Legislative Activity

The Kari's Law Reporting Act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issue a public report detailing its enforcement activities regarding Section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Kari's Law). This report must summarize compliance by multi-line telephone system manufacturers, identify enforcement challenges, and propose necessary regulatory or legislative changes. The goal is to assess and improve the implementation of existing safety requirements for emergency calling systems.

The Emergency Reporting Act mandates that the FCC hold public hearings following significant activations of the Disaster Information Reporting System to review communications outages. Following these hearings, the FCC must issue detailed reports outlining the scope of service disruptions, including impacts on 911 services. Furthermore, the Act requires the FCC to investigate and report on improving outage alerts to emergency centers, particularly regarding the inclusion of visual information.

The Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive consumer protections by creating a new federal office to handle complaints, banning mandatory pre-dispute arbitration, and mandating clear contract summaries for passengers. The bill also significantly enhances safety and security by tightening requirements for onboard crime reporting, increasing video surveillance retention, and mandating improved medical readiness standards for cruise vessels. This legislation aims to increase accountability for cruise lines while providing clearer recourse and better support for travelers.

The 340B PATIENTS Act of 2025 clarifies and strengthens the existing 340B drug discount program for covered entities like hospitals and clinics. It explicitly prohibits drug manufacturers from placing restrictions on how or where these entities purchase or dispense discounted outpatient drugs, including through contract pharmacies. The bill also establishes significant civil monetary penalties for manufacturers who intentionally violate these non-restriction rules. Ultimately, this legislation aims to ensure that covered entities can fully utilize 340B savings to expand patient care.

The Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 establishes a new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within HHS to coordinate federal efforts against climate-related health threats. This office is tasked with developing a comprehensive national strategic action plan to prepare the U.S. health sector for climate impacts, with a special focus on vulnerable communities. The Act also creates a science advisory board and mandates regular expert reports to ensure the national strategy is based on the best available science and continuously updated.

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025 establishes new reporting requirements and imposes fees on large cargo vessels engaged in "covered voyages" to account for their carbon dioxide and criteria air pollutant emissions. These fees are designed to fund significant investments in decarbonizing the shipping industry, modernizing the U.S. Jones Act fleet, and improving air quality monitoring in port communities. The fee structure will terminate if the International Maritime Organization implements a comparable global emissions fee.

The Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply Act (MAPS Act) mandates the expansion and regular review of the Essential Medicines List to include drugs critical for national security threats. The bill requires comprehensive risk assessments and mapping of the supply chains for these essential medicines to identify vulnerabilities in sourcing raw materials and manufacturing. Finally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report annually to Congress on supply chain mapping progress, identified risks, and efforts to strengthen domestic production capabilities.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 updates Medicare rules to ensure comprehensive coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. This legislation clarifies and expands the scope of telehealth coverage under Medicare for these essential services. Furthermore, it removes previous restrictions, making the expanded coverage effective retroactively to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

This bill, the Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to sell the federal government's lingering ownership claims over approximately 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the current private owners upon request. The sale requires the buyer to pay the full appraised fair market value plus all associated administrative and appraisal costs. Furthermore, the Act ensures that this conveyance does not diminish the established minimum right-of-way access for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company.

The FUTURE Networks Act establishes a new 6G Task Force, managed by the FCC Chair, to study and report on the development of sixth-generation wireless technology. This Task Force will include representatives from industry, public interest groups, and various levels of government. Its primary goal is to deliver a comprehensive report detailing 6G standards, potential uses, limitations, and strategies for coordinated government deployment efforts.

The TREES Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program managed by the Secretary of Energy to fund community-based tree planting projects. These grants aim to reduce residential energy consumption by strategically planting trees for shade and wind protection. Priority funding will be given to projects that maximize energy savings for low-income households and benefit underserved neighborhoods. The program is authorized to plant at least 300,000 trees annually, with federal funding covering 90% of eligible project costs.

This resolution expresses strong support for honoring Earth Day and recognizes its historical importance in launching the modern environmental movement. It highlights ongoing challenges like climate change while celebrating recent landmark investments in clean energy and infrastructure. Ultimately, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and encourages all Americans to take sustained action to protect the environment for future generations.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 reauthorizes the existing federal program dedicated to reducing harmful diesel emissions. This legislation extends the authorization for funding and implementing emission reduction projects through the year 2029. By doing so, it ensures the continuation of efforts to clean up diesel pollution for an additional five years.

The Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025 aims to safeguard the independence of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from political pressure. It explicitly prohibits the FCC from revoking broadcast licenses or denying business transactions based on the viewpoints or opinions expressed by broadcasters. This legislation ensures that regulatory actions are focused on legal compliance rather than content censorship.

The "Public Health Funding Restoration Act" aims to fully fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund at $2,000,000,000 annually beginning in 2026. This will restore investments in crucial public health programs focused on preventing diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. By ensuring consistent funding, the act seeks to improve healthcare, quality of life, and preparedness for future health crises.

The "Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act" expands healthcare coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP to include comprehensive cancer diagnostic and laboratory tests, such as genomic sequencing, starting in 2027. It ensures coverage upon diagnosis, recurrence, and as needed for treatment planning. Additionally, the Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an education program to raise awareness among healthcare providers and the public about genomic testing and its applications in cancer care.

The Scientific EXPERT Act of 2025 aims to improve drug development for rare diseases by mandating science-focused meetings. These meetings, organized by the Reagan-Udall Foundation, will bring together experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in developing treatments for specific rare diseases. The FDA will participate in these meetings, and meeting outcomes will be published to inform future drug development efforts. The Act allocates funding for these meetings and requires reports to Congress on their impact.