Legislative Activity

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It highlights the critical economic and environmental value of estuaries, which support millions of jobs and provide vital natural protection for coastal communities. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the need to protect and restore these essential ecosystems.

The Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act of 2025 (PIPES Act) significantly updates federal pipeline safety by authorizing appropriations through FY 2029 and expanding regulatory oversight to include carbon dioxide pipelines. The bill focuses on improving workforce development, mandating transparency for outstanding safety rules, and establishing new grant programs for community infrastructure upgrades. Furthermore, it directs numerous studies on critical areas like composite materials, geohazards, and the costs of pipeline failures to inform future safety standards.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

This resolution commemorates the eighth anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It honors the thousands of lives lost and acknowledges the ongoing struggles of survivors due to massive infrastructure failure. The bill strongly urges federal agencies to expedite recovery funding and calls on Congress to prioritize building resilient infrastructure for the territories' future.

This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates the 180th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy. It honors the institution's history, its mission to instill honor and courage in future leaders, and the significant achievements of its distinguished alumni. Congress reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Academy as it continues to prepare leaders for the Navy and Marine Corps.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.

This resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore's independence and celebrates the strong, multifaceted relationship between the U.S. and Singapore. It highlights the deep economic partnership, vital security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and growing people-to-people connections. Ultimately, the bill reaffirms strong U.S. support for this crucial alliance.

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 Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act establishes a new, increasing schedule of authorized appropriations for key Impact Aid programs through fiscal year 2031. This legislation specifically sets funding levels for federal property acquisition, basic payments to heavily impacted school districts, payments for children with disabilities, and construction activities. The goal is to gradually increase federal support for these essential educational services.

The Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act significantly expands federal authority to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones posing threats to critical infrastructure and national airspace. The bill establishes new coordination requirements between the Department of Homeland Security, the FAA, and the Department of Justice for deploying counter-drone technology, including restrictions on foreign-made equipment. It also creates pilot programs allowing state and local law enforcement to use drone mitigation technology at specific sites and events. Finally, the legislation mandates new safety reporting requirements for drone manufacturers and sets an expiration date of October 1, 2030, for most of the new authorities granted.

The FEMA Act of 2025 establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent, cabinet-level agency to lead a unified, all-hazards approach to national emergency management. The bill enacts sweeping reforms across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Mitigation programs to accelerate recovery, streamline funding, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disaster survivors and communities. Furthermore, it mandates significant new transparency measures, including public data reporting and GAO oversight, to ensure accountability for federal disaster spending.

The Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must now provide abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of the medical services offered to eligible veterans and certain other beneficiaries. This legislation formally amends existing VA health care provisions to include these reproductive health services.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The Protect Our Hospitals Act aims to restore previous regulations concerning Medicaid provider taxes by repealing a specific section of Public Law 11921. This action effectively nullifies recent changes, returning the rules governing how states tax Medicaid providers to their original status.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

The **Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill that authorizes funding and sets personnel goals for the Coast Guard through 2029 while enacting sweeping organizational reforms. Key changes include establishing a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard, significantly increasing accountability and reporting requirements for major acquisitions, and modernizing policies related to merchant mariner credentials and sexual assault response. The legislation also mandates numerous GAO studies to assess infrastructure needs, healthcare quality, and overall operational efficiency across the service.

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.