Legislative Activity

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

The Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act aims to integrate Puerto Rico into the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) structure, aligning it with other territories like Guam. The bill mandates a transition period where Puerto Rico must submit a plan of operation to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval to join SNAP. During this transition, existing block grant funding may continue for up to five years while the territory moves toward full participation under federal SNAP rules.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating September 22nd as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day." The goal is to formally recognize the sacrifices of service members and veterans while raising crucial awareness about the mental health challenges and suicide risks they face. By establishing this day, the resolution aims to reduce stigma and encourage greater focus on providing necessary support and resources to this population.

The CLEAN Pacific Act of 2025 establishes the Pacific Counternarcotics Initiative to help partner nations in the Pacific combat illegal drug production chemicals. This program focuses on improving the seizure, destruction, and safe disposal of seized chemicals while boosting international law enforcement cooperation. The Secretary of State must submit a detailed five-year implementation plan to Congress outlining strategy, benchmarks, and funding, followed by annual progress reports. Funding for the initiative will be redirected from existing authorizations under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

The Written Informed Consent Act mandates that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) expand its informed consent directives to specifically cover several classes of medications, including antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and narcotics. This ensures veterans receive a thorough understanding of these prescribed drugs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must update VHA Directive 1005 to reflect these expanded requirements.

The Noncontiguous Disaster Shipping Act allows for the temporary waiver of federal vessel shipping and inspection rules in U.S. territories and states that are not connected to the mainland following a Presidential major disaster declaration. This measure is designed to expedite the delivery of essential relief cargo into affected areas like Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The initial waiver lasts up to 10 days and can be extended, but the total suspension of rules cannot exceed 45 days for any single disaster.

The Supplemental Security Income Equality Act extends full Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. This legislation removes previous payment limitations and updates federal law to explicitly include these territories in the definition of "state" for SSI purposes. The Act ensures that nationals are treated the same as citizens and grants the Commissioner flexibility to tailor program requirements to the needs of these territories. These changes will take effect on the first day of the fiscal year beginning one year after enactment.

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 strengthens the Veterans Community Care Program by establishing clear, enforceable standards for care eligibility and wait times while streamlining the referral process. The legislation also overhauls access to residential mental health and substance abuse treatment, ensuring veterans receive timely, localized care with robust oversight. Additionally, it mandates the development of digital tools and pilot programs to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve transparency across the VA healthcare system.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

The Microplastics Safety Act mandates the FDA to conduct a comprehensive study on the human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and water. This research must specifically investigate risks to children's health, endocrine function, cancer, and reproduction. Following the study, the FDA is required to report its findings and recommend necessary legislative or regulatory actions to Congress.

The DIGNIDAD Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill that significantly overhauls U.S. immigration policy across five major divisions. Division A focuses on aggressive border security enhancements, infrastructure modernization, and increased criminal penalties for immigration offenses, while Division B establishes pathways to legal status for long-term residents who entered as children and creates a temporary protection program for others. Finally, Division C aims to improve legal immigration by reducing green card backlogs, streamlining employment and student visas, and providing new discretionary relief for family separation cases.

The Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025 updates the Essential Air Service (EAS) program by requiring airlines seeking federal subsidies to submit contingency plans for non-weather-related service disruptions. This legislation also shifts the selection criteria for subsidy recipients to prioritize the proposed rate of compensation. These changes aim to ensure more reliable air service to smaller communities by mandating operational backups.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

This resolution officially supports the designation of Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day to honor the CHamoru people who survived the harsh Japanese occupation during World War II. It recognizes their incredible loyalty and sacrifice while under duress, including aiding American service members. The bill calls for the entire nation to observe this day to ensure their stories of courage are never forgotten.

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.

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 Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution amends House rules to allow public bills and resolutions to have two primary sponsors, provided one is from the majority party and the other from the minority party. This formalizes bipartisan introduction of legislation from the outset. The resolution also adjusts related rules concerning cosponsorship and required submission statements for these jointly sponsored measures.

This resolution officially recognizes June 12, 2025, as the observance of the 127th anniversary of the Philippines Independence Day. It celebrates the enduring friendship between the U.S. and the Philippines, honors the Filipino people and the contributions of Filipino Americans, and reaffirms support for the nation's security. The bill also recognizes the service and sacrifice of Filipino and Filipino American service members.

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.

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.