Legislative Activity

The "Increased TSP Access Act of 2025" amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the delivery of technical assistance to agricultural producers. It streamlines the certification process for third-party providers, allowing non-Federal entities and State agencies to certify them. The Act also mandates fair payment for technical services provided by these certified providers and requires the Secretary to increase outreach and transparency regarding the use of third-party assistance.

This resolution supports "Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month" to increase public awareness of these conditions, which affect many people in the U.S. annually. It recognizes that DVT and PE are often preventable, especially among at-risk groups such as cancer patients and pregnant women. The resolution aims to promote awareness and prevention of DVT and PE.

The "Safeguarding Medicaid Act" mandates asset verification for all Medicaid applicants and recipients nationwide, requiring states to implement electronic asset verification programs and report data to the federal government. It requires states to apply a resources eligibility test to determine if an individual qualifies for Medicaid based on their assets, ensuring that those with excessive resources are not eligible, with the state determining the maximum resource amount allowed. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must establish a federal tracking system to monitor savings resulting from asset verification, and states must report detailed eligibility and renewal data. Non-compliant states may be required to implement corrective action plans.

The "Stop CARB Act of 2025" prevents California and other states from setting their own emission standards for nonroad vehicles and engines used in sectors like construction, agriculture, and rail. This bill eliminates existing and denies any pending waivers that allow states to exceed federal emission standards. By amending the Clean Air Act, the bill ensures that only the federal government can regulate emissions for these types of vehicles and engines. Additionally, the bill repeals the ability for states to adopt California's stricter emission standards for new motor vehicles.

The PARC Act ensures that all National Park System units that charge an entrance fee must accept cash as a form of payment. This guarantees that individuals have access to these parks, regardless of their payment method.

The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act establishes a dedicated fund within the U.S. Treasury for the Southwestern Power Administration, consolidating receipts and unexpended balances from existing funds. This fund will support the operation, maintenance, and expansion of power transmission facilities, as well as administrative expenses. Excess funds will be transferred annually to the U.S. Treasury. The Act also repeals outdated provisions and updates language in previous appropriations acts to align with the new fund structure.

The "Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025" aims to boost the consumption of nutrient-rich dairy products among SNAP recipients by establishing a grant program for states and nonprofits to provide purchase incentives. The program prioritizes projects that maximize direct incentives for dairy purchased with SNAP benefits and utilizes point-of-sale technology. Independent evaluations will assess the impact of the incentives, and the Secretary of Agriculture will report findings to Congress. The act provides \$10 million in mandatory funding per fiscal year, and authorizes appropriations of \$10 million for fiscal year 2025 and each year after.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025" repeals the EPA's multi-pollutant emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles. It also amends the Clean Air Act to prevent regulations from mandating specific technologies in vehicles or limiting vehicle availability based on engine type. The EPA must revise existing regulations to comply with these changes within 24 months.

The "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025" amends the Clean Air Act to limit states' ability to set emission standards that restrict the sale or use of new gas-powered vehicles. It clarifies that state standards limiting gas-powered vehicles are subject to federal regulation and requires the EPA to revoke any conflicting waivers granted after January 1, 2022. This bill aims to preserve consumer choice in vehicle purchases by preventing states from effectively banning gas-powered cars.

The "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025" aims to enhance weather forecasting by maintaining and improving the National Mesonet Program. This program will integrate environmental data from various sources, increase data density for better forecasts, and support local weather monitoring. The Act authorizes specific appropriations through 2029 and prioritizes assistance to underrepresented areas, ensuring data quality and promoting collaboration to improve weather predictions and warnings.

The "Freedom to Haul Act of 2025" prevents the EPA from enforcing the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. It also amends the Clean Air Act to ensure that vehicle emission regulations do not mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new vehicles based on engine type. The EPA must revise existing regulations to comply with these changes within two years.

The "Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations for certain new and existing drugs. It also extends the priority review voucher program for rare pediatric disease treatments until 2029 and mandates studies on the effectiveness of both initiatives.

The "Traveler's Gun Rights Act" clarifies the definition of "State of residence" for firearm purchases, particularly for military personnel and those without a fixed residence. It allows active duty military members and their spouses to purchase firearms in the state of their permanent duty station or where they commute from, and individuals without a physical residence to use the location of their private mailbox or post office box. The bill also updates background check requirements to accommodate these new definitions, ensuring accurate identification of firearm transferees.

The "BITCOIN Act of 2025" directs the U.S. Treasury to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve by purchasing 200,000 Bitcoins annually for five years, totaling 1,000,000 Bitcoins, to be held in secure, decentralized storage. It mandates a Proof of Reserve system for transparency, consolidates government Bitcoin holdings, and allows states to voluntarily store their Bitcoin in the Reserve. The Act offsets the costs by adjusting Federal Reserve surplus funds and utilizing a portion of their net earnings remittances, as well as requiring Federal Reserve banks to tender all gold certificates to the Secretary of the Treasury. Additionally, the bill protects private property rights related to Bitcoin and modifies the Exchange Stabilization Fund to include Bitcoin as an asset.

The Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act aims to ensure accurate Medicaid payments to pharmacies by mandating the Secretary to survey drug prices and establish national average drug acquisition cost benchmarks. It also addresses abusive spread pricing by requiring transparent prescription drug pass-through pricing in contracts between states and pharmacy benefit managers, ensuring payments for drugs are limited to ingredient cost and a professional dispensing fee, with full disclosure of costs and payments. The Act also directs the Inspector General to conduct periodic studies of survey data and appropriates funds for these activities.

The ATF Transparency Act aims to increase transparency and efficiency in the firearm transfer application process. It mandates administrative relief for denied firearm transfer applications, including appeals and reimbursement for attorney fees if the appeal is successful. The bill also requires timely processing of applications, with automatic approval if the Secretary fails to act within 3 business days, and directs reports and agreements related to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The "Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025" (ACRE Act) aims to bolster rural economies by excluding interest earned on qualified real estate loans made by qualified lenders from their gross income. These loans must be secured by rural or agricultural real estate, with specific provisions for single-family residences and exclusions for loans involving foreign adversary entities. The Act requires a report to Congress on its impact and applies to taxable years following its enactment.

The "Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act of 2025" modifies the Drug Price Negotiation Program by adjusting the negotiation timeline for drug prices. For 2026 and 2027, negotiation can begin 7 years post-approval. Starting in 2028, this period extends to 11 years post-approval.

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with physical copies of the form needed to claim reimbursement for certain travel expenses. Veterans can request the form by mail or obtain it at VA medical facilities. Completed forms can be submitted in person or by mail to any VA medical facility for processing.