Legislative Activity

The "Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act" prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from specific foreign companies, primarily those with ties to China, starting October 1, 2027. Waivers are permitted under certain conditions, such as lack of security risk and absence of alternatives, and require notification to Congress. The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report assessing the bill's impact on the Department's operations and costs.

The "Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025" aims to strengthen protections against trafficking in government contracting by requiring more robust compliance and reporting measures. It mandates prompt reporting of trafficking-related activities, Inspector General investigations, and potential payment suspensions until corrective actions are taken. Additionally, the Act directs the Office of Management and Budget to assess the feasibility of enhancing contractor anti-trafficking plan compliance and streamlining related agency reporting.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" modifies eligibility rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments for surviving spouses who remarry. It allows remarried surviving spouses to receive certain educational benefits and DIC, and it continues annuity payments to surviving spouses who remarry, particularly those whose spouses died on active duty. Additionally, the Act expands the definition of "dependent" under the TRICARE program to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage has ended.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. must include standard equipment capable of receiving AM broadcast signals within a few years of the law's enactment. This requirement aims to ensure drivers retain access to crucial emergency alerts, overriding conflicting state or local laws. The bill also directs the GAO to study the reliability of AM radio versus other emergency alert technologies in vehicles.

The "JOBS Act of 2025" expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term job training programs (150-600 hours) that lead to credentials in high-demand fields. These programs must meet specific requirements, including alignment with industry needs and assurance from state boards. The act also requires accrediting agencies to assess the quality of these programs and mandates data sharing between the Departments of Education and Labor. Finally, the bill lowers the threshold for the minimum Federal Pell Grant from 10 percent to 5 percent.

This resolution designates January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to recognize the positive impact of mentoring on youth development. It highlights mentoring's role in improving academic achievement, fostering leadership skills, and supporting at-risk youth. The resolution encourages expanding mentoring opportunities to address the significant need for mentors among young people nationwide. It also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of mentoring program staff and volunteers.

This resolution recognizes the critical role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in advancing U.S. national security interests. It emphasizes USAID's importance in reducing global threats, promoting stability, addressing migration and extremism, and maintaining U.S. leadership against China. The resolution also references the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which requires USAID to consult with Congress on significant organizational changes.

The "Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act" amends the Stafford Act to prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation when providing disaster relief. This ensures that disaster assistance is distributed fairly, regardless of a person's political beliefs.

The "Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025" authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his civil rights contributions, loyalty, patriotism, and dedication to justice and equality. The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution after the award presentation. Additionally, the Act allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the gold medal to cover production costs.

This resolution designates February 3-7, 2025, as "National School Counseling Week" to recognize the vital role school counselors play in students' academic, social, and emotional development. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges students face and the importance of adequately supporting school counseling programs. The resolution encourages Americans to participate in events that highlight the importance of school counselors in helping students succeed.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include innovative multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. These tests, which use genomic sequencing to detect multiple cancer types, will be covered for eligible beneficiaries with age and frequency limitations. The payment amount for these tests will initially align with that of multi-target stool screening DNA tests. This new coverage aims to improve early cancer detection without affecting existing Medicare-covered cancer screenings.

The "Charitable Act" modifies and extends the deduction for charitable contributions for individuals who do not itemize deductions. For the 2026 and 2027 tax years, the deduction is capped at one-third of the standard deduction for the individual. The bill also eliminates a penalty related to this deduction. These changes are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act seeks to ensure that foreign non-governmental organizations are eligible for assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, regardless of the health or medical services they provide, as long as those services adhere to specific guidelines. It ensures that these organizations are not subject to more restrictive requirements for using non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying compared to U.S. non-governmental organizations.

The "Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act" aims to enhance the safety and supply of infant formula by requiring manufacturers to quickly report contamination issues and implement corrective actions. It mandates the FDA to provide progress reports on strategies to improve the infant formula market and requires ongoing reporting on supply chain data to Congress. The act also directs the FDA to collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to establish best practices for ensuring a stable and safe infant formula supply.

This resolution expresses disapproval of any pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It serves as a formal condemnation of such pardons.

The "Extending Limits of United States Customs Waters Act of 2025" amends the definition of "customs waters" to include the U.S. contiguous zone, extending the area in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection can enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws from 12 to 24 nautical miles. This expansion aims to modernize law enforcement capabilities in response to advancements in maritime technology and safeguard law enforcement and public health interests. The act references existing presidential proclamations that define the U.S. territorial sea and contiguous zone, ensuring alignment with international law.

The MEDAL Act of 2025 seeks to honor Medal of Honor recipients by increasing their special monthly pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33, recognizing their extraordinary heroism and inspiration to the Armed Forces. The bill maintains the surviving spouse's special monthly pension at $1,406.73, subject to periodic adjustments.

The "Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025" aims to improve foster care and adoption outcomes by requiring states to develop and implement "family partnership plans." These plans focus on data-driven recruitment, support, and retention of foster and adoptive families, with an emphasis on kinship placements and reducing congregate care. The Act also mandates increased data collection and reporting on foster family capacity, demographics, and challenges to better inform recruitment and support efforts at the state and federal levels.

The Lumbee Fairness Act grants federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making them eligible for federal services and benefits. It designates specific counties in North Carolina as the Tribe's service area and requires a needs assessment report to Congress. The Act also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the Tribe and addresses jurisdictional matters, while clarifying the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The "Connected MOM Act" directs the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate and report on the use of remote monitoring devices in state Medicaid programs for pregnant and postpartum women. The report will identify barriers to coverage and the impact on maternal health outcomes. Following the report, the Department of Health and Human Services will update resources for state Medicaid programs to align with the report's recommendations.