Legislative Activity

The "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act" restricts institutions of higher education with ties to Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entities of concern from receiving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds, unless they terminate such relationships. The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive these restrictions under certain national security conditions, and must provide Congress with justification for any waivers. The Act also requires the DHS to offer guidance to help institutions comply with the law and to submit annual reports to Congress on its implementation.

This bill nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants in rubber tire manufacturing. The disapproval means the EPA's new regulations for the rubber tire manufacturing industry will not be implemented.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that allows California to set its own pollution control standards for motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad engines. The bill prevents the implementation of the EPA's rule outlined in the Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 643).

This bill disapproves and nullifies an EPA rule that allows California to set its own stricter pollution control standards for heavy-duty vehicles and engines. The rule covers emission warranties, maintenance, advanced clean truck standards, zero-emission airport shuttles, and powertrain certification. By disapproving the rule, the bill aims to prevent California from implementing these specific environmental regulations.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include these requirements and directs states to reject applications lacking such proof. The Act also outlines acceptable forms of documentation, verification processes, and penalties for non-compliance, while allowing provisional ballots under certain conditions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must notify state election officials when an individual becomes a naturalized citizen.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to strengthen brain tumor research and treatment development through various initiatives. This includes fostering transparency of biospecimen collections, establishing a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network, promoting cancer clinical trial awareness, creating pilot programs for brain tumor survivor care, and directing the FDA to issue guidance that ensures brain tumor patient access to clinical trials. The Act authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

The "Communications Security Act" directs the FCC to establish a council to advise on improving the security, reliability, and interoperability of communication networks. The council will consist of members from the communications industry, public interest groups, academia, and government. The council will submit public reports to the FCC every two years.

The COMPLETE Care Act aims to improve access to behavioral healthcare by providing financial incentives for integrating these services into primary care settings through Medicare. It increases Medicare payments for specific behavioral health services provided in primary care settings from 2027-2029 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to offer technical assistance to primary care practices integrating behavioral health services. The bill allocates funding from 2025 through 2029 to support these technical assistance efforts.

The "Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025" aims to streamline healthcare access for Medicare patients by setting clear standards for medical necessity determinations and preauthorization processes used by Medicare contractors, Medicare Advantage plans, and prescription drug plans. It mandates the use of evidence-based clinical criteria, requires physician input in developing these criteria, and ensures transparency through public posting of preauthorization requirements and statistics. The bill also requires that licensed and board-certified physicians make all preauthorization and denial decisions. Ultimately, this bill seeks to reduce unnecessary delays in care and ensure that medical decisions are based on sound medical judgment and nationally recognized standards.

The "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" enables individuals with valid concealed carry permits or the legal right to carry concealed firearms in their home state to do so across state lines, provided they are not federally prohibited from possessing firearms and carry a valid photo ID. This law respects private and state/local government restrictions on firearms, protects individuals from unwarranted arrest, and allows legal action for violations of these rights. It also permits concealed carry in National Parks and other federal lands open to the public and clarifies that handguns include magazines and ammunition.

The "Innovative FEED Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to regulate zootechnical animal food substances—additives that affect digestion or gut health, but are not intended to treat animal diseases. It classifies these substances as food additives, requiring FDA approval based on safety and intended effect, with specific labeling requirements. The FDA retains authority over approval and can reject substances that do not achieve their intended effect. This act does not authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require the use of any zootechnical food substance or food additive.

The Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act modifies the Social Security Act to revise physician self-referral exemptions, particularly for rural hospitals. It exempts "covered rural hospitals" located in rural areas far from other hospitals from certain restrictions. Additionally, it allows existing physician-owned hospitals to expand their facilities.

The "Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act" amends the Social Security Act to reinforce protections for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. It prevents health plans from discriminating against ESRD patients or making Medicare the primary payer for their healthcare costs. The act clarifies that dialysis services should not be singled out for unfavorable treatment or coverage limits compared to other medical services, while allowing plans to manage their dialysis provider networks.

The Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Program Act of 2025 establishes a new Medicare payment system for radiation therapy, moving from fee-for-service to per-episode payments to encourage efficient and patient-centered care. This program aims to stabilize payments, reduce disparities, enhance quality, and promote the use of advanced technology while protecting Medicare resources. The act mandates participation for radiation therapy providers and includes adjustments for geographic location, health equity, and practice accreditation, as well as incentives for meeting quality standards. It also revises civil monetary penalties to allow transportation assistance for patients and exempts the program from budget neutrality adjustments to ensure its financial stability.

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding waste emissions charges for petroleum and natural gas systems. The rule outlined compliance procedures, netting, and exemptions, but will no longer be implemented.

The REDI Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, allowing student loan deferment for borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs. During this deferment, principal payments are not required, and interest will not accrue on the loan.

The "Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act" broadens Medicare eligibility for home healthcare services to include individuals who require occupational therapy, not just speech therapy. This expansion ensures more beneficiaries can receive necessary care in their homes. These changes will take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

The "Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to change Medicare payment rules for long-term care hospitals. Beginning October 1, 2026, hospitals will not be subject to site-neutral payment rules for patients discharged under specific high-severity diagnosis groups. This adjustment aims to ensure adequate financial support for hospitals treating the most critical patients.

The "Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025" aims to solidify the United States' role in the global energy market by granting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sole authority over approving or denying natural gas export and import facilities. This includes LNG terminals, streamlining the approval process. The Act does not alter the authority of other federal agencies, and it preserves the President's power to restrict imports or exports under existing laws and sanctions, particularly concerning state sponsors of terrorism. "State sponsor of terrorism" is defined by referencing specific sections of existing law.