Legislative Activity

The Lakes Before Turbines Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit certain offshore wind facilities located in the inland navigable waters of the United States from qualifying for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This restriction applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. The bill aims to clarify the location requirements for claiming this specific energy tax credit.

The "Medicaid Provider Screening Accountability Act" mandates states to cross-check Medicaid providers against a federal database monthly, starting in 2028. This ensures providers terminated from Medicare or Medicaid/CHIP in other states are identified. The goal is to enhance provider screening processes within the Medicaid program.

This bill streamlines the House's process for considering three joint resolutions: one disapproving the Department of Energy's energy conservation standards for appliances, another regarding the EPA's emission standards for rubber tire manufacturing, and a third concerning the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's rule on protecting marine archaeological resources. It waives certain procedural rules and sets time limits for debating each resolution.

The "Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act of 2025" streamlines the approval process for upgrades to existing wireless facilities. It mandates that state and local governments approve modifications to existing wireless towers or base stations, provided the changes do not significantly alter the structure's size. The bill sets a 60-day deadline for approval decisions, after which requests are automatically approved, and allows applicants to sue in federal court to enforce these rules. The FCC is required to create rules to implement these changes within 180 days.

The "Make American Flags in America Act of 2025" mandates that U.S. flags displayed on Federal property or bought by Federal agencies be entirely manufactured in the U.S. using 100% U.S.-made materials, in accordance with international agreements. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on country-of-origin labeling enforcement for U.S. flags, aiming to improve enforcement and deter violations.

The Long-Term Care Transparency Act mandates the Assistant Secretary to produce an annual report for the Senate and House committees. This report will summarize findings from submitted reports under section 712(h). The goal of this act is to increase transparency in long-term care facilities.

The WARN Act aims to improve community safety during weather emergencies by directing the Comptroller General to study the effectiveness of local, state, territory, and federal emergency alert systems. The study will assess alert dissemination methods, evaluate the clarity and actionability of alert content, and explore improvements to public alerting systems. A report on the study's findings will be submitted to Congress within 18 months, with the goal of enhancing emergency response plans and public safety.

The "Federal Subaward Reporting System Modernization and Expansion Act" aims to improve the accuracy, standardization, and accessibility of federal subaward data. It mandates a report identifying problems with the current system, requires a plan for updating the FFATA subaward reporting system, and directs federal agencies to collect information on the first two tiers of subawards. The act also seeks to reduce the reporting burden on federal award recipients while enhancing data transparency and ensuring compliance through robust enforcement mechanisms.

The SAP Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Act of 2014, extending the Acer Access and Development Program through 2030. It requires the Secretary to seek input from maple industry stakeholders on research and education priorities before awarding grants. This input must be sought at least 6 months before the first funding application request, starting one year after the SAP Act of 2025 is enacted. The Secretary must consider this input when awarding grants.

The Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act requires dairy manufacturers to report their production costs and product yield information. The Secretary will then publish a report every two years with the collected data, starting three years after the law's enactment. This aims to increase transparency in dairy processing costs.

The "Dairy Farm Resiliency Act" amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to improve the Dairy Margin Coverage program. It updates the production history calculation for dairy farms and increases the coverage levels for Tier I and Tier II. These changes aim to provide better support and stability for dairy farmers.

The "Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act of 2025" extends the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through 2030. This program supports the use of telecommunications technologies to provide educational and medical services in rural areas.

The Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act expands the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. It will now include maple syrup in addition to herbs. This change aims to provide seniors with more options for locally sourced agricultural products.

The CAREERS Act amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand workforce training programs in rural areas. It broadens the definition of eligible institutions, emphasizes career pathway programs and industry partnerships, and prioritizes grants for these initiatives. The act supports various rural industries and requires reporting on program outcomes, with funding extended through 2030.

The GRAPE Act, or "Grape Research And Protection Expansion Act," aims to protect grape crops by amending the Federal Crop Insurance Act. It requires the development of a federal crop insurance policy for table, wine, and juice grapes against losses due to freeze events. The Corporation must research, develop, and make available this insurance policy and report their findings to Congress.