Legislative Activity

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 establishes a federal civil cause of action against the creation, possession with intent to share, or sharing of nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries, often known as deepfakes. This legislation updates existing law to specifically address image-based sexual abuse created through AI or digital manipulation, regardless of whether the image is labeled as fake. Victims can sue for significant statutory damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief to stop the spread of the harmful content. The Act ensures that this new federal standard does not preempt or limit stronger existing State or Tribal laws.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

This resolution formally honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, specifically recognizing the 345 officers whose service ended in 2024. It reaffirms support for all active officers and emphasizes the need to ensure they have the proper resources and training to perform their duties safely. The bill serves as a formal expression of gratitude and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

The Words Matter Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive update across all federal laws, replacing the outdated terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities." This change is strictly a linguistic update intended to align federal statutes with current, respectful terminology. The Act explicitly states that this language revision does not alter eligibility for benefits, rights, or responsibilities under any existing federal program. Agencies are required to update their regulations to reflect this new terminology while maintaining a record of the previous language used.

The Safer Shrimp Imports Act establishes new requirements for foreign facilities that process or pack shrimp destined for the U.S. market. It mandates that foreign governments must agree to U.S. safety standards or demonstrate that their inspection systems are equivalent to the FDA's. Shrimp from countries refusing cooperation or lacking adequate oversight will be blocked from entering the United States.

This bill seeks to formally reject a recent rule submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning new energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. By invoking congressional disapproval, the legislation immediately cancels the DOE's proposed efficiency standards. In essence, Congress is overriding the DOE's attempt to implement these specific new regulations for tankless gas water heaters.

The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act aims to enhance paid family leave by establishing a federal grant program to support and improve existing state-level paid leave laws. It also creates the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (IPLAN) to encourage states to standardize definitions, administration, and benefit coordination across state lines. This dual approach seeks to increase the quality of benefits for workers while simplifying compliance for employers operating in multiple states.

The Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act of 2025 establishes the IPLAN to create unified, standardized policies and administrative rules for state-run paid family and medical leave programs. This network will develop an interstate agreement to simplify benefit coordination for workers who have moved between participating states. The bill also authorizes federal grants to support state participation and funds a national intermediary to manage coordination and technology development.

The BUILD Act of 2025 establishes two new federal grant programs to fund facility upgrades and construction for local public safety agencies. These grants are specifically targeted toward police and fire departments serving communities with fewer than 50,000 residents. Funds must be used for projects directly related to improving emergency services, training, recruitment, or community safety. The legislation also mandates studies to assess the long-term infrastructure needs of these smaller departments.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by moving its expiration date from September 30, 2023, to December 31, 2026. This action ensures the continuation of federal flood insurance coverage for an additional three years.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for audiology services, beginning in 2027. This legislation allows qualified audiologists to provide diagnostic and treatment services without physician referral or supervision, as permitted by state law. The bill also specifies payment rates and includes audiologists in coverage for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act expands the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to order the destruction of imported articles that pose a significant public health concern, even if they don't meet existing criteria. This legislation broadens the scope of regulated items beyond just drugs and devices and makes it illegal to move or sell any article slated for destruction under these new rules. These changes will take effect 180 days after the Act is signed into law.

The Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act (RIFLE Act) eliminates the existing federal tax on firearm transfers. This legislation strikes the relevant section from the Internal Revenue Code and makes necessary technical updates to related statutes. Importantly, this Act does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any new authority over regulated firearms.

The **SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025** seeks to reauthorize and update the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). This legislation expands the program's focus to include cancer prevention and aims to reduce health disparities in screening access. The bill authorizes $235 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and mandates a GAO study on program eligibility and service trends.

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.

This resolution expresses support for designating March 18, 2025, as "National Agriculture Day." It recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture as a leading industry in the United States.

The Fair and Open Competition Act of 2025 ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from requiring or penalizing bidders based on union agreements. This legislation aims to keep federal agencies neutral in labor relations while promoting cost savings and opening opportunities for all businesses. Exceptions to this neutrality rule are strictly limited to specific public health, safety, or national security emergencies.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.