Legislative Activity

The "Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025" seeks to modernize Medicare coverage for chiropractic services. It expands coverage to include all services provided by licensed Doctors of Chiropractic, not just manual spinal manipulation. Doctors of Chiropractic are required to attend an educational webinar to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. This aims to align Medicare with other healthcare systems and private insurance in recognizing the full scope of chiropractic care.

The "Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act" broadens eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance by recognizing "constructive ownership" in cases where formal documentation is lacking. It also modifies housing assistance criteria to include homes damaged (instead of uninhabitable) by a major disaster, allowing for cost-effective repair and rebuilding solutions. These changes apply to assistance applications and funds allocated after the Act's enactment.

The "Department of Education Protection Act" prevents the Department of Education from using already allocated funds to reorganize in ways that would decentralize, reduce staff, or alter the Department's responsibilities, structure, authority, or functions as they existed on January 1, 2025. This act ensures that the Department of Education continues to focus on boosting student success and equal access through its established offices and institutes.

The "Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act" aims to increase transparency in disaster relief efforts by requiring federal agencies to report detailed data on disaster assistance projects on a dedicated government website. This includes information on the total amount of assistance provided, project specifics, and recipient details, making it easier for the public to track how disaster relief funds are used. The Office of Management and Budget is responsible for creating this subpage, with the option to partner with a private entity. This act defines key terms such as "covered federal agency," "disaster assistance," and "eligible recipient" to ensure clarity and consistency in reporting.

The Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act aims to streamline federal disaster assistance by reducing the burden of information collection on applicants and improving the efficiency of preliminary damage assessments. It directs FEMA to conduct a study and create a plan to consolidate information collection, develop a public website for disaster assistance information, and explore the use of new technologies to speed up damage assessments. The Act also mandates the creation of a working group to identify overlaps or gaps in damage assessments and requires a comprehensive report to Congress with findings and recommendations, to be made publicly available on FEMA's website.

The "Affordable Shipping for All Act" ensures fair shipping rates by preventing shipping services from charging higher fees to or excluding shipments to noncontiguous U.S. areas like Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. This act mandates that shipping costs to these areas must be the same as within the contiguous United States for products valued under $10,000. By standardizing shipping costs, the bill aims to provide economic parity for residents and businesses in these regions.

The Goldie's Act seeks to strengthen the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by mandating annual inspections, requiring humane treatment of suffering animals, and imposing significant penalties for violations. It ensures transparency through mandated sharing of violation records and sets firm guidelines for determining penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The Act also enables legal action to recover unpaid penalties and penalizes the disobedience of "cease and desist" orders.

This bill honors the life, achievements, and legacy of Jimmy Carter, recognizing his service as a naval officer, farmer, state senator, Governor, and President. It also acknowledges his post-presidency work promoting peace, democracy, and human rights through the Carter Center, as well as his dedication to Habitat for Humanity. The bill expresses condolences to his family upon his passing and celebrates his lasting impact as a leader and statesman.

The "Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025" expands the use of tax-advantaged health accounts, including HSAs, FSAs, HRAs and Archer MSAs, to cover medical expenses of parents. This allows individuals to use these funds for their parents' or their spouse's parents' medical care. These changes aim to provide financial relief to caregivers by allowing pre-tax dollars to be used for elder care. The provisions apply to expenses and contributions made after December 31, 2024.

The "Manatee Protection Act of 2025" designates the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, requiring its inclusion on the endangered species list. This action provides increased protections and conservation efforts for the manatee population.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act outlines the process for Washington, D.C., to become the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, while establishing a separate U.S. Capital. It addresses the transition of laws, property, and governance, ensuring continued federal operations and representation for D.C. residents. The Act also covers federal responsibilities, courts, elections, and benefit programs during the transition, establishing a commission to oversee the process and mandating presidential certification.