Legislative Activity

The Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 aims to expand and accelerate the delivery of conservation technical assistance to farmers and ranchers by diversifying the certification process for third-party providers. The bill authorizes non-federal entities and state agencies to certify providers, streamlines credentialing for qualified professionals, and mandates fair payment rates. These reforms are designed to increase capacity, improve transparency, and ensure more efficient implementation of conservation practices nationwide.

The "Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act" permanently authorizes financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. By establishing ongoing annual funding, this legislation eliminates the need for future reauthorizations, ensuring consistent support for vulnerable veterans and their families.

The BRAVE Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs establish a specialized mental health outreach system for veterans who have experienced traumatic or highly stressful events. By allowing veterans to opt in for targeted resources, the program aims to improve access to mental health care in coordination with Department of Defense transition services. The VA is required to implement this system within two years of the bill's enactment.

The Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025 mandates that the VA provide hospital care and medical services to veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities residing outside the United States. The bill also modernizes the reimbursement process by requiring direct deposit options and new mobile application features for document tracking and submission. Additionally, it requires the VA to report to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these expanded services.

The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act establishes a $25 million grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. This initiative provides grants to eligible organizations to hire veteran peer specialists, offer 24/7 nonclinical support, and ensure veteran privacy by prohibiting the collection of personally identifying information.

The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act prohibits the Department of Energy from spending Nuclear Waste Fund money on repository activities without first securing formal, written consent from all impacted state, local, and tribal governments. This legislation ensures that no nuclear waste facility can proceed without a binding agreement from the communities and jurisdictions directly affected by the site or the transportation of waste.

The PRECEPT Nurses Act establishes a $2,000 annual tax credit for eligible healthcare professionals who provide at least 200 hours of clinical supervision to nursing students or newly hired nurses in designated health professional shortage areas. This initiative, effective from 2026 through 2032, aims to address nursing shortages by incentivizing hands-on training and mentorship. The bill also mandates periodic reporting to Congress to evaluate the program's effectiveness in expanding the nursing workforce.

This bill designates January 13th of each year as Korean American Day. It recognizes the important influence, contributions, and sacrifices of Korean Americans in the United States, and celebrates the 122nd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. The bill encourages all Americans to acknowledge and celebrate the integral role of Korean Americans in strengthening the ties between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Goldie’s Act strengthens the Animal Welfare Act by mandating more rigorous USDA inspections and requiring the prompt confiscation of animals suffering from neglect. The bill increases financial penalties for violators, ensures the immediate sharing of violation records with local law enforcement, and establishes stricter oversight to prevent future animal abuse.

The Retired Pay Restoration Act eliminates the current offset that reduces military retirement pay for veterans who also receive disability compensation. This legislation ensures that all eligible disabled retirees can receive both their full retirement pay and disability benefits concurrently, regardless of their disability rating. By removing these restrictions and phase-in periods, the bill ensures veterans receive the full compensation they have earned through their service.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to health insurance by removing the 400% federal poverty level income cap for premium tax credits. It also introduces a new sliding-scale contribution formula to ensure that insurance costs remain affordable for households across all income levels. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025 mandates the creation of Joint Operations Centers along the southern border to unify federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. These hubs will centralize communication, coordinate multi-agency field operations, and improve information sharing to better combat human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other criminal activities. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide annual reports to Congress to ensure ongoing operational effectiveness and interagency cooperation.

The **Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act** aims to increase affordable housing options for military families by excluding basic housing allowances from income eligibility calculations for federal tax credit programs. Additionally, the bill incentivizes the construction of new rental units near major military installations by granting these projects enhanced low-income housing tax credits.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.

The Election Day Act designates Election Day as a federal legal public holiday. This change aims to increase voter participation by ensuring more citizens have the time and opportunity to cast their ballots.