Legislative Activity

This act, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, amends federal law to exempt specific less-than-lethal projectile devices from existing firearm restrictions. It clarifies that these devices, designed to avoid serious injury and firing projectiles below a certain velocity, are not classified as firearms under federal statute. This change aims to facilitate the adoption of non-lethal tools by law enforcement.

The District of Columbia Medicaid Fairness Act adjusts the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) used for calculating D.C.'s Medicaid funding. The bill establishes a temporary, declining federal matching rate for D.C. between 70% and 55% through fiscal year 2029. After 2029, D.C.'s FMAP will revert to the standard calculation method.

The Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act of 2025 directs NASA and NOAA to expand civilian space cooperation with Taiwan. This legislation mandates the initiation of discussions to collaborate on non-military space activities, including satellite programs and weather monitoring. The relevant agencies must report annually to Congress for five years on the progress and scope of this partnership.

The Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act aims to accelerate geothermal energy development on federal lands. It streamlines environmental reviews for specific, small-scale geothermal exploration projects by exempting them from standard "major Federal action" requirements under NEPA. Furthermore, the bill mandates the designation of "geothermal leasing priority areas" and establishes specific environmental review protocols to expedite leasing decisions in those zones.

The Eliminate Shutdowns Act establishes an automatic, 14-day continuing appropriation mechanism to keep federal programs operational if Congress fails to pass a new budget by the start of the fiscal year. This funding continues to renew every 14 days until a full appropriation is enacted, ensuring essential services remain active. The Act also includes specific budgetary rules for counting this funding and sets an effective date of September 30, 2025.

This resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk, who was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University. It condemns political violence and calls upon all Americans to reject extremism in favor of civil debate. The bill expresses deep sympathy to his family and urges a renewal of commitment to the values of faith, family, and freedom he championed.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments (PAAT) Act mandates that Medicare Part D prescription drug plans must cover all specified drugs for autoimmune diseases, hemophilia, and Von Willebrand disease starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill limits the requirement for prior authorization for these specific treatments to no more than once every 12 months. This aims to improve patient access and reduce administrative hurdles for individuals managing these chronic conditions.

The Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act establishes a new temporary visa category, H-2C, designed to allow registered employers in areas with low unemployment to hire foreign workers for specific, registered positions. This bill creates a comprehensive framework defining eligibility, setting numerical caps, and outlining strict requirements for both employers and workers to address labor shortages. It also includes provisions for worker protections, portability, and a mandatory study on the program's economic and social impact.

The NSF AI Education Act of 2025 significantly expands the National Science Foundation's role in bolstering the AI workforce through education and training. It establishes new scholarships and fellowships for students and professionals in AI-related fields, while also creating Centers of AI Excellence at community colleges and technical schools. Furthermore, the bill funds research awards to develop effective AI teaching methods and materials for K-12 education. Overall, this legislation aims to build a robust, skilled, and diverse AI talent pipeline across all educational levels.

The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025 (RESULTS Act) aims to improve Medicare payment rates for clinical lab tests by mandating the collection of more accurate, real-world payment data directly from large, independent private insurance claims databases. This legislation updates definitions, collection timelines, and calculation methods to ensure Medicare payments for widely available tests reflect current market rates. It also establishes default payment rules if sufficient private payor data cannot be secured.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's recently submitted rule on the "Barred Owl Management Strategy." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the proposed management strategy, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is rejecting the USFWS's plan for managing Barred Owls.

This Act prohibits "covered foreign entities," primarily defined as those connected to the People's Republic of China, from acquiring or leasing U.S. agricultural land. Covered entities currently owning such land must divest within one year or face severe daily fines and potential criminal forfeiture. Additionally, the bill imposes a temporary two-year ban on these same entities purchasing residential real estate, with separate penalties for non-compliance. The legislation mandates the creation of new enforcement offices within the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee compliance.

This bill amends federal law to explicitly include violations related to rioting within the definition of "racketeering activity." By adding this specific crime to the list under Title 18, Section 1961(1), the legislation makes participation in such activities subject to serious federal racketeering charges. This change treats rioting violations similarly to other established offenses like bribery or extortion for the purposes of federal prosecution.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act aims to eliminate "disparate-impact liability" across major federal laws. This bill prohibits lawsuits claiming discrimination based solely on the unintended, disproportionate negative effect of a rule or practice. Consequently, it removes the ability to challenge employment and housing practices unless discriminatory intent can be proven. The Act also nullifies specific prior regulatory approvals related to civil rights enforcement.

This bill mandates increased transparency and verification for all federal government spending by requiring agencies to report detailed payment information to the Treasury. It enhances program integrity by granting the Treasury access to new hire and tax data to prevent and recover improper payments. Agencies must also verify recipient bank accounts before disbursement, with exceptions allowed only for sensitive national security or law enforcement operations.

This bill, the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act, establishes a new mandatory rebate system for manufacturers of certain drugs selected for Maximum Fair Price (MFP) negotiation under Medicare. Manufacturers must pay quarterly rebates based on the difference between the standard Medicare payment and the lower negotiated MFP for units sold under Part B. These changes also adjust beneficiary coinsurance calculations to reflect the lower MFP, ensuring patient out-of-pocket costs are based on the negotiated price.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.

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.