Legislative Activity

The National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2025 establishes a new two-year pilot program to fund and evaluate state-based nursing workforce centers through competitive grants. These centers will focus on critical statewide activities like data analysis, studying nursing education capacity, and developing strategies to recruit and retain nurses. The bill also expands existing health workforce analysis grants to ensure dedicated funding and technical assistance for nursing-focused research and evaluation.

This resolution formally condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, on July 7, 2025. It expresses support for the injured agents and reaffirms Congress's strong backing for the dedicated men and women of the Border Patrol. The bill emphasizes that such violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and undermines national security efforts.

The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability across the prescription drug supply chain. It mandates fairer pharmacy network access for Medicare beneficiaries and imposes strict new financial reporting and service fee requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) working with Medicare and private health plans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new federal mechanisms to accurately track drug acquisition costs in Medicaid and explicitly bans the practice of "spread pricing" in state Medicaid contracts.

The MAWS Act of 2025 establishes a three-year pilot program to support watermen by funding businesses to purchase blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This initiative requires setting a minimum purchase price based on market conditions and stakeholder input. Following the program, a comprehensive report will be submitted to Congress detailing ecological and economic impacts, along with policy recommendations.

The TRICARE Travel Improvement Act lowers the distance requirement for military families to receive reimbursement for travel expenses when seeking specialty medical care. This bill mandates that the Department of Defense must now cover travel costs if a specialist is more than 50 miles away, down from the previous 100-mile threshold. This updated reimbursement rule specifically applies to military retirees and their dependents.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 significantly expands and permanently secures access to Medicare telehealth services by eliminating outdated geographic restrictions and allowing more practitioners to offer remote care. The bill also strengthens program integrity by dedicating funds for telehealth oversight while clarifying rules around providing necessary technology to patients. Finally, it mandates the creation of tailored educational resources and public reporting to improve quality measurement and transparency in remote care delivery.

The Military PFAS Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Defense (DoD) provide annual, detailed reports to Congress on the funding and status of all interim cleanup actions for toxic PFAS chemicals at military sites. This legislation also requires the DoD to submit a strategy for accelerating these cleanups based on health risks and environmental harm. Furthermore, the DoD must establish a public-facing online dashboard to ensure transparency regarding spending and cleanup progress.

The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 streamlines the permitting process for undersea fiber optic cables within National Marine Sanctuaries. It prohibits sanctuaries from requiring separate permits if the cable project already holds authorization from another Federal or State agency. This legislation also simplifies existing regulations by removing specific restrictions related to special use permits within these protected areas.

This resolution formally supports designating July 21, 2025, as "Guam Liberation Day" to honor the island's history. It recognizes the suffering of the CHamoru people under Japanese occupation and commemorates the sacrifices of U.S. servicemembers during the 1944 liberation campaign. The bill encourages the President to issue a proclamation observing this important anniversary across the nation.

The Financial Empowerment and Protection Act establishes new rules for joint accounts between consenting cohabitating adults, requiring service providers to offer shared account options with full information access for both parties. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from charging early lease termination fees to tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and are leaving a covered housing program lease. This legislation aims to increase financial transparency for shared living situations and enhance protections for victims of abuse.

The Service Member Housing Relief Act temporarily adjusts the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) calculation by lowering the temporary cap on rate increases from 20 percent to 15 percent. Additionally, the bill permanently removes an outdated provision related to the BAH calculation structure. This legislation aims to modify housing allowances for members of the uniformed services.

The UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help public schools implement strict policies banning personal electronic devices during school hours. To qualify for funding, states must already have a comprehensive policy in place that allows for necessary medical and disability-related exceptions. Grant funds are specifically designated for schools to purchase secure storage solutions, such as lockable lockers or pouches, to safely store student devices.

The Mission UNPLUGGED Act mandates the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to establish a policy banning student use of personal electronic devices during school hours. This policy must allow for necessary exceptions, such as medical needs or emergencies, while providing schools with resources for implementation. The Director must report annually for five years on the policy's impact, including costs, student performance, and mental health outcomes.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

This bill grants a Federal charter to the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals, officially recognizing it as a nonprofit veterans service organization. The organization is tasked with promoting sustainable homeownership, financial literacy, and economic opportunity for veterans and service members. It must adhere to strict operational rules, including prohibitions on political activity and the distribution of profits to members. The charter remains contingent upon the organization maintaining its tax-exempt status and compliance with California corporate law.

The Fluent Forces Act emphasizes the critical role of foreign language proficiency and cultural understanding for U.S. national security and military readiness. This legislation mandates that the Department of Defense annually report on its efforts to increase recruitment and attendance at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI). The goal is to assess current recruiting practices, identify barriers to enrollment, and propose new strategies to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified linguists.

This bill prohibits the Secretary of Defense from awarding or renewing software source code contracts with entities that have specific ties to a "covered country," such as operating AI research facilities or allowing source code access to that nation. The restriction aims to safeguard sensitive technology by limiting defense contracts with certain foreign-linked companies. The Secretary may waive this prohibition if deemed necessary for U.S. national security interests.

The Veterans PTSD Screening Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on using RNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. This research will investigate if genetic testing can accurately identify biological markers related to PTSD. The VA must complete the study by September 2027 and report its findings to Congress by September 2028.

The CLOUD Aircraft Act mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility and cost of equipping all military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground collision detection systems. This study, conducted in coordination with the FAA, must specifically address aircraft operating frequently in busy domestic airspace. The Secretary of Defense is required to report the findings and recommendations to Congress within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the 250th birthday of the United States Army, celebrating its 250 years of service, valor, and dedication to defending American freedom. Congress expresses deep appreciation for the Army's history, its commitment to core values, and its current readiness to meet any future global challenge. The resolution encourages the American public to observe this significant anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.