Legislative Activity

The Veterans' Infrastructure and Transformation Act of 2025 (VITAL Act) comprehensively reforms how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages its physical assets and construction. This bill streamlines facility management by consolidating construction, leasing, and acquisition functions under centralized leadership and modernizes building standards. It also establishes pilot programs to test non-cash property leases and requires a long-term strategic plan for VA infrastructure modernization. Crucially, all new obligations under this Act remain strictly contingent upon available Congressional appropriations.

The PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing Act establishes a confidential, nonpunitive system for pipeline companies to voluntarily share sensitive safety data to improve industry-wide safety practices. This system will be overseen by a balanced Governing Board composed of government, industry, and public safety representatives. Data submitted to this system is protected from public disclosure and use in litigation, though de-identified safety findings may be released publicly.

The Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act mandates a comprehensive study on the safety and viability of using advanced composite materials for hydrogen and hydrogen-blend pipelines. The Secretary of Transportation must complete this review, including public consultation, within 18 months. Following the study and public feedback, the Secretary is required to initiate the rulemaking process for new regulations allowing the use of these composite materials.

This resolution officially designates September 9, 2025, as "National World War II Italian Campaign Remembrance Day." It honors the immense sacrifices made by American and Allied soldiers who fought in the long and costly campaign to liberate Italy from German occupation. The measure encourages the American public to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and educational activities.

This resolution expresses support for student parents balancing postsecondary education with raising children, recognizing their significant contributions despite facing numerous challenges like food and housing insecurity. It officially designates September 2025 as "National Student Parent Month" to highlight their achievements. The bill underscores the importance of supporting these motivated students, who are crucial to improving outcomes for their families.

The Small Communities Transit Improvement Act increases the dedicated federal transit funding share for small cities with high transit usage from 3% to 5%. This change adjusts the formula for distributing public transportation grants to better support these transit-dependent communities.

The Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act modifies the Investment Company Act of 1940 to ease regulatory burdens on certain investment companies. This bill increases the maximum number of investors allowed before registration is required, raising the limit from 250 to 500 persons. Additionally, it significantly raises the asset threshold for a specific regulatory exemption from \$10 million to \$50 million.

The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act aims to streamline the process for agricultural workers to obtain and maintain restricted commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). This legislation mandates that the Secretary of Transportation update federal regulations to allow states to offer online renewal systems for these seasonal licenses. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that implements of husbandry are not classified as commercial motor vehicles under CDL requirements.

The VA Extenders Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill focused on extending numerous existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities for one additional year, primarily through September 30, 2026. These extensions cover critical areas including healthcare services, mental health support, educational benefits protections, and housing assistance for homeless and disabled veterans. Additionally, the bill modifies the VA's Partial Claim Program to increase borrower accountability while mandating greater transparency through required GAO reporting.

This resolution officially designates September 9, 2025, as "National World War II Italian Campaign Remembrance Day." It serves to honor the immense sacrifices made by American and Allied soldiers who fought to liberate Italy from German occupation. The day encourages national commemoration and educational efforts to preserve the memory of this long and costly campaign.

The "Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act" establishes a three-year pilot program to improve healthcare coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare for veterans enrolled in both systems. The program assigns case managers to participating veterans to create care coordination plans, aiming to improve healthcare access, outcomes, and quality while reducing costs and eliminating service duplication. The VA Secretary will oversee the program in selected Veterans Integrated Service Networks, tracking key metrics and reporting to Congress on its progress and potential for continuation.

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 aims to improve healthcare delivery by establishing clear, enforceable wait-time standards for both VA and community care. The legislation mandates faster access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, introduces a streamlined appeals process, and requires new digital tools to help veterans manage their care. By increasing transparency and accountability, the bill seeks to reduce administrative barriers and ensure veterans receive timely, high-quality support.

The HOPE for Heroes Act of 2025 modifies and reauthorizes the VA's suicide prevention grant program, increasing maximum funding amounts and setting stricter spending limits for grantees. It enhances coordination requirements between grant recipients and local VA facilities, mandates specific training on suicide risk assessment tools, and ensures veterans receive emergent care if the VA delays services past 72 hours. The program is officially extended through September 30, 2030.

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act aims to support designated primary caregivers for veterans by extending their medical coverage for 180 days after leaving their role. The bill mandates the VA to provide job assistance, including funding for certifications and transition support, for 180 days post-caregiving. Furthermore, it requires studies on establishing "returnship" programs and exploring the feasibility of creating a dedicated retirement savings plan for these essential caregivers.

This bill permanently codifies the existing pilot program allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use contract physicians for disability examinations. It allows the VA to hire non-federal doctors to conduct these crucial medical exams for benefit applicants. The legislation also establishes requirements for these contract doctors and mandates a report to Congress on the program's impact on exam speed and cost.

This bill establishes a new External Provider Scheduling Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to streamline appointment booking for veterans utilizing the Veterans Community Care Program. The program will allow VA schedulers to directly view and book appointments in real-time with participating community health care providers. Its primary goals are to reduce the time it takes to schedule community care appointments and improve overall efficiency for VA staff.

The "Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025" amends the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to include research on brain and mental health conditions, such as those caused by repetitive low-level blast exposure and dementia. It mandates data sharing between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, directs specific research activities, and requires reports to Congress on the initiative's progress and recommendations. The act authorizes $5 million annually from 2025 to 2034 to fund these efforts.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 directs the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) to create a joint agreement to coordinate environmental reviews for housing projects they jointly fund. This aims to eliminate redundant processes by establishing a lead agency and allowing for the mutual acceptance of environmental documentation. The bill also mandates the creation of an advisory group composed of various housing stakeholders to ensure efficient implementation without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

This bill, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, provides comprehensive funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, along with key science agencies like NASA and the NSF, for Fiscal Year 2026. It allocates billions for law enforcement, trade enforcement, scientific research, and infrastructure while imposing strict rules on fund transfers and administrative flexibility across these agencies. The legislation also includes specific provisions governing agency operations, oversight, and limitations on certain activities, such as foreign collaboration and the use of funds for specific types of inmate recreation.

The Expanding Defense Community Partnerships Act enhances the Department of Defense's ability to collaborate with state, local, and tribal governments through Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs). This legislation allows the DOD to involve other federal agencies in these partnerships and expands the funding sources available for support services. Furthermore, it extends the authorization for these agreements and establishes a pilot program allowing for longer-term, 20-year partnerships with the Army, Navy, and Air Force.