Legislative Activity

The LABEL Act mandates clear and conspicuous labeling for consumers regarding the country of origin and whether fish products are farm-raised or wild-caught. This information must be displayed prominently using a font size no smaller than the description of the fish itself. The requirements will take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

This resolution designates September 2025 as "National Cholesterol Education Month" and September 30, 2025, as "LDL-C Awareness Day." It highlights the urgent need to address cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., by focusing on managing high LDL cholesterol levels. The bill encourages public awareness and screening for LDL-C to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The Restoring Rural Health Act aims to support critical access hospitals facing compliance issues. This legislation specifically addresses facilities that were designated as critical access hospitals as of January 1, 2024, but subsequently receive notice of noncompliance with the distance requirement. It amends the Social Security Act to ensure these specific rural hospitals maintain their status despite the notification.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specific National Forest System land in Franklin County, Mississippi, to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance. The transfer requires a written request from the Alliance and a determination by the Secretary that the conveyance is in the public interest. The land must be sold at fair market value through a competitive process, with the Alliance covering associated appraisal and administrative costs.

This resolution officially designates September 25, 2025, as National Ataxia Awareness Day to raise public understanding of ataxia, a group of serious neurological disorders affecting coordination. The bill supports efforts to educate the public and medical community about the condition, its impact, and the urgent need for increased research. Ultimately, it aims to boost support for those affected by ataxia while promoting the search for treatments and a cure.

The SECURE Benefits Act of 2025 focuses on tightening identification requirements for claiming major tax credits and benefits. It mandates the Social Security Administration to issue temporary, work-authorized Social Security Numbers and enhances information sharing between DHS and the IRS. Furthermore, the bill imposes stricter Social Security Number requirements for claiming the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, Savers Credit, and Saver's Match, while also establishing new penalties for fraudulent claims based on invalid work authorization.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month to raise national awareness about the issue. It supports increased efforts to educate the public and reduce infant mortality rates, low birth weights, and preterm births. The bill recognizes the importance of integrating these reduction strategies into broader public health and wellness initiatives.

This resolution designates the week of September 21 through September 27, 2025, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It aims to honor and recognize the profound sacrifices made by the families of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as the families of veterans. The designation encourages the nation to observe this week through acts of service and goodwill to celebrate these families.

The Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025 establishes emergency financial assistance for private forest owners and timber service businesses impacted by pine beetle outbreaks. This aid includes cost-share payments to cover restoration efforts and new emergency loan options specifically for nonindustrial private forest landowners. The bill also provides supplemental grants to state, Tribal, and local governments to aid in their response and recovery from these infestations.

This bill makes minor, technical corrections to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. The primary changes involve renumbering and updating existing definitions within the Act to ensure internal consistency. These are housekeeping adjustments designed to clean up the existing law without altering its substance.

This resolution observes the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, recognizing the devastating impact the storm had on the Gulf Coast region. It highlights the immense human and infrastructure toll caused by the disaster while commending the extraordinary recovery and rebuilding efforts undertaken since 2005. Ultimately, the resolution reaffirms the commitment to the continued restoration and prosperity of the affected communities.

This bill provides the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations and detailed spending directives for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), along with several related agencies. It allocates substantial funding for infrastructure, public transit, rental assistance, and homelessness programs while imposing strict administrative controls and reporting requirements on agency leadership. The legislation also includes numerous specific provisions governing program management, oversight, and restrictions on how federal funds can be utilized.

The Habitat Enhancement Now Act establishes two new competitive grant programs managed by the Secretary of the Interior to support migratory waterfowl populations. One program focuses on funding the construction and maintenance of "hen houses" to boost nesting success in the Prairie Pothole Region. The second program aims to improve breeding habitat, such as nesting cover and brood ponds, specifically within California. Annual funding of \$3.5 million is set aside for each of these two distinct grant programs through fiscal year 2030.

The IDeA Reauthorization Act of 2025 officially names and updates the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program to support biomedical and behavioral research institutions in states lagging in NIH funding. This legislation mandates increased transparency by requiring the NIH to publicly report annually on the program's strategy, awards, and impact on research quality and workforce development. The bill also clarifies eligibility criteria based on state-level NIH funding levels.

The Solid American Hardwood Tax Credit Act introduces a new energy-efficient home improvement tax credit for qualifying expenditures on U.S.-grown and processed hardwood materials like flooring and millwork. This bill also extends the availability of this new credit through 2035. Additionally, it terminates the temporarily increased tax credit for carbon oxide sequestration for projects beginning construction after the Act's enactment.

The HERITAGE Act significantly increases the maximum reduction in the fair market value of certain actively farmed rural land for estate tax purposes, raising the limit from $\$750,000$ to $\$15,000,000$. This change only applies to estates of individuals who pass away after the Act is enacted. The bill also makes necessary technical updates to ensure consistent application of the new valuation limits within the tax code.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2025 establishes a new tax credit to incentivize businesses to use cotton grown in the United States. This Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit is calculated based on the amount of qualified U.S. cotton in an eligible product sold, factoring in processing location and market price. The bill mandates strict digital tracing requirements to prove the origin of the cotton throughout the supply chain. Special enhanced credit multipliers are available for businesses that elect to claim the credit separately for qualified U.S. cotton yarn or fabric components.

The RESTORE Act aims to improve reproductive health outcomes by promoting restorative reproductive medicine and fertility education as alternatives to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). It mandates federal reviews of current infertility standards of care, expands research into conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, and protects healthcare providers who object to participating in ART. Furthermore, the bill seeks to modernize medical coding and reimbursement to better support providers offering comprehensive, restorative treatments.

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act mandates that essential health benefits under the ACA must comprehensively cover prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care. This legislation explicitly bans all cost-sharing, such as deductibles or copayments, for these critical maternal and newborn health services. The coverage requirements are expanded to include screenings like ultrasounds and services related to pregnancy loss. Furthermore, non-birth parents are entitled to related behavioral health services for one year following the child's birth.

The Rural Health Sustainability Act of 2025 updates the criteria for hospitals seeking the Rural Emergency Hospital designation under Medicare. This bill retroactively adjusts the eligibility review date to January 1, 2014, and adds a new pathway for designation based on certification by the Office of Rural Health Policy. This aims to broaden access to this critical designation for eligible rural facilities.