procedure.

The BANNED in Latin America Act mandates the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy to counter Iranian and Hezbollah influence operations across Latin America. This plan must detail actions against cultural centers, restrict the activities of Iranian agents, and boost intelligence gathering on these networks. Furthermore, the strategy will outline measures to disrupt Iranian and Hezbollah media platforms and address radicalization efforts within university networks.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives honoring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. It recognizes his pivotal role in ending apartheid in South Africa through nonviolent resistance and reconciliation. The bill supports the international observance of Nelson Mandela International Day as a time for reflection on peace, tolerance, and human rights.