Legislative Activity

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

This bill establishes a six-year pilot program for hospitals to provide medically tailored, home-delivered meals and nutrition therapy to eligible Medicare patients upon discharge. The goal is to improve health outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions for individuals with diet-sensitive conditions who have difficulty with daily living activities. Participating hospitals will receive payment for these services, which must be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will evaluate the program's effectiveness using data collected from the participating sites.

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 bill, the Pathways to Health Careers Act, updates and funds the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program to train low-income individuals for careers in the health professions. It establishes rigorous application requirements for grantees, mandating comprehensive support services like childcare and career coaching to ensure participant success. The legislation also sets aside specific funding for demonstration projects focused on helping individuals with past records and expanding maternal health workforce roles.

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.

The Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2025 establishes a system of advance appropriations for key Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and Indian Health Service (IHS) programs starting in fiscal year 2026. This legislation mandates that budget requests must include forward-looking funding estimates for the subsequent fiscal year to improve agency planning and transparency. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on resource adequacy for these critical services after consultation with Tribal nations.

This resolution is a formal request from the House of Representatives demanding the President provide specific documents regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to and use of sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data, particularly the NUMIDENT database. Congress seeks detailed information on the creation of a cloud copy of NUMIDENT, including its intended uses, security assessments, and who has been granted access. The inquiry specifically targets records concerning data usage for federal audits, benefit denials, AI training, and potential private sales.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

The RESTORE Act of 2025 aims to improve re-entry support by removing barriers to essential aid for individuals with past drug-related convictions. This legislation voids state restrictions that prevent eligible individuals from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits based on these convictions. Additionally, it allows individuals scheduled for release within 30 days to be counted in SNAP household determinations.

The PART Act aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new vehicles to have traceable identifying markers on these parts. It establishes a federal grant program to help entities stamp identifying numbers onto existing converters. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict record-keeping requirements on businesses that buy used converters and creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking stolen catalytic converters.

The HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 removes a federal payment limitation for certain home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers under Medicaid. This change grants states greater flexibility in receiving federal matching funds for these essential community services.

The Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act of 2025 aims to address rising rates and racial disparities in endometrial cancer. This bill mandates the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to intensify research and ensure equitable inclusion of African-American women in clinical trials. Furthermore, it directs the CDC to launch targeted public education campaigns, specifically focusing on informing African-American women about risks and available treatments.

The Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act aims to integrate Puerto Rico into the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) structure, aligning it with other territories like Guam. The bill mandates a transition period where Puerto Rico must submit a plan of operation to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval to join SNAP. During this transition, existing block grant funding may continue for up to five years while the territory moves toward full participation under federal SNAP rules.

The HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2025 strengthens trade benefits for Haiti by extending preferential duty treatment until 2037 and increasing annual labor compliance reviews focusing on wages and working conditions. The bill also mandates the U.S. Trade Representative to provide targeted technical assistance aimed at increasing and diversifying Haitian exports to the United States. These measures seek to enhance Haiti's economic competitiveness while ensuring adherence to core labor standards.

The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act enables states to establish specialized Medicaid health homes focused exclusively on individuals with sickle cell disease starting in 2026. If a state adopts this program, it must provide mandatory dental and vision coverage to enrolled patients, regardless of standard state Medicaid policies. States implementing these health homes will also be required to report on patient outcomes, access to care, and expenditures.

The HIV Prevention Now Act secures **\$2.165 billion** in dedicated funding for the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention for Fiscal Year 2026. This appropriation is specifically earmarked to support the center's prevention programs and activities. This funding is supplemental to, and cannot be transferred from, other existing appropriations.

The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act mandates that essential HIV prevention services, including FDA-approved medications like PrEP and PEP, must be covered at no cost to the patient across private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. This law eliminates financial barriers such as deductibles, copays, and prior authorization requirements for these preventive treatments and necessary related care. The goal is to ensure universal, barrier-free access to critical HIV prevention tools.

The District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act eliminates the President's authority to assume emergency control over the District of Columbia's police force. This is achieved by striking the relevant section from the D.C. Home Rule Act. The bill ensures local control over the Metropolitan Police Department remains with the District.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.