Legislative Activity

The "250 Years of Service and Sacrifice Commemorative Coin Act" directs the Department of Treasury to mint coins in 2028 to recognize the nation's semiquincentennial and honor 250 years of American service and sacrifice. The coins include gold, silver, and clad coins, with designs representing American service and sacrifice. Surcharges from the sale of these coins will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, supporting their programs for Gold Star families, first responders, and veterans. The Act ensures that the coin minting does not create any net cost to the government.

The Period PROUD Act of 2025 increases funding for the Social Services Block Grant Program, earmarking $200 million annually from 2026-2029 for providing menstrual products to low-income individuals. States will distribute these funds to eligible entities, who will then provide free products, conduct community outreach, and improve access to menstrual products. The Department of Health and Human Services will evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to Congress. This act ensures that access to menstrual products does not affect eligibility for other federal needs-based programs.

The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act" reauthorizes and expands programs aimed at supporting the mental health of healthcare providers. It requires annual reports on education and awareness initiatives, broadens eligibility for entities receiving funds, and extends funding for mental health support programs through 2030. The Act prioritizes reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers to improve access to mental health services.

The "Banning Strategic Petroleum Reserve Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act" prohibits the Secretary of Energy from selling or exporting petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or any entities controlled by them, including the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy can waive this prohibition if it is deemed to be in the national security interest of the United States. A rule to carry out this section must be issued within 60 days of the enactment of this Act.

The "ORPHAN Cures Act" amends the Social Security Act to refine the orphan drug exclusion within the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It excludes time periods when a drug was designated as an orphan drug from counting towards its eligibility for price negotiation. The bill also modifies the criteria for orphan drug designation, allowing it to apply to drugs treating "one or more rare diseases or conditions" instead of "only one rare disease or condition."

This bill expresses support for the nation's public K-12 schools and the Department of Education, highlighting the Department's role in providing critical funding and resources to students, schools, and families. It condemns any actions that would defund public education or weaken the Department of Education. The bill affirms that public education investment should not be diverted to private K-12 schools through vouchers. It also rejects any claim that the executive branch has the authority to dismantle or relocate major offices within the Department of Education, dismantle or relocate the Department of Education, reduce federal funding for public education, block major federal grant programs for education, or transfer education funding burdens to state and local governments.

The "Health Out-of-Pocket Expense Act of 2025" or the "HOPE Act of 2025" establishes tax-exempt "Hope Accounts" for eligible individuals to pay for qualified medical expenses. Contributions to these accounts are capped at \$4,000 annually for self-only or married individuals with family coverage, and \$8,000 for heads of household with family coverage, with employer and Medicaid contributions limited to 50% of the individual's limit. Distributions used for qualified medical expenses are tax-free, while non-qualified distributions are subject to income tax and a 30% penalty, with exceptions for distributions after death or due to disability. These provisions will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act" or the "SAD Act" aims to prevent deceptive advertising related to reproductive health services, particularly concerning contraception, abortion services, or the employment of licensed medical personnel. It empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these prohibitions, treat violations as FTC Act violations, and pursue civil actions against violators, including imposing significant civil penalties. The FTC is required to report to Congress on its enforcement activities under this act.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "Lower Grocery Prices Act" directs the Comptroller General to study grocery costs for U.S. consumers over the past 20 years. The study will analyze the Consumer Price Index for food and other economic data to understand the impact on consumers. Within 180 days, a report with findings and recommendations to lower food costs will be submitted to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Financial Services, and the Senate Committee on Finance.

The "Keep Our PACT Act" aims to increase funding for Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) between 2026 and 2035. This bill would mandate specific funding levels for these programs, gradually increasing the investment in education for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. It designates these funding increases as emergency requirements, ensuring they are prioritized within the federal budget. The goal is to fulfill the federal government's commitment to supporting states in providing quality education for all children.

The Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act requires the Small Business Administration to train federal employees on increasing contract awards to small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, particularly at agencies that have not met their contracting goals. It directs the SBA Administrator to issue guidance on best practices for increasing contract awards to these businesses. The Act also mandates an annual report to Congress, including a list of agencies failing to meet contracting goals, the number of training sessions provided, and an overview of the training content.

This bill designates February 3-7, 2025, as "National School Counseling Week" to recognize the crucial role of school counselors in student development. It acknowledges the challenges counselors face, such as underfunding and high student-to-counselor ratios. The bill encourages activities and ceremonies to raise awareness of school counselors' importance in preparing students for success.

The IGO Anti-Boycott Act amends the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to include international governmental organizations in the prohibitions against boycotts. It requires the President to submit an annual report to Congress. This report will list foreign countries and international organizations that support boycotts and describe those boycotts.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The RELIEVE Act waives the prior care requirement for veterans seeking reimbursement for emergency treatment at non-VA facilities if that treatment was furnished within 60 days of enrolling in the VA health care system. This change applies to emergency treatment received one year after the Act's enactment, removing a barrier to care for newly enrolled veterans facing emergencies. Formally, the bill amends section 1725(b)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code.

The "Colonel Young Oak Kim Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Colonel Young Oak Kim, recognizing his distinguished military service, leadership, and extensive humanitarian work. This includes his service in World War II and the Korean War, as well as his founding of numerous community organizations in Los Angeles. The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution after the award presentation. It also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

This bill supports the designation of January 30, 2025, as CTE and RHI Awareness Day to increase public knowledge of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and repeated head impacts (RHI). It acknowledges the risks and impact of these conditions, particularly for athletes, veterans, and others susceptible to head trauma. The bill encourages further research, early diagnosis, and informed decision-making, while also recognizing the contributions of researchers, affected families, and organizations dedicated to CTE awareness. It also urges the CDC and NIH to include CTE and RHI information in concussion education.

This resolution expresses gratitude and acknowledges the sacrifices made by Gold Shield Families, the families of fallen first responders. It honors these families of fallen police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the President and made public, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered and recognized nationwide.

The "Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act" aims to ensure that foreign nongovernmental organizations are eligible for assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, part I, regardless of the health or medical services they provide with non-U.S. government funds if such services are legal in their country. It also prevents these organizations from facing stricter requirements than U.S. organizations regarding the use of non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying.