Legislative Activity

This resolution designates May as "National Bladder Cancer Awareness Month" to raise public awareness, promote early treatment, and support research for this prevalent and costly disease. It highlights the significant impact of bladder cancer, especially among veterans, and the importance of early diagnosis for improved survival rates. The resolution encourages communities, research institutions, and individuals to actively participate in raising awareness and supporting those affected by bladder cancer.

The "Preventing Environmental Hazards Act of 2025" amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, allowing flood insurance coverage to pay for demolition or relocation of structures imminently threatened by collapse or subsidence due to shoreline erosion. The Act outlines payment procedures, valuation methods, and limitations on coverage, including a maximum claim of $250,000 and ineligibility for further flood insurance or disaster assistance once a determination is made. It applies to existing flood insurance contracts and requires the Administrator to issue regulations for implementation.

The "No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act" disallows tax deductions for advertising and promotional expenses for prescription drugs marketed directly to consumers, excluding ads in professional journals and periodicals. This applies to covered entities, including drug sponsors and outsourcing facilities, and affects expenses incurred after the Act's enactment. The goal of the bill is to reduce the amount of direct-to-consumer drug advertising.

The Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act allows taxpayers more time to claim tax credits or refunds if a disaster has postponed their tax return filing deadline. It also adjusts the deadline for the IRS to issue tax payment notices to account for disaster-related postponements, providing taxpayers with additional flexibility during challenging times.

The First Responders Retirement Parity Act allows governmental pension plans to include certain firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who work for public safety agencies under contract with a political subdivision of a State. This inclusion will not affect their status as governmental plans under the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. This change ensures that these first responders receive the retirement benefits they deserve for their service. The act applies to plan years beginning after the enactment date.

The "Down East Remembrance Act" designates six creeks in North Carolina with new names to honor Noah Styron, Hunter Parks, Kole McInnis, Stephanie Fulcher, Jacob Taylor, and Daily Shepherd. It mandates that all federal references to these creeks be updated to reflect these new designations.

The "Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act" allows military spouses to receive firearms or ammunition at a service member's duty station outside the U.S. It also establishes residency rules for military members and their spouses for federal firearms laws, recognizing their legal residence, duty station location, or place of abode as valid for purchasing firearms. These changes will take effect six months after the law is enacted.

The "Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of the Interior to correct a map within 30 days of this Act's enactment to remove certain parcels from unit L06 of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System. This correction applies to parcels in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, that are zoned for purposes other than conservation as of the Act's enactment date. This act solely affects areas within the town of North Topsail Beach in unit L06.

The Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025 extends preferential trade treatment to Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until September 30, 2035. It clarifies eligibility for apparel articles containing U.S. fabric and restores preferential treatment for certain articles that were previously eligible. The Act aims to promote economic development in Haiti through trade benefits.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period for drug price negotiations under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It changes the negotiation period for small-molecule drugs from 7 years to 11 years, matching the period already in place for biologic drugs. This adjustment aims to create parity in negotiation timelines between different types of medications, effective as if included in the original legislation.

The Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a five-year pilot program providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder within three Veterans Integrated Service Networks. This therapy will be administered through healthcare providers as defined in title 38, United States Code, section 1703(c)(5). The Act also establishes the "VA HBOT Fund," which will be funded through donations to cover the costs of HBOT.

This bill, called the "Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act of 2025," allows taxpayers to exclude gains from their gross income when selling real property interests to qualified organizations for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program purposes. The exclusion does not apply to sales by pass-through entities within three years of acquisition, with an exception for family-owned entities. This exclusion encourages land conservation and military readiness. It applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "End China's De Minimis Abuse Act" amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prevent duty-free treatment for goods that circumvent trade restrictions or are split into multiple shipments to avoid duties. It mandates electronic filing of tariff classifications for goods from countries subject to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and establishes penalties for violations. These changes aim to close loopholes that allow certain imports to bypass tariffs and trade regulations. The act will take effect 30 days after enactment.