Legislative Activity

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 17, 2025, as "DIPG Awareness Day" to highlight the urgent need for action against diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). It calls for increased federal funding and focused research into this devastating pediatric brain cancer, which has seen no significant treatment advances in over 40 years. Furthermore, the bill encourages research grant organizations to prioritize funding based on cancer lethality and potential life-years lost.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 final rule removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 60 days of enactment. This action is intended to finalize the gray wolf's delisting status. Furthermore, this section prohibits any judicial review of the Secretary's reissued rule.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 imposes sweeping economic penalties on the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. This legislation mandates severe, immediate sanctions against key Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities, including asset freezes and trade prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act dramatically increases import duties on Russian goods and requires the President to review and reimpose these measures until Russia negotiates a lasting peace with Ukraine.

The Maximum Pressure Act dramatically tightens and expands U.S. sanctions against Iran across its military, missile, and economic sectors, codifying existing restrictions and severely limiting the President's authority to grant sanctions relief. It mandates immediate sanctions on top Iranian officials and increases penalties for international parties aiding Iran's weapons programs. Furthermore, the bill enhances oversight by requiring numerous detailed reports to Congress regarding Iran's terrorism financing, nuclear timeline, and economic influence, while also redirecting certain frozen Iranian funds to victims of state-sponsored terrorism.

This bill supports designating April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month" to recognize the importance of native plants to the environment and the economy. It acknowledges the critical role of native plants in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and providing other environmental benefits. The bill also recognizes the decline in native plant species and the need for conservation efforts.

The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 aims to align the practice standards for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with those of the Defense Health Agency, recognizing them as licensed independent practitioners. The bill also establishes new certification and minimum direct patient care requirements for all anesthesia providers in the VA system. Finally, it mandates an annual public report from the GAO comparing the cost-effectiveness of different anesthesia delivery models within the VHA.

The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025 extends the current Medicare payment structure for ground ambulance services. This change ensures continuity in how these vital services are reimbursed under existing rules. Specifically, the temporary payment pilot program is extended through 2028, preventing an immediate change in payment policy.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025 establishes a new EPA pilot grant program to improve recycling access, focusing specifically on underserved communities. These competitive grants will fund infrastructure projects, such as building transfer stations or expanding curbside service, using a "hub-and-spoke" model. Priority is given to projects located far from existing materials recovery facilities, with grants ranging from $\$500,000$ to $\$15$ million.

This bill disapproves and invalidates the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that withdrew a technical amendment to Ohio's air quality plan.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to include rural areas, not just highly rural ones. It broadens the range of eligible grant recipients to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations. The bill also increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000, with a possible increase to $80,000 for vehicle purchases needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and authorizes necessary funding by removing the previous funding limit.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.

The "Building Native Habitats at Federal Facilities Act" prioritizes the use of native plants in Federal construction and maintenance projects to support habitat creation, pollinator support, erosion reduction, and stormwater control. It requires federal agencies to prioritize native plants in projects and update design standards, and it directs the Council on Environmental Quality to issue guidance and report on the use of native plants in these projects.

The Veterans Equal Access Act allows Veterans Affairs health providers to discuss medical marijuana with veterans and provide recommendations or opinions regarding participation in state marijuana programs. This includes completing necessary forms for veterans in states, districts, territories, and recognized Indian Tribes with existing medical marijuana programs. This ensures veterans have access to informed medical advice from their VA healthcare providers regarding medical marijuana options.

The Presidential Legacy Act officially renames the federal holiday on the third Monday of February from "Washington's Birthday" to "Presidents Day." This act mandates that all federal laws, rules, regulations, and official documents be updated to reflect this change, ensuring consistent recognition of the holiday as Presidents Day.

The Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act prevents Congress from imposing new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between broadcasters and the recording industry, where radio provides free publicity that boosts music sales and supports artists. The act recognizes local radio's crucial role in communities by providing news, weather updates, and public service announcements. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect local radio stations and businesses from economic harm, ensuring they can continue serving their communities without additional financial burdens.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.