Legislative Activity

This bill seeks to amend federal law to provide hazard pay for federal employees carrying out prescribed burns and for smokejumpers. It officially recognizes that performing prescribed burns and parachute jumping for firefighting duties involve unusual physical hardship or hazard comparable to fighting active wildfires. The Office of Personnel Management is tasked with implementing the necessary regulations to ensure this hazard pay takes effect promptly.

This bill establishes a new grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to help specialty crop producers become more competitive. These grants will assist eligible entities in purchasing advanced mechanized or automated equipment and providing necessary training for its use. Recipients must provide matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost. The covered technology ranges widely, including harvesting tools, sorting machinery, traceability systems, and advanced IoT and robotic equipment.

The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2025 establishes a program for the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to eligible organizations. These grants will fund domestic market development programs, including advertising and promotion activities, for domestically produced specialty crops. Recipients must submit a marketing plan and provide non-Federal matching funds of at least 25%. The Act authorizes $75 million annually for this purpose starting in fiscal year 2026.

This Act establishes a mandatory supply fee for Medicare drug plans to pay long-term care pharmacies for specific prescriptions dispensed in 2026 and 2027. The bill mandates a $30 fee per prescription in 2026, increasing in 2027, with penalties for non-payment. Additionally, the GAO is required to study the financial sustainability of the current payment structure for these essential pharmacies. This legislation aims to ensure continued access to medications for patients in long-term care settings.

The Naomi Schwartz and Susan Rose Safe Parking Act of 2025 amends federal law to officially designate "safe parking" as an eligible activity under the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program. This allows states to use ESG funds to operate secure overnight parking locations for individuals experiencing homelessness in vehicles. These designated sites must connect residents with re-housing services and supportive assistance to help them transition into stable housing.

The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to boost the domestic market for U.S.-grown specialty crops. The Secretary of Agriculture will award funds to eligible organizations to execute approved marketing and development projects. Recipients must provide non-Federal matching funds and adhere to strict spending guidelines monitored through annual reviews and audits.

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 establishes a permanent Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the State Department to streamline and support the resettlement of Afghan allies. This Act mandates the creation of a secure, centralized database to track all applicants, beneficiaries, and relocation progress, ensuring accountability to Congress. The Coordinator will manage interagency efforts, resolve family reunification roadblocks, and provide integration support for covered persons. This entire framework is set to automatically expire five years after enactment unless otherwise specified.

The Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025 aims to protect consumers by prohibiting grocery stores from charging "grossly excessive" prices for food items. The bill also bans stores from adjusting prices based on personal tracking data, such as facial recognition, and requires clear signage if facial recognition technology is used. Furthermore, it mandates that large physical grocery stores must use printed signs instead of electronic shelf labels for displaying prices.

This bill authorizes Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the nurses who served in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II to recognize their extraordinary service and sacrifice. The legislation highlights the dangerous conditions these nurses faced, often without full military status or benefits. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act grants states significantly more time—up to six fiscal years—to begin construction on federally funded emergency highway repair projects following a major disaster declaration. This extension allows states additional flexibility to complete planning and administrative tasks before starting physical construction. Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for governors to request further extensions if needed and mandates regular updates to the Emergency Relief Manual.

The BUILD Housing Act streamlines environmental reviews for certain HUD housing assistance programs by allowing the Secretary to designate them as "special projects." This change enables the use of specific, established review procedures under the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority for environmental review responsibilities to include federally recognized Indian Tribes alongside states and local governments.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or contracting for the use of certain foreign-made LiDAR technology identified in related defense legislation. This ban applies to purchases, contracts, and the use of federal loan or grant funds for this restricted technology, generally beginning in mid-2026. The Secretary of Transportation may only waive this prohibition if it is certified to be in the national interest of the United States. Certain safety testing and regulatory exemption activities remain exempt from these restrictions.

The EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025 (RESCUE Act) streamlines the permitting process for projects recovering critical materials from sources like mine waste and coal byproducts. This amendment expands eligibility under the FAST Act's expedited review to include the extraction of rare earth elements and specific forms of carbon from these secondary sources. The goal is to accelerate the development of domestic supplies of these vital resources.

The Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to fund community-based organizations that provide structured, long-term mentoring for children and young adults who are currently or formerly in foster care. These grants aim to expand high-quality mentoring relationships, requiring rigorous mentor training, thorough background screening, and significant input from youth with lived experience. The goal is to improve outcomes for foster youth in areas like education, mental health, and successful transition to adulthood.

The Protected Time Off Act establishes a federal minimum standard for earned paid annual leave, requiring employers to grant employees at least one hour of paid time off for every 25 hours worked, up to 80 hours annually. This law specifies how leave is accrued, used, and rolled over, while protecting employees from retaliation for exercising these rights. It also ensures that existing state laws or agreements that provide more generous leave benefits remain in effect. Enforcement mechanisms are established, largely mirroring those under the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing both government investigation and direct employee lawsuits.

This bill, the National Fire Academy Reporting Act, mandates that the Administrator of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control submit an annual report to Congress. This report must detail the courses and programs offered, including attendance breakdowns by department type and firefighter status. It also requires specific reporting on course cancellations and the allocation of financial assistance and student aid.

This Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, aims to accelerate housing development by modernizing and simplifying the environmental review process managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It reclassifies numerous routine housing and rehabilitation activities for faster processing under NEPA, including assistance programs and infill projects. The Secretary of HUD must annually report on the resulting administrative cost savings and increased speed over five years.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 establishes a structured process for distributing up to 2,000 additional, federally funded residency positions annually between fiscal years 2026 and 2032. This distribution prioritizes hospitals serving in underserved areas, those already training above their limit, and those committed to primary care and general surgery training. The bill also mandates a study and report by the Comptroller General on effective strategies to increase diversity within the health professional workforce.