Legislative Activity

This resolution supports designating February 1st as "Blue Star Mothers Day." This day recognizes the service and sacrifices of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., an organization dedicated to supporting U.S. Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families. The bill encourages Americans to observe this day and support the organization's vital work.

The Timely Agreements Act aims to streamline the process for State veterans homes to acquire necessary resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It mandates that the VA must approve or reject proposals for pharmaceuticals and medical equipment within 60 days, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed. Furthermore, the bill prevents State homes from being cited for inspection deficiencies solely because they provided care to an eligible veteran without a formal sharing agreement in place.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025 establishes a new EPA pilot grant program to improve recycling access, focusing specifically on underserved communities. These competitive grants will fund infrastructure projects, such as building transfer stations or expanding curbside service, using a "hub-and-spoke" model. Priority is given to projects located far from existing materials recovery facilities, with grants ranging from $\$500,000$ to $\$15$ million.

The Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 expands access to temporary lodging at VA facilities, known as Fisher Houses, for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families who must travel significant distances for medical care. This legislation codifies the definition of a Fisher House and ensures lodging is provided on a space-available basis. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for certain pension payment limitations.

This bill establishes the **Medicare Physician Data-driven Performance Payment System (DPPS)**, replacing the existing MIPS program starting in 2027. It sets new, fixed payment adjustment factors for performance levels beginning in 2028, emphasizing timely feedback for eligible professionals. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that any net savings collected from penalties be reinvested as lump-sum incentives for under-resourced small practices.

This act aims to lower expenses for American farmers by immediately eliminating tariffs on phosphate imports from Morocco. It also revokes existing countervailing duty orders on phosphate fertilizers originating from Morocco. The legislation mandates the refunding of previously collected duties to importers.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1019 Avenue H in Fort Madison, Iowa. The facility will henceforth be known as the Martin L. Graber Post Office. This designation will apply to all official federal references to the building.

The Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026 expands the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to prioritize research on repetitive low-level blast exposure and dementia. The bill mandates a data-sharing partnership between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, requires large-scale clinical studies, and tasks the National Academies with validating brain health biomarkers. Additionally, it establishes rigorous biennial reporting requirements and authorizes $5 million in annual funding through 2030 to improve veteran brain health outcomes.

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish location-specific payment rates for services provided under the Community Care Program. It requires providers to use unique National Provider Identifiers for different service sites, such as outpatient departments and physician offices, to ensure accurate billing and reimbursement. These measures aim to standardize and clarify payment structures based on where a veteran actually receives care.

The "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025" mandates federal agencies to report annually on taxpayer-funded projects that are significantly behind schedule or have exceeded their original cost estimates by at least $1 billion. This information will be compiled into a report by the Office of Management and Budget and submitted to Congress and made public on their website. The report will include project descriptions, costs, timelines, and reasons for delays or overruns. This aims to increase transparency and accountability in government spending.

The Permanent Tax Relief for Seniors Act makes the existing federal tax deduction for seniors a permanent provision of the Internal Revenue Code. This legislation removes the current sunset date, ensuring seniors continue to benefit from this tax relief in all future taxable years.

The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act aims to bolster the defenses of smaller electric utilities against cyber threats. It establishes a dedicated grant and technical assistance program within the Department of Energy to provide funding and expert help. The Act also encourages the development of tailored cybersecurity standards and promotes vital information sharing across the sector.

The Affordable Housing Guarantee Act modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guaranty program. This legislation establishes new maximum guaranty amounts based on a veteran's service-connected disability status. Specifically, veterans with service-connected disabilities will receive a higher maximum guaranty percentage than other veterans.

The Veterans’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026 formally codifies the fundamental rights of veterans to receive respectful, transparent, and timely access to VA health care and benefits. This legislation mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs integrate these rights into all policies, training, and communications to ensure consistent accountability. By establishing these clear standards, the Act reinforces the nation’s commitment to supporting those who have served.

The WALZ Act mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services investigate specific HHS programs when payments to providers and suppliers surge by 10% or more within a six-month period. This legislation aims to ensure oversight and accountability for significant increases in federal health program spending.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act aims to reduce costs by expanding options for small employers through Association Health Plans and allowing integrated Health Reimbursement Arrangements. It also increases transparency for consumers by imposing strict new reporting requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Finally, the bill permanently funds Affordable Care Act cost-sharing reductions starting in 2027, with restrictions on plans covering abortion services.

The VA National Formulary Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a single, uniform national formulary for all VA medical facilities, managed by a new expert committee. This law standardizes drug access, streamlines the process for requesting non-formulary medications, and grants the VA new authority to negotiate supplemental drug discounts. Finally, it establishes a tiered copayment system to incentivize the use of cost-effective medications.

The "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act" requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to report on the establishment of online portals by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture for processing Form 299, which pertains to communications use authorization on public lands. The report must identify any barriers to creating these portals. The relevant Secretary must notify the Assistant Secretary within 3 business days after establishing an online portal.

The SPY Kids Act restricts covered online platforms from conducting market research on users known to be children under 13. For users identified as teens (ages 13-16), such research requires verifiable parental consent. The Federal Trade Commission is granted enforcement authority, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act. This legislation is intended to supplement, not replace, existing protections under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 ensures that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption if Congress fails to pass the full Department of Agriculture budget by October 1, 2025. This legislation authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain benefit payments. Furthermore, it guarantees that any benefits missed due to a funding lapse will be paid retroactively once the bill is enacted.