Legislative Activity

The "Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for modernizing freight railcars, encouraging investments in newer, more efficient railcars. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 10% of their freight railcar fleet modernization expenses, with a limit of 1,000 qualified freight railcars per year. The credit applies to railcars that increase capacity, improve fuel efficiency, or meet updated performance standards, and is available for three years after the Act's enactment. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the credit's usage and impact on railcar modernization and scrapping.

The "PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025" extends funding for research on preterm births and infant care through 2029. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an interagency working group to address premature birth issues and mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on preterm births, including cost analysis, risk factor identification, and best practices for prevention and treatment. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 24 months.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The "HALT Fentanyl Act" permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, streamlining research registration processes while maintaining controls. It also updates penalties for trafficking, importing, and exporting fentanyl-related substances, treating them similarly to fentanyl analogues. Additionally, the Act addresses technical errors in previous legislation and mandates the Attorney General to issue rules for implementation.

The "Marc Fischer Memorial Act" aims to combat the flow of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, into Federal prisons through the mail. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to equip all Federal correctional facilities with the technology and processes needed to scan mail, protect staff and inmates, and ensure timely delivery of mail copies while maintaining legal mail privileges. The strategy includes assessing current practices, identifying necessary resources, and providing a budgetary proposal for implementation, with ongoing reporting to Congress on its effectiveness.

The "Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025" aims to bolster U.S. agricultural exports by increasing funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program. It amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend and significantly increase financial support for these programs through 2029. These changes seek to address the competitive disadvantage faced by U.S. producers due to increased foreign competition and the impact of inflation on static funding levels. By increasing funding, the Act strives to enhance access to foreign markets, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs within the agricultural sector.

The "Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2025" aims to prevent the obstruction of interstate highways. It establishes penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who knowingly disrupt traffic flow or endanger vehicles on these highways. Increased penalties are applied if emergency vehicles are obstructed or if a death occurs as a result of the obstruction.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, concerning race, color, and national origin. This aims to address rising antisemitism in educational settings. The Act clarifies that it does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change existing discrimination standards, reduce existing rights, or infringe upon First Amendment rights.

The "ORPHAN Cures Act" amends the Social Security Act to refine the orphan drug exclusion within the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It excludes time periods when a drug was designated as an orphan drug from counting towards its eligibility for price negotiation. The bill also modifies the criteria for orphan drug designation, allowing it to apply to drugs treating "one or more rare diseases or conditions" instead of "only one rare disease or condition."

This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's final rule regarding Trichloroethylene (TCE) regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act" reauthorizes and expands programs aimed at supporting the mental health of healthcare providers. It requires annual reports on education and awareness initiatives, broadens eligibility for entities receiving funds, and extends funding for mental health support programs through 2030. The Act prioritizes reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers to improve access to mental health services.

The "Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act" aims to address and prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault against Bureau of Prisons staff by incarcerated individuals. It mandates a comprehensive review and analysis by the Inspector General of the incidence and effects of such acts, including current punishment practices. Following the review, the Attorney General is directed to establish national standards for preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and sexual assault in prisons.

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 "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" establishes federal tax credits for individuals and corporations who contribute to scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships for eligible students to attend elementary and secondary schools. It sets a volume cap on the total amount of credits that can be claimed and prioritizes allocation on a first-come, first-served basis. The act also exempts these scholarships from gross income and protects the autonomy of scholarship organizations and non-public schools from government control.

The "Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act" expands access to in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services by allowing them to be delivered via telehealth, including designating a patient's home as a provider-based location. It broadens originating sites for telehealth services and waives geographic requirements for in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. The Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for designating a patient's home as a provider-based organization, aligning with the Hospital Without Walls program.

The "Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025" establishes a federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships to eligible students for qualified education expenses. It also exempts these scholarship amounts from gross income and protects scholarship organizations and non-public schools from governmental control, ensuring parental choice in education. The tax credit is limited to the greater of 10% of adjusted gross income or $5,000, subject to a national volume cap, and is reduced by any state tax credits received for the same contributions.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States through charitable activities, volunteer work, and financial support for members. It expresses the sense of Congress that these societies are a valuable support system that addresses unmet needs and generates substantial returns to the U.S. through their tax-exempt status. The bill also advocates for the continued promotion of fraternal benefit societies.

The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn, mandating immediate hospitalization and requiring healthcare practitioners to report any failures to comply. Violators face fines, imprisonment, and potential prosecution for homicide or attempted homicide, while the mother of the child cannot be prosecuted. The bill also allows the woman who had the abortion to file a civil action against anyone who violated the act. It defines abortion and attempts at abortion, and renames "Partial-Birth Abortions" to "Abortions" in relevant sections of the U.S. Code.

The "Main Street Tax Certainty Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the deduction for qualified business income. This removes the previous expiration date, providing long-term tax certainty for eligible businesses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025" aims to enhance collaboration between the U.S. and Israel in healthcare by establishing a program focused on joint research and development, innovation, regulatory harmonization, and healthcare system improvements. This includes initiatives in telemedicine, disease prevention, biological product manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. The Act authorizes $8 million per year from 2026-2030 to support these collaborative efforts.