Legislative Activity

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act aims to improve support for individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. This bill eliminates the standard waiting period for receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits and waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage. These changes ensure immediate access to crucial financial and healthcare support upon diagnosis.

The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025 mandates new federal research to understand and mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes and resulting wine. This research will focus on identifying harmful chemical compounds, developing reliable testing methods, and creating practical solutions for growers. The Secretary of Agriculture will coordinate this effort with universities in key wine-producing states using dedicated funding through 2030.

The Mental Health Research Accelerator Act of 2025 establishes a new 25% tax credit for businesses investing in translational research for neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric conditions. This credit is subject to annual spending caps and allocation rules prioritizing scientific merit and public-private partnerships. The goal is to accelerate the development of new treatments and devices for central nervous system disorders.

This bill supports the designation of April 5, 2025, as "Barth Syndrome Awareness Day" to raise awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and promote research for this rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. It recognizes the challenges in diagnosis and treatment, while also acknowledging the role of the Orphan Drug Act and the importance of patient perspectives. The bill aims to advance research, develop new treatments, and improve regulatory pathways for ultra-rare diseases like Barth syndrome.

The Farewell to Foam Act of 2025 bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) food service ware, loose fill packaging, and coolers starting January 1, 2028. The bill clearly defines these targeted foam products and the roles of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers involved in their supply chain. Enforcement begins with a written warning for first-time violations, followed by escalating fines for repeat offenses. The Administrator of the EPA is granted the authority to issue necessary regulations to implement the Act.

The "Do No Harm Act" amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to ensure religious freedom is not used to justify discrimination or harm. It clarifies that the Act does not override federal laws protecting against discrimination, ensuring equal opportunity, or safeguarding access to healthcare and other essential services. This amendment confirms that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies only when the government is a party in a judicial proceeding.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims, and to update which states and political subdivisions are subject to federal oversight based on a history of voting rights violations. It broadens the types of violations that allow a court to retain jurisdiction over a case, clarifies the Attorney General's authority to assign observers, and ensures transparency in voting-related changes. The Act also authorizes the Attorney General to demand documents and information to enforce voting rights and provides grants to small jurisdictions to assist with notification requirements.

The Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act restricts political appointees and special government employees from accessing sensitive Social Security beneficiary data systems. It establishes a right for individuals to sue the government or responsible parties for unauthorized access or disclosure of their private Social Security information, including specified minimum damages. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Inspector General to investigate such violations and report findings to Congress within 30 days. Finally, it requires the GAO to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of these new privacy and enforcement measures.

The "Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act" prevents the Social Security Administration (SSA) from closing or consolidating field offices, hearing offices, and resident stations, ensuring continued access to services. It requires the SSA Commissioner to justify any planned closures to Congress with detailed analysis and cost-benefit assessments, considering the impact on vulnerable populations. The bill mandates public notice, hearings, and a final report to Congress before any changes, allowing appeals and maintaining the number of offices at or above the January 20, 2025 level, excluding temporary emergency closures.

This bill, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025, seeks to amend the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws to strengthen protections for workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. It aims to modernize labor regulations by clarifying definitions, addressing unfair labor practices, enhancing enforcement, and increasing transparency in labor-management relations. The bill introduces measures such as electronic voting in union elections, strengthens whistleblower protections, and mandates studies on collective bargaining practices. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure fair treatment of workers and promote equitable labor practices.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to reduce bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states to establish policies prohibiting such conduct based on various characteristics, including race, sex, religion, and disability. It mandates annual notifications, data collection on incidents, biennial evaluations of programs, and regular reports to Congress to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This act does not infringe on existing nondiscrimination laws or freedom of speech but seeks to create a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

This bill repeals four executive orders related to energy and environmental policies issued on January 20, 2025. It stops the use of federal funds to implement these orders, but does not reduce any existing presidential powers.

This bill officially redesignates the site currently known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It mandates that all official U.S. records, maps, and documents be updated to reflect this new name and repeals the previous joint resolutions that established the former designation.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 provides increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from ALS, regardless of the duration of the illness. To be eligible, the surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran for at least eight years, and the veteran must have died on or after October 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress identifying other service-connected disabilities that should receive similar treatment as ALS under existing compensation guidelines.

This resolution recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a serious health condition that significantly impacts the reproductive, metabolic, and mental well-being of millions of women. It expresses support for designating September as "PCOS Awareness Month" to improve public education, encourage earlier diagnosis, and promote further research into treatments and a potential cure.

The Copay Fairness for Veterans Act eliminates copayments for veterans for medications, hospital care, and medical services related to preventive health services. "Preventive health services" include items or services with an A or B rating from the United States Preventive Services Task Force, immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and preventive care, screenings, and contraceptives for women. It also includes any contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration, along with related care and services.

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 bans cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and restricts the use of animal testing data for cosmetic safety, with certain exceptions. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to impose civil penalties for non-compliance and preempts states from enacting conflicting regulations. The Act defines key terms related to cosmetic animal testing and cosmetics.