Legislative Activity

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 aims to combat the nation's leading weather-related killer by establishing a coordinated federal strategy to address extreme heat. The bill creates an Interagency Committee and a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to improve data sharing, research, and response planning. Furthermore, it authorizes a new Community Heat Resilience Program to provide financial assistance for local projects focused on reducing heat-related health risks, prioritizing vulnerable communities.

The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 expands the Forest Service's ability to fund ecosystem restoration by authorizing contracts and grants for collecting native seeds and growing seedlings. This funding can now go to a broader range of partners, including state agencies, tribes, and universities. Furthermore, the bill explicitly includes native seed collection and seedling production as eligible activities under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program.

This bill aims to strengthen efforts to prevent maternal deaths by reauthorizing support for State-based Maternal Mortality Review Committees. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly disseminate proven best practices for maternal mortality prevention to hospitals and professional societies. Furthermore, the legislation increases federal funding dedicated to these crucial prevention initiatives.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Attorney General to release all unclassified Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. This sweeping requirement covers investigations, travel logs, and communications, with limited exceptions primarily focused on protecting victim privacy and active cases. Any redactions must be publicly justified, and the Attorney General must report the details of the release and any withheld information to Congress.

The SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program within the VA to award competitive grants to nonprofits providing service dogs to eligible veterans with disabilities like PTSD or mobility issues. These grants, capped at $2 million per recipient, will cover the cost of training the dog and veteran, and the VA will also provide veterinary insurance for each service dog. The goal is to ensure veterans receive necessary support dogs without incurring any personal fees.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The Stop the SWARM Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit a report to Congress within 30 days detailing the nation's readiness to combat a New World Screwworm outbreak. This report must specifically address domestic preparedness, including plans for building a domestic sterile fly production facility, current technology, and a comparison between domestic and international production capabilities. The goal is to ensure a robust national response strategy is in place against this serious pest.

The Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 expands reproductive and fertility preservation assistance for active-duty service members and provides comprehensive fertility treatment and adoption support for eligible veterans through the VA. This bill mandates coverage for fertility services, including IVF, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation, for both current service members and veterans. It also requires proactive measures, such as pre-deployment material preservation for service members and seamless care coordination between the DoD and VA.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding is specifically designated for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This appropriation is in addition to any existing funds allocated for this purpose.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Voting Rights Act by establishing new standards to challenge discriminatory voting practices and updating federal oversight criteria for states. It mandates greater transparency for all changes to voting rules and implements "practice-based preclearance" for certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill creates new federal criminal penalties for using force or threats to intimidate voters or election workers.

The Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025 immediately enacts the final rule from PHMSA regarding gas pipeline leak detection and repair standards upon the bill's signing. This ensures stricter safety measures for finding and fixing leaks take effect without delay. Furthermore, the Act preserves the Secretary of Transportation's authority to issue stronger, more protective regulations in the future.

The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025 aims to reform how Medicare pays for emergency air ambulance services. It requires the Secretary of HHS to update the payment system using newly collected cost and usage data from providers. Furthermore, the bill mandates the timely finalization of data collection rules and directs the GAO to study the true costs of these essential emergency transports.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals a previous ban that prohibited Medicaid payments to certain healthcare entities. This legislation retroactively validates and ensures payment for essential healthcare services provided by these now-unbanned organizations during the period the prohibition was in effect.

The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes a framework for financial entities to test new Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects under regulatory supervision. This allows firms to apply for temporary waivers from specific rules by proposing an alternative compliance strategy that demonstrates public benefit and manages risk. Regulatory agencies must create "AI Innovation Labs" to review these applications, generally requiring approval within 120 days unless an immediate threat is identified. The goal is to foster responsible innovation in financial services while maintaining systemic stability and consumer protection.

This bill seeks to protect the tenure of members serving on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). It mandates that current members may only be terminated for specific causes and requires the immediate reinstatement of all members who were serving on June 8, 2025. Furthermore, future vacancies on the committee must be filled using candidates recommended by the Comptroller General.

The Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 establishes a national strategy to improve mental health awareness and reduce stigma within Hispanic and Latino communities. This plan requires culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach tailored to the diverse needs of these populations. The Act also mandates annual reporting on the strategy's effectiveness and authorizes funding for its implementation.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act aims to grant certified Tribal law enforcement officers the authority to enforce federal laws within their tribal areas under certain conditions. This certification process ensures officers meet federal standards for training and background checks, effectively deeming them federal officers for specific legal protections and benefits. The bill also mandates increased oversight by the Attorney General to improve coordination and accountability for public safety efforts in Indian communities.

The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting in 2026. This legislation covers pharmacist services that align with state law and are provided in collaboration with a physician or approved practitioner. The bill specifies payment rates for these covered services, particularly enhancing reimbursement for services related to public health emergencies like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Furthermore, it prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.