Legislative Activity

This bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to temporarily exclude certain False Claims Act recoveries from being deposited into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates a comprehensive audit by the Department of Justice Inspector General on the Fund's sustainability and the impact of recent legislative changes. The resulting report will provide recommendations for improving the Fund's effectiveness and oversight.

The Reliable Power Act mandates annual long-term reliability assessments by the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to proactively identify risks of power shortages. If a "generation inadequacy" is found, it triggers a review process for certain federal agency regulations that affect power generation resources. This ensures federal agencies must address and respond to FERC's recommendations on how their proposed rules might impact the reliability of the bulk-power system before finalizing those actions.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 extends critical anti-retaliation safeguards to employees working under Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts and grants. This legislation ensures that individuals who report waste, fraud, or abuse involving HUD funds are protected from reprisal, regardless of when their contract was executed.

The Tailoring and Indexing Enhanced Regulations Act of 2025 (TIER Act) significantly raises the asset thresholds that subject financial institutions to enhanced supervision under various banking laws. It adjusts current dollar thresholds based on historical GDP growth to reflect current economic realities. Furthermore, the bill mandates future, automatic five-year adjustments to these thresholds based on subsequent U.S. GDP growth to ensure regulations remain appropriately scaled.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

The Professional Student Degree Act seeks to amend the Higher Education Act by formally defining what constitutes a "professional degree" for student loan purposes. This definition specifies degrees that prepare students to immediately begin practicing in a profession and require a skill level beyond a standard bachelor's degree. The bill explicitly lists numerous professional degrees, such as Law, Medicine, and specialized health fields, under this new classification.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

This bill, the "Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act," aims to stop improper government payments by improving how the Social Security Administration shares death data with the federal Do Not Pay system. It mandates the SSA to provide death information to prevent and recover mistaken benefit payments. The legislation also establishes a clear standard for recording deaths and requires notifying agencies if an individual is incorrectly listed as deceased.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the "Mary Elizabeth Bettie Cole Post Office Building." This change ensures all future federal references use the newly established name for the building.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025 aims to limit the financial burden of federal regulations on small businesses by requiring the SBA to track and cap its own rulemaking costs. It also mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing the regulatory costs imposed on small businesses by all other federal agencies. Additionally, this bill establishes a one-time $1,000 payment for eligible U.S. citizens and qualified aliens, funded by a transfer from the Treasury's general fund.

The Energy Choice Act places federal restrictions on state and local governments, preventing them from enacting regulations that prohibit or limit energy service based on its type or source. This means local governments cannot ban or restrict access to energy services sold in interstate commerce. The legislation aims to ensure consistent access to various energy sources across jurisdictions.

The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act establishes a high-level Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to develop and execute a comprehensive U.S. strategy against transnational criminal organizations running massive online scams, often utilizing victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This strategy must focus on disrupting these operations, sanctioning responsible parties, and providing support for rescued victims. The bill authorizes $30 million over two years to fund these efforts and requires annual reporting to Congress on progress and impact.

The Expanding WKSI Eligibility Act creates a new, alternative pathway for companies to qualify as a "well-known seasoned issuer" (WKSI) by lowering the public market value threshold to \$400 million, while removing the existing worldwide market value requirement. Additionally, the bill mandates that the SEC annually report on the number of WKSI-related applications that are withdrawn. This aims to streamline the process for certain issuers to benefit from WKSI status.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the OIG's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and assess HUD's efficiency and resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD programs.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act establishes a new Small Business Administration (SBA) loan guarantee program to help U.S.-based small manufacturers finance equipment, facilities, and workforce training. The bill specifically defines eligible small manufacturers as those whose primary business is in manufacturing sectors 31, 32, or 33 and have all production facilities located domestically. Additionally, it increases the maximum loan limits available to these small manufacturers across several existing SBA loan programs.

This act grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exclusive authority to approve or deny applications for natural gas and LNG export/import facilities, mandating that such actions be considered consistent with the public interest. The legislation clarifies that it does not limit the President's existing authority to impose sanctions through trade restrictions.

The Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly publish evidence-based physical activity recommendations for the public. These reports must include specific guidance for various population subgroups and be updated at least every ten years. The legislation ensures federal health programs consider these national guidelines while protecting existing research authority and preventing the establishment of binding federal fitness standards.

This bill, the "SEC Data Protection Act," mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) establish comprehensive data protection policies for sensitive, nonpublic information received from investment advisers. The SEC must adopt these rules within one year, ensuring the safeguarding and restricted access of proprietary data. This legislation aims to protect sensitive information collected by the Commission during its oversight of investment advisers.