Legislative Activity

The Apex Area Technical Corrections Act amends the Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act of 1989 to clarify land management and usage regulations. It includes updated definitions, expands entities eligible for certain connections, ensures land withdrawals continue indefinitely, and addresses mineral material sales from land grading. The Act also mandates compliance with Federal land laws for all land transfers and rights-of-way.

The UNLOCK Housing Act aims to increase affordable housing options by designating affordable housing development as a public purpose under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, and by creating a task force to identify and streamline the process of using underutilized federal land for housing. The task force will evaluate federal land for residential development and report annually to Congress on its progress. This act seeks to address the shortage of affordable housing and reduce associated costs to federal and state entities.

The HOME Act of 2025 aims to protect renters and homebuyers from unfair housing practices. It prohibits excessive price increases during housing crises, directs investigations into market manipulation, and establishes a unit within HUD to monitor housing costs. The Act also addresses unfair tenant screening practices and limits Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments to ensure renter protections. Finally, it mandates a review of anti-competitive behaviors in the housing market.

This bill requests the President to provide the House of Representatives with information regarding Social Security Administration policies, closures/consolidation of offices, and staffing reductions after March 12, 2025. It seeks documents related to policy changes ending phone applications for benefits, requiring in-person validation, and the impact of these changes on public access. The request also covers the closure/consolidation of Social Security offices and any staff reductions, with all documents to be submitted within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The "Capping Prescription Costs Act of 2025" caps annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for individuals at $2,000 and families at $4,000 starting in 2026. These limits will be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index for medical care. This cap applies to all group health plans and health insurance issuers.

The "Lower Drug Costs for Families Act" aims to lower prescription drug costs by applying inflation rebates to drugs furnished in the commercial market under Medicare Parts B and D. It modifies the calculation of rebates for Part B and D drugs, changing the base years for calculations to 2016 and excluding certain units from the total count, such as those covered under state plans or the 340B program. These changes are set to take effect in 2026 for Part B and in 2025 for Part D.

The TOTAL Care Act initiates a five-year pilot program within the TRICARE Prime program, allowing female beneficiaries to access obstetrical and gynecological care without needing a referral, including the option to select a TRICARE OBGYN provider as an additional primary care manager. Within four years, the Secretary of Defense must report to Congress on the program's impact on TRICARE Prime enrollment and costs.

The Tipped Income Protection and Support (TIPS) Act eliminates the subminimum wage for tipped employees, requiring employers to pay the standard minimum wage before tips. It ensures that all tips go to the employees, allowing for traditional tip pooling. The bill also introduces a tax deduction for qualified cash tips for employees earning up to $112,500 annually, effective for taxable years after 2025.