Legislative Activity

The BELO'S Act, or Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act, expands eligibility for free lifetime passes to federal recreation lands. This change grants passes to qualifying survivors who receive specific federal death benefits related to military service members who have died. The bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to include these eligible survivors.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.

Violet's Law mandates that federal research facilities establish procedures to place retired research animals, including dogs, cats, and primates, into new homes. These facilities must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act standards and ensure animals are certified healthy by a veterinarian before adoption. Eligible placements include registered animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or private individuals.

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025 officially recognizes the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, confirming their status as a federally recognized tribe. This Act makes the Tribe and its members eligible for all federal services and benefits available to recognized tribes. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of the Interior to take specified lands in western Michigan into trust for the benefit of the Tribe. The legislation ensures that this recognition does not diminish any existing rights the Tribe may hold.

The CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025 aims to overhaul how veterans receive assistance with their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. It establishes new rules for the recognition, fees, and conduct of agents and attorneys who represent veterans. The bill also mandates increased transparency regarding available assistance and requires a review of the entire representative recognition process.

The Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act clarifies and strengthens federal authority over emission standards for existing locomotives and engines. This legislation limits the ability of states to set their own pollution control standards for certain railroad equipment. Specifically, it expands federal preemption to cover more nonroad engines and locomotives engaged in commerce.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Global Fragility Reauthorization Act updates the existing strategy for dealing with fragile areas by mandating an annual high-level policy alignment meeting among federal agencies. It extends the authorization for both the Prevention and Stabilization Fund and the Complex Crises Fund until 2030. Furthermore, the bill allows for greater flexibility in using Economic Support Funds for monitoring and learning activities related to the Global Fragility Strategy.

The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025 mandates a high-resolution survey and mapping of the Great Lakes lakebeds, to be completed by December 31, 2030. Led by NOAA, this effort requires collaboration with state and regional partners to collect and catalog detailed bathymetric data. The resulting high-resolution map and associated data must be made publicly available as it is completed and fully released within 180 days of project completion.

The PLAN for School Safety Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to create regional School Safety Development Centers. These centers will provide personalized, research-backed consultation and technical assistance to schools on developing and implementing comprehensive safety and mental health plans. The program prioritizes support for rural, Tribal, and low-resource communities, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for firearm training.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act significantly raises the resource limits for individuals and couples applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), starting in 2025. This legislation also mandates that these new resource limits will be automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. The goal is to allow SSI applicants to save more money without losing eligibility for benefits.

The DETERRENT Act significantly increases transparency requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts, contracts, and investments, especially those involving "countries or entities of concern." It mandates detailed public disclosure reports, establishes strict prohibitions and waiver processes for contracts with risky foreign entities, and imposes severe financial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires specified large private institutions to report their holdings in concerning foreign assets annually.

The Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act mandates new, detailed financial reporting requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) serving group health plans. This legislation requires PBMs to provide comprehensive, bi-annual reports to employers detailing drug pricing, rebates, and net costs. The goal is to increase transparency so employers can better understand and manage the true cost of prescription drug benefits for their participants. Failure to comply with these reporting mandates will result in significant daily civil penalties.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 establishes a national standard for carrying concealed handguns across state lines. This act allows individuals legally permitted to carry in their home state to carry concealed in any other state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. The law does not override private property restrictions or prohibitions on government property, but it provides protections and legal recourse for those traveling in compliance with the new federal standard.

The CEMAC Act addresses a dispute where the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) is forcing international oil companies to deposit site restoration funds with its central bank, which the CEMAC countries incorrectly count as foreign exchange reserves. This legislation mandates that the U.S. must withhold approval for certain IMF actions affecting CEMAC nations until the IMF publicly confirms these restoration funds cannot be counted as official reserves. The bill asserts that failure to clarify this rule risks billions in American investment and harms the region's economic stability.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

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.

This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to establish a clear, tiered definition for what qualifies as "evidence-based" programming. It specifies the required rigor of research—ranging from strong experimental studies to promising correlational studies—needed to demonstrate a positive impact on outcomes. Furthermore, the legislation requires states to report on the extent to which their workforce development activities meet these new evidence standards.

The Helping Heroes Act establishes the Veteran Family Resource Program to enhance veteran and family well-being by connecting them with personalized clinical care and community resources. This initiative mandates the appointment of dedicated Family Coordinators across VA networks to assess needs and facilitate access to supportive services. Furthermore, the Act requires regular surveys of disabled veterans to better understand and address unmet needs, particularly concerning support for their children. All funded programs must adhere strictly to federal anti-discrimination laws.

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act aims to improve support for individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. This bill eliminates the standard waiting period for receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits and waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage. These changes ensure immediate access to crucial financial and healthcare support upon diagnosis.