Legislative Activity

The Pay Workers What They've Earned Act aims to reimburse federal employees and contractors for direct financial costs incurred due to government shutdowns. This legislation specifically covers expenses like late fees and interest charges resulting from missed paychecks during a lapse in funding. It also establishes a process for states to be reimbursed if they use their own funds to cover normally federal responsibilities during extended shutdowns. The bill creates a dedicated Treasury fund to ensure timely payments to affected workers in the future.

The GENERAL Act mandates increased transparency regarding the involuntary reassignment, separation, or retirement of high-ranking military officers. It requires the Secretary of Defense to notify congressional defense committees within 15 days of such an action. This notification must clearly explain the rationale behind the decision and detail the process used to reach it.

The Technical Assistance for Health Grants Act updates how the Secretary of Health and Human Services provides support to certain grant recipients under Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. This bill restructures existing rules to mandate tailored technical assistance for grantees, including specific support for tribal organizations and U.S. territories. It also establishes peer support conferences and requires regular reporting to Congress on the assistance provided. These changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025, with $15 million dedicated to funding the new support structure in fiscal year 2026.

The Health Providers Training Act expands eligibility for Health Profession Opportunity Grants to include hospitals. This change allows hospitals to apply for federal funding to support health profession training initiatives. All provisions of this Act will take effect starting October 1, 2025.

The Baby Hygiene Tax Relief Act prohibits the President from imposing new or continuing existing import duties on essential baby hygiene items, such as diapers and wipes, under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This legislation ensures that these necessary products are not subject to emergency-related tariffs. Furthermore, it nullifies any similar taxes imposed using alternative legal authorities.

The Apex Area Technical Corrections Act updates the 1989 Apex Project land transfer law to clarify definitions, responsibilities, and conditions for land conveyance involving Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association. It broadens land descriptions and ensures that future land withdrawals are permanent, while also streamlining mineral sales on transferred federal lands. The bill also mandates compliance with key environmental laws for any future land transfers within the Apex Site.

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal frameworks within HHS and the Department of Labor to address community violence through prevention and economic opportunity. Title I creates grants for community-based violence intervention programs focused on evidence-based, trauma-responsive care, while Title II funds job training for opportunity youth in high-violence areas. Overall, the bill aims to reduce violence by investing in local services and creating pathways to employment rather than relying solely on incarceration.

The Broadcast VOICES Act aims to increase ownership diversity in the broadcasting industry by incentivizing the sale of broadcast stations to socially disadvantaged individuals. It establishes a new FCC-managed tax certificate program for qualifying sales, capped at $50 million per transaction. Furthermore, the bill mandates regular FCC reporting on ownership diversity and creates a new tax credit for donating broadcast stations to qualifying training charities.

The Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2025 modifies how household income is calculated for the Premium Tax Credit (PTC) by excluding certain wages earned by qualifying dependents. This exclusion applies to dependents under 18, or those under 24 participating in job training or apprenticeships for at least five months. However, the total excluded income is capped at 15% of the taxpayer's own Modified Adjusted Gross Income.

The SCHOOL Professionals Act of 2025 clarifies how certain contractors providing services to educational organizations are treated under the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate rules. This legislation ensures that individuals working substantially like regular staff for a school are counted when determining if the educational organization must offer health coverage. This change aims to prevent schools from avoiding their employer responsibilities by classifying essential workers as contractors.

The UNLOCK Housing Act officially designates the development of affordable housing for low-income families as a recognized public purpose under existing federal land laws. It establishes a Joint Task Force, led by HUD and the Interior, to identify underutilized federal lands suitable for housing development. This Task Force is charged with streamlining the process for transferring this land and reporting annually to Congress on its progress.

The Housing Market Transparency Act requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to collect and publicly report detailed information on properties utilizing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This aims to increase oversight regarding construction costs, ownership, and compliance status of affordable housing developments. States will be responsible for submitting required data to HUD annually.

The HOME Act of 2025 aims to combat the affordable housing crisis by prohibiting price gouging on rentals and sales during officially declared crisis periods. It mandates investigations into housing market manipulation, including excessive purchases by large investors, and establishes a new HUD unit to monitor and enforce fair housing practices. Furthermore, the bill directs regulators to set standards for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments to protect renters from unfair rent hikes and requires a review of anti-competitive behavior in housing markets.

This resolution is an official request from the House of Representatives demanding the President provide specific information regarding recent operational changes at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Congress seeks documents detailing the cessation of phone applications for benefits, any SSA office closures or mergers, and information concerning recent staffing reductions. The inquiry also specifically requests details about the Department of Government Efficiency's access to SSA operations and data.

The Lower Drug Costs for Families Act modifies how prescription drug inflation rebates are calculated for Medicare Part B and Part D. This bill incorporates commercial market sales data into the rebate calculations for both parts. Additionally, it shifts the baseline reference years for these rebate calculations to earlier dates, starting in 2016. These changes aim to adjust the financial responsibility of manufacturers when drug prices rise faster than inflation.

The Capping Prescription Costs Act of 2025 establishes a hard annual limit on the amount individuals and families must pay out-of-pocket for prescription drugs under their health plans. Starting in 2026, this cap will be set at \$2,000 for individuals and \$4,000 for families, adjusting annually based on medical cost inflation. This requirement applies to both ACA marketplace plans and most employer-sponsored group health plans.

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.