Legislative Activity

The Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025 changes the required update cycle for official dietary guidelines from every five years to at least every ten years, requiring adherence to formal rulemaking procedures. The bill mandates that future guidelines must be based on rigorous, evidence-based scientific review and address accessibility and affordability for all populations. If updates occur sooner than the ten-year cycle, an independent, temporary advisory board must be established to submit guiding scientific questions. The Act also strictly limits the scope of the guidelines, excluding topics like taxation, social welfare, and food production methods.

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 John W. Walsh Alpha-1 Home Infusion Act of 2025 amends Medicare to specifically cover augmentation therapy for individuals with severe Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Disorder when administered in the home. This legislation establishes new payment rules under Medicare Part B for the necessary intravenous kits and associated nursing services. The goal is to ensure qualified home infusion suppliers are reimbursed directly for providing this essential, ongoing maintenance treatment.

The DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act formalizes collaboration between the Department of Energy and NASA on critical research and development projects. This bill authorizes the two agencies to jointly pursue advancements in areas like advanced propulsion, quantum technology, and fundamental science through competitive awards. The coordination aims to leverage the unique capabilities of both agencies to achieve shared mission goals and requires a public report on progress two years after enactment.

The Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act mandates that states implement rigorous screening for all enrolled healthcare providers. Specifically, this legislation requires states to verify that all Medicaid providers are alive by checking the federal Death Master File upon enrollment and at least quarterly thereafter. This measure aims to prevent fraudulent payments made to deceased individuals or entities.

The Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act revises physician self-referral rules to improve healthcare access in underserved areas. Specifically, it creates a new exception allowing physician self-referrals to hospitals located in designated rural areas that meet specific distance requirements. Furthermore, the bill removes existing restrictions that previously limited the expansion of services at physician-owned hospitals.

This bill mandates automatic pay reductions for Members of Congress if the nation hits the public debt limit or experiences a government shutdown. The pay cut is calculated based on one day's salary multiplied by the number of days the crisis lasts. Special, temporary escrow rules apply to the 119th Congress to address constitutional concerns, with general rules taking full effect after the November 2026 election. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to assist congressional payroll offices in implementing these provisions.

The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act allows State homes caring for veterans to choose how they receive reimbursement for very high-cost medications. State homes can opt to be reimbursed directly for the medication's cost or have the Secretary of the VA furnish the drug directly. This provision applies only when the cost of a specific medication exceeds a defined threshold relative to the standard monthly payment for that veteran's care.

The Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2025 amends immigration law to make non-citizens inadmissible or deportable if they have been convicted of, or admit to committing, fraud against the U.S. government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits. This legislation targets individuals who cheat federal, state, or local benefit programs. The Act specifically covers those who have been convicted of or conspired to commit such fraudulent acts.

The "End FEMA Benefits for Illegal Immigrants Act" terminates FEMA's program that funds shelters and services for migrants, which aimed to reduce overcrowding in Customs and Border Protection facilities. It also rescinds any remaining funds allocated to FEMA from previous appropriations acts that were intended for Customs and Border Protection operations.

The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that host or provide pornographic content to implement technology verification measures to prevent minors from accessing harmful material. It mandates that these platforms use reliable age verification methods, undergo regular audits by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure compliance, and protect user data collected during the verification process. The FTC is responsible for enforcing the Act, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to Congress on the effectiveness and impact of these measures. This act aims to protect children from the harmful effects of online pornography.

The "Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025" ensures Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving uninterrupted physical therapy services. It allows physical therapists to utilize temporary staffing arrangements, known as "locum tenens," when the regular therapist is temporarily unavailable. This ensures Medicare payments for services provided by qualified substitute physical therapists, maintaining consistent care for patients.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period for drug price negotiations under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It changes the negotiation period for small-molecule drugs from 7 years to 11 years, matching the period already in place for biologic drugs. This adjustment aims to create parity in negotiation timelines between different types of medications, effective as if included in the original legislation.

The "Protect America's Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2025" establishes a CCP Initiative within the Department of Justice to combat Chinese Communist Party (CCP) espionage and theft of U.S. intellectual property. This initiative will focus on enforcement, identifying threats, protecting critical infrastructure, and investigating Chinese companies. The Attorney General is required to submit annual reports to Congress on the initiative's progress and impact. The initiative is set to expire six years after enactment.

The "Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act of 2025" streamlines the enrollment process for out-of-state healthcare providers in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring children under 21 have access to care from eligible providers across state lines. By reducing administrative burdens and unnecessary screening requirements, the Act aims to improve healthcare access for children while maintaining necessary safeguards against fraud and abuse. Participating providers will be enrolled for a 5-year period, and the changes will take effect three years after the Act's enactment.

The "Downwinders Parity Act of 2025" amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand coverage areas to include all acreage in counties partially within the covered area, while removing specific townships. It extends the trust fund supporting the Act until December 31, 2030. Additionally, it requires the Attorney General to report on outreach efforts to newly eligible individuals.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to require certain adults on Medicaid to complete 80 hours per month of work, community service, or a work program to maintain eligibility. Federal funding to states would be denied for those who do not meet this "community engagement requirement" for at least 3 months of the year. Certain individuals, such as those under 18 or over 65, pregnant individuals, and those with disabilities, are exempt from this requirement. States have the option to disenroll individuals if federal funding is unavailable due to non-compliance.

The SAFE for America Act of 2025 eliminates the Diversity Visa Program, which makes visas available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. This is achieved through repealing subsection (c) of Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Act also makes corresponding technical amendments to other sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act to reflect this change. These changes would take effect beginning October 1, 2025.

The "National Right-to-Work Act" amends both the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to protect an employee's right to choose whether or not to join or support a labor union. It eliminates the possibility of mandatory union membership or dues payments as a condition of employment, ensuring that employees cannot be forced to join or support a union against their will.

The Water Rights Protection Act affirms the long-standing authority of states in evaluating, regulating, and allocating water use. It prohibits federal agencies from imposing restrictions on water rights that exceed those established under state law when issuing land use agreements. Furthermore, the Act explicitly forbids federal agencies from conditioning permits on the transfer of state-recognized water rights to the United States. This legislation ensures federal actions remain consistent with state water law without altering existing reserved water rights or certain federal environmental laws.