Legislative Activity

The Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Act mandates the establishment of federal shipping safety fairways along the Atlantic Coast. This legislation requires the Coast Guard to issue final regulations, based on their 2024 proposal, establishing minimum fairway widths by December 31, 2026. These safety measures aim to enhance maritime safety in nearshore and offshore areas.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 1200 William Street, Room 200, in Buffalo, New York, as the "William J. Donovan Post Office Building." It also mandates that any reference to this facility in U.S. records shall reflect this new designation.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The PEACE Act mandates that the Department of State prioritize addressing the rising threat of antisemitism and international terrorism in Europe. It requires the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs to brief Congress on these issues within 180 days and annually for two subsequent years. The Act also calls for diplomatic engagement with European governments to foster transatlantic cooperation against these threats.

This act, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, amends federal law to exempt specific less-than-lethal projectile devices from existing firearm restrictions. It clarifies that these devices, designed to avoid serious injury and firing projectiles below a certain velocity, are not classified as firearms under federal statute. This change aims to facilitate the adoption of non-lethal tools by law enforcement.

The Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act aims to significantly reduce prescription drug expenses for consumers. It expands the federal drug price negotiation program to cover more drugs and extends negotiated prices to most private health insurance plans. Furthermore, the bill applies inflation rebates to the commercial market and establishes new annual out-of-pocket spending caps for prescription drugs under private insurance starting in 2027. It also sets specific, lower cost-sharing requirements for covered insulin products.

The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act establishes an interagency taskforce to study and recommend strategies for combating unlawful robocalls originating from outside the United States. It also grants the FCC authority to require providers to post a bond to ensure integrity in the Robocall Mitigation Database. Furthermore, the bill provides legal immunity for private consortiums tracing the origin of these illegal calls and allows for the publication of non-cooperative providers.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 2200 South Salina Street in Syracuse, New York, as the "Wallie Howard Jr. Post Office Building." This renaming standardizes all future references to the building across federal documents and records.

The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.

The Veterans Heroin Overdose Prevention Examination Act, or Veterans HOPE Act, mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of veteran overdose deaths over the preceding five years. This review must analyze prescription history, medications present at death, and contributing factors, especially focusing on deaths involving non-prescription opioids like heroin and fentanyl. The findings, including recommendations for improving veteran safety, will be reported to Congress and made publicly available.

The Public Access to Defibrillation in Transportation Facilities Act of 2025 aims to increase the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public transportation settings. The bill expands federal grant programs to allow funds to be used for purchasing AEDs and developing emergency response plans at these facilities. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue recommendations and guidelines for AED deployment and emergency planning at interstate transportation facilities. This legislation seeks to improve response times to sudden cardiac arrest in areas frequented by the public.

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism if Russia fails to ensure the safe return and reintegration of Ukrainian children abducted since the 2022 invasion. The designation triggers existing sanctions unless the Secretary can certify that all forcibly deported children are safely reunited with their families. Removal of this designation requires Russia to cease terrorism support and meet strict criteria regarding the return of all displaced children.

The New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025 establishes a new program to coordinate the restoration and protection of fish and wildlife habitats across the New York-New Jersey Watershed. This legislation creates a competitive grant program to fund local restoration projects, with special consideration for communities facing environmental injustice. The Act authorizes $20 million annually through fiscal year 2031 to support these science-based conservation efforts.

This resolution strongly condemns the brutal October 7th attacks by Hamas, demanding the immediate and unconditional surrender of the terrorist group and the release of all hostages, including Americans. It reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense while urging international action against Hamas and condemning the global surge in antisemitism. The measure serves as a formal statement of U.S. policy and support following the attacks.

The October 7 Remembrance Education Act mandates the creation of a high school curriculum focused on the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. This educational tool must detail the attacks, explore the history of antisemitism leading up to them, and address the spread of related antisemitic rhetoric in the U.S. afterward. The curriculum will be developed by the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and must adhere to established definitions of antisemitism.

The October 7 Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the American hostages and victims of the brutal October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. This medal honors their suffering, sacrifice, and the resilience shown by their families. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs. The official gold medal will ultimately be displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Northport, New York, in honor of Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy. The renaming recognizes his ultimate sacrifice and heroism during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. This designation will serve as a permanent tribute to his legacy of courage and service.

The Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act of 2025 directs NASA and NOAA to expand civilian space cooperation with Taiwan. This legislation mandates the initiation of discussions to collaborate on non-military space activities, including satellite programs and weather monitoring. The relevant agencies must report annually to Congress for five years on the progress and scope of this partnership.

The Combatting Fentanyl Poisonings Act of 2025 establishes several new grant programs managed by the Attorney General to address the fentanyl crisis. These grants will fund local law enforcement efforts to stop social media drug sales, support non-profit organizations in running public awareness campaigns, and equip officers to safely handle fentanyl exposure. The Act specifically allocates funds for enforcement, education, and officer protection related to the dangers of fentanyl.

The LIFT AI Act aims to prepare K-12 educators and students for an AI-literate future by fostering national understanding of Artificial Intelligence. It authorizes the National Science Foundation Director to award grants for developing K-12 AI literacy curricula, teacher training, and responsible use guidelines. The goal is to ensure students gain the necessary skills to critically use, understand, and contribute to the evolving world of AI technology.