Legislative Activity

The VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act ensures that congressionally appropriated funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot be unilaterally withheld or transferred without explicit new authorization from Congress. This legislation also provides significant protections for VA personnel by exempting the agency from presidential hiring freezes for a four-year period and establishing strict notification requirements before layoffs or removals of probationary employees can occur. Finally, the Secretary of the VA must regularly certify compliance with these new funding and personnel mandates to relevant Congressional committees.

This bill amends House Resolution 211 to clarify that days occurring during the first session of the current Congress count as calendar days when calculating the timeline for a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency declared on February 1, 2025. This ensures a consistent and straightforward process for Congress to end the declared emergency.

The "TSA Commuting Fairness Act" requires the TSA Administrator to conduct a study on the feasibility of counting the time TSA employees spend commuting between their duty locations and airport parking or transit stops as on-duty hours. The study will assess the potential benefits, costs, and technological feasibility of such a policy. This includes impacts on employee compensation, retirement, and TSA operations at various airport sizes.

The SNOW Act of 2025 amends the Stafford Act to provide additional support for communities affected by winter storms. It allows funds to be used for snow removal equipment, defines winter storm conditions for disaster declarations, and directs FEMA to issue regulations for winter storm assistance. The bill also adjusts the federal cost share for disaster relief, increasing it to at least 75% and up to 90% for rural or disadvantaged areas.