Legislative Activity

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The MAP Roads Act establishes a pilot program to help states digitally map their unmapped county roads, aiming to improve rural business, safety, and navigation. The Secretary of Transportation will award grants to states that commit to creating a centralized, public repository for this standardized road data. Participating states must ensure the collected data is publicly accessible and updated annually. This grant authority is set to expire in 2031.

The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act establishes a high-level Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to develop and execute a comprehensive U.S. strategy against transnational criminal organizations running massive online scams, often utilizing victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This strategy must focus on disrupting these operations, sanctioning responsible parties, and providing support for rescued victims. The bill authorizes $30 million over two years to fund these efforts and requires annual reporting to Congress on progress and impact.

The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2025 aims to significantly upgrade and expand the national weather alert system to ensure reliable, uninterrupted access for all Americans, regardless of location. This legislation mandates the modernization of existing infrastructure, including transitioning to newer communication technologies and expanding transmitter coverage to underserved rural and tribal areas. Furthermore, the Act requires a comprehensive assessment to improve data dissemination and ensure the system remains resilient against various threats.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The Stop CMV Act of 2025 aims to establish a national framework for screening newborns for congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV). This legislation authorizes federal funding for states to implement testing programs and improve data collection systems related to CMV. Furthermore, the bill mandates the expansion of research efforts through the NIH to improve CMV diagnostics, prevention, and treatment.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The Saving the American Dream Act mandates that key federal housing agencies collaborate to share research and data through a formal agreement. This legislation requires these agencies to jointly submit a comprehensive report to Congress outlining policy solutions for improving housing finance coordination, reducing mortgage costs, and addressing barriers to new home construction. The goal is to ensure federal housing policy is based on coordinated, evidence-based analysis.

This act establishes the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program to correct historical errors where Jewish service members killed in WWI and WWII were mistakenly buried under non-Jewish grave markers overseas. The American Battle Monuments Commission will contract with a nonprofit organization to identify these "covered members" and contact their survivors over a five-year period. The legislation also extends a deadline related to certain pension payments.

The Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive review of the technical assistance the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides for clean water infrastructure projects. This review will examine what assistance is available, how partners are selected, and whether the aid effectively meets community needs without duplication. Following the report, the EPA Administrator must submit annual plans to Congress detailing steps taken to implement the GAO's recommendations.

The NSF AI Education Act of 2025 significantly expands the National Science Foundation's role in bolstering the AI workforce through education and training. It establishes new scholarships and fellowships for students and professionals in AI-related fields, while also creating Centers of AI Excellence at community colleges and technical schools. Furthermore, the bill funds research awards to develop effective AI teaching methods and materials for K-12 education. Overall, this legislation aims to build a robust, skilled, and diverse AI talent pipeline across all educational levels.

This bill extends the special rule allowing low emission and energy-efficient vehicles access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes until December 31, 2026. It also mandates a study by the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the effectiveness of this provision on reducing traffic congestion.

This bill, the **September 11 Day of Remembrance Act**, officially designates September 11th as a legal public holiday. This amendment updates federal law to recognize September 11th as the "September 11 Day of Remembrance," observed annually. Consequently, federal employees will observe this day as a recognized federal holiday.

The Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance U.S. weather forecasting, research, and public safety measures across five years. It mandates the modernization of critical infrastructure, including radar systems and data processing, while prioritizing the integration of commercial technology and social science research into actionable, impact-based warnings. The bill focuses on improving predictions for severe events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and droughts, and overhauls how NOAA acquires and utilizes private sector weather data. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to deliver faster, clearer, and more reliable hazard information to protect American lives and property.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends crucial federal funding for programs supporting law enforcement officers in crisis. This bill specifically reauthorizes existing support and treatment initiatives for an additional five years, running from 2025 through 2029. It ensures continued resources are available for officers needing mental health and wellness assistance.

The Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act ensures that essential U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who must work during a government shutdown in fiscal year 2026 will receive their salaries. This legislation appropriates necessary funds from the Treasury to cover these payments during the lapse in appropriations. The goal is to guarantee that critical border security personnel are paid even if the government temporarily closes.

The PART Act aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new vehicles to have traceable identifying markers on these parts. It establishes a federal grant program to help entities stamp identifying numbers onto existing converters. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict record-keeping requirements on businesses that buy used converters and creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking stolen catalytic converters.

The Facility for Runway Operations and Safe Transportation (FROST) Act modifies federal definitions for airport facilities under aviation programs. Specifically, it removes the explicit inclusion of storage facilities for deicing equipment and fluids from the definition of eligible airport facilities for federal funding. This change impacts how certain aviation grants are allocated by adjusting what infrastructure qualifies for support.

The TRANSPORT Jobs Act mandates the creation of a "Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan" to facilitate the transition of service members and veterans into jobs within the port, ocean, rail, and truck supply chain industries. This plan will identify barriers to employment and recommend concrete steps for federal agencies to better connect veterans' skills with industry needs. The goal is to increase the hiring and retention of veterans in critical supply chain roles.