Legislative Activity

The Payment Choice Act of 2025 ensures that retail businesses accepting in-person payments cannot refuse cash for transactions under $500, preventing them from charging cash-paying customers more. It outlines specific exceptions, such as temporary system failures or providing fee-free cash-to-prepaid card converters, and allows for inactivity fees on prepaid cards under certain conditions. The bill also includes enforcement mechanisms, allowing customers to take legal action against businesses in violation and establishing penalties for non-compliance. For the first 5 years, businesses are only required to accept bills up to $20.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 aims to enhance the safety of postal workers by funding high-security infrastructure upgrades, including electronic mailbox keys. The bill also mandates the appointment of dedicated federal prosecutors for postal crimes in every judicial district and requires stricter sentencing guidelines for those who assault or rob postal employees.

This resolution condemns the Government of Azerbaijan for the wrongful detention, abuse, and suppression of academic freedom regarding Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu. It demands his immediate and unconditional release, the provision of necessary medical care, and an end to the harassment of his family. Furthermore, it urges the U.S. Secretary of State to prioritize Dr. Ibadoghlu’s well-being and release in all diplomatic engagements.

The CARGO Act of 2025 prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research or programs involving live animals outside of the United States. This bill addresses concerns over the lack of oversight and potential mistreatment of animals in foreign research projects funded by American taxpayers. The Act ensures that NIH funding for animal research is restricted to projects conducted within the U.S. and its territories.

The Marc Fischer Memorial Act mandates that the Bureau of Prisons implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve 100% digital scanning of all inmate mail to interdict fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. By transitioning to digital mail processing, the Act aims to protect staff and inmates from lethal exposure, improve institutional security, and alleviate the administrative burden on correctional personnel.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, concerning race, color, and national origin. This aims to address rising antisemitism in educational settings. The Act clarifies that it does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change existing discrimination standards, reduce existing rights, or infringe upon First Amendment rights.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a one-time grant of $5 million to $10 million to support the operation, security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. To receive these funds, the organization must meet specific requirements, including providing free admission to first responders, military personnel, and victims' families, as well as submitting to annual federal audits.

The "ORPHAN Cures Act" amends the Social Security Act to refine the orphan drug exclusion within the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It excludes time periods when a drug was designated as an orphan drug from counting towards its eligibility for price negotiation. The bill also modifies the criteria for orphan drug designation, allowing it to apply to drugs treating "one or more rare diseases or conditions" instead of "only one rare disease or condition."

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act extends and strengthens critical federal programs designed to support the mental health and well-being of the health care workforce. The bill mandates annual awareness initiatives and expands grant eligibility to organizations focused on reducing administrative burdens for medical professionals. These programs are now authorized through fiscal year 2030 to ensure continued support for reducing burnout and promoting mental health services.

The Patriot Day Act formally designates Patriot Day as a federal holiday. This legislation adds the observance to the official list of legal public holidays under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a).

The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to support healthcare providers by extending Medicare payment adjustments through the end of 2025. Specifically, the bill provides a 6.62 percent payment increase for services rendered between April 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, to help practitioners adjust to evolving Medicare payment policies.

The Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a comprehensive study of Holocaust education in public elementary and secondary schools across the United States. This study will evaluate current curriculum standards, teaching methods, and available resources to identify gaps and improve how students learn about the Holocaust and the history of antisemitism. The findings will be compiled into a report submitted to Congress to help strengthen educational efforts in preventing hate and bigotry.

The Charitable Act allows individuals who take the standard deduction to also claim a deduction for charitable contributions during the 2026 and 2027 tax years. This legislation permits non-itemizers to deduct donations up to one-third of their standard deduction amount while removing previous penalties for overstatements.

The All Aboard Act mandates that Amtrak provide full refunds to passengers for trips significantly delayed or canceled due to the railroad's own operational failures. Additionally, the bill requires Amtrak to abandon its "run-to-fail" maintenance model in favor of more reliable asset management strategies. Failure to comply with these refund requirements would result in the suspension of Amtrak’s federal funding.

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act aims to improve pay equity, recruitment, and retention for federal firefighters by modernizing pay computation and establishing a maximum 60-hour regular workweek. Additionally, the bill ensures that regularly scheduled overtime is included in the calculation of federal retirement annuities. These measures seek to align federal firefighter compensation more closely with municipal standards and provide greater financial security for their families.

The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act imposes sanctions on individuals and their families who assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting "protected persons," which include U.S. citizens, military personnel, government officials, and citizens/residents of U.S. allies not consenting to the ICC. It requires the President to block the property of those who aid the ICC, deny them entry into the U.S., and rescinds any funds for the ICC. The bill allows for waivers of these sanctions if vital to U.S. national security and termination of sanctions if the ICC ceases action against protected persons.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The Public Lands in Public Hands Act prohibits the federal government from transferring ownership of publicly accessible federal lands to non-federal entities. This legislation ensures that lands currently reachable by the public remain under federal protection, with specific exceptions for authorized land exchanges and existing federal programs. It also explicitly prohibits the subdivision of land to bypass these new transfer restrictions.

The Main Street Tax Certainty Act makes the 20% pass-through business income deduction permanent. By removing the current 2025 expiration date, this legislation ensures long-term tax relief for owners of qualified pass-through entities.