Legislative Activity

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and sell special commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coins will feature designs celebrating American athletes and the Games themselves. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will be directed to the respective organizing committees to help fund the events and related youth sports programs. The entire program must be conducted at no cost to the U.S. Government.

The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability across the prescription drug supply chain. It mandates fairer pharmacy network access for Medicare beneficiaries and imposes strict new financial reporting and service fee requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) working with Medicare and private health plans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new federal mechanisms to accurately track drug acquisition costs in Medicaid and explicitly bans the practice of "spread pricing" in state Medicaid contracts.

This bill, the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act, establishes a new mandatory rebate system for manufacturers of certain drugs selected for Maximum Fair Price (MFP) negotiation under Medicare. Manufacturers must pay quarterly rebates based on the difference between the standard Medicare payment and the lower negotiated MFP for units sold under Part B. These changes also adjust beneficiary coinsurance calculations to reflect the lower MFP, ensuring patient out-of-pocket costs are based on the negotiated price.

This resolution strongly condemns Russia for the abduction and forced "Russification" of Ukrainian children, highlighting these actions as grave violations of international law. It emphasizes that these children must be safely returned to Ukraine before any final peace agreement to end the war is considered. The document also underscores the heightened risks of trafficking, violence, and trauma faced by Ukrainian children due to the ongoing invasion.

The End DED Act seeks to eliminate the use of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) by the executive branch, asserting that this authority belongs to Congress. The bill prohibits the use of any federal funds or resources for the DED program. This action aims to formalize immigration relief through the existing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) framework established by Congress.

The TPS Reform Act of 2025 fundamentally shifts the authority for designating and extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from the executive branch to Congress. Under this Act, Congress must pass specific legislation to grant initial TPS or approve any extensions based on ongoing conflict or disaster conditions. The Secretary of Homeland Security assumes the administrative responsibilities previously held by the Attorney General regarding TPS.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating **September 25th** as **National Stop SuiSilence Day**. The bill emphasizes that open conversation is crucial for reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and preventing loss of life. It encourages individuals, communities, and the government to actively engage in suicide prevention awareness and action on this designated day.

The OCED Elimination Act officially abolishes the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) within the Department of Energy. This legislation also repeals Section 41201 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, eliminating associated programs and requirements. In short, this bill shuts down the OCED and removes a specific section of prior energy legislation.

The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2025 aims to repeal specific provisions within the Affordable Care Act and related legislation that limited exceptions to the prohibition on certain physician referrals to hospitals under Medicare. This action effectively restores pre-ACA rules regarding physician referrals for hospital services. The bill focuses on modifying existing Medicare regulations concerning physician-hospital relationships.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court by expanding definitions of harm and restricting the public disclosure of their identities. It mandates new, strict reporting duties for tech providers regarding child sexual exploitation material, backed by substantial criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the Act creates broad new civil remedies allowing victims to sue responsible online platforms and app stores for damages related to exploitation that occurred during their childhood. Finally, it improves restitution procedures, particularly for vulnerable victims, while ensuring existing state and tribal protections remain intact.

The Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2025 bans federal health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, from using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) or similar metrics in coverage and payment decisions. This ensures that extending life for older, disabled, or terminally ill individuals is not valued less than for others. The bill also sets specific funding levels for the Prevention and Public Health Fund through fiscal year 2031 and mandates an annual report on QALYs' impact on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025 seeks to eliminate federal protections that currently prohibit the obstruction of reproductive health clinic entrances, the use of force or threats against patients and providers, and the intentional damage of clinic property. If enacted, this legislation would immediately repeal these federal criminal prohibitions and apply to all pending or future prosecutions.

The Make DOGE Permanent Act mandates the creation of a special, real-time access portal for members of Congress to view federal award spending data. This exclusive access will provide Congress with the latest information, including details on payments made to individuals and federal employees, which may be restricted on the public website. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must establish this dedicated link within six months of the bill's enactment.

This joint resolution formally establishes "Life Month" to affirm the fundamental value and inherent dignity of every human life as an unalienable right. It recognizes the Supreme Court's *Dobbs* decision and urges Congress to enact laws protecting unborn life. Furthermore, the resolution commends organizations and individuals who support pregnant women and new families.

The RESTORE Act aims to improve reproductive health care by promoting access to restorative reproductive medicine and fertility awareness-based methods. It directs federal agencies to review standards of care, expand relevant research, and update medical coding to ensure accurate classification and reimbursement for these treatments. Furthermore, the bill protects healthcare providers from discrimination based on their refusal to participate in assisted reproductive technology.

The No Revolving Doors in FMS Act of 2025 establishes new restrictions for former State Department and Department of Defense employees involved in Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This legislation prohibits these former officials from lobbying Congress or federal employees regarding the specific FMS programs they worked on within the three years prior to leaving federal service. The bill aims to prevent immediate conflicts of interest by closing the "revolving door" between government service and lobbying in the FMS sector.

The Safe Prescribing Through Reporting Act of 2025 amends federal law to allow the disclosure of patient records related to substance use disorder medications to state prescription drug monitoring programs. This sharing is contingent upon the specific requirements and mandates set forth by individual state laws. The goal is to enhance oversight and safety in prescribing these critical medications.

The Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act establishes a new federal excise tax on proceeds received from third-party litigation financing agreements. This tax is calculated at the highest income tax rate plus an additional 3.8 percentage points, applied annually to the proceeds received by a "covered party." The bill also institutes specific withholding requirements on payments made to financiers and reclassifies litigation funding proceeds to ensure this new tax structure is applied.

The Ending Medicaid Discrimination Against the Most Vulnerable Act modifies the enhanced federal funding structure for Medicaid coverage provided to low-income adults. This bill establishes a gradual phase-out of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) between 2027 and 2034, with the extra funding ending entirely in 2035. Furthermore, the legislation alters the incentives for states that have not yet expanded Medicaid coverage, potentially limiting future enhanced funding for those states if they expand after 2024.