Legislative Activity

The SWIM Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $500 ($1,000 for joint returns/heads of household) for expenses related to water competency and safety lessons for minors. This includes costs for basic swimming instruction and necessary equipment, with equipment expenses limited to $100 per item. The lessons must focus on water safety and competency, not competitive swimming. This change applies to taxable years starting after the Act's enactment.

The North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act recognizes and honors the volunteers and donors of the North Platte Canteen in Nebraska during World War II with a Congressional Gold Medal. This medal will be presented by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum. The Act also authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the gold medal to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance Program Act expands and codifies a Department of Agriculture program to provide technical assistance and training to rural health care facilities. This program aims to improve financial stability, prevent closures, and strengthen health care delivery in rural areas. The Act authorizes up to $2,000,000 annually from 2026-2030 for these activities and requires annual reports to Congress. It prioritizes outreach to facilities at risk and those serving underserved populations.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical federal funding for states and counties containing national forest land through 2026. This legislation ensures the continuation of essential community services and maintains the authority for resource advisory committees and local special projects.

The Local Radio Freedom Act expresses Congressional opposition to imposing new performance fees, taxes, or royalties on local radio stations and businesses for playing music. It argues that the current system of free airplay provides essential promotional value to artists and that new fees would threaten the financial viability of local broadcasters and the vital community services they provide.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act authorizes the creation of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs accurately represent the diverse cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic and Latino communities, seeking guidance from diverse sources. The Act also mandates regular reports to Congress on the museum's efforts to meet these diversity requirements.

The "More Homes on the Market Act" increases the tax exclusion for profit from the sale of a primary residence, raising it to $500,000 for single filers and $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2025. This change encourages homeowners to sell their properties, thereby increasing the availability of homes on the market.

The Midnight Rules Relief Act streamlines the congressional review process by allowing lawmakers to bundle multiple federal agency rules issued during a President’s final year into a single joint resolution of disapproval. This legislation simplifies the process for overturning "midnight rules," enabling Congress to vote on several regulations simultaneously rather than individually.

The "Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act" updates the definition of "customs waters" to align with international law, Presidential Proclamation 5928, and Presidential Proclamation 7219. It extends U.S. customs authority to include the territorial sea and contiguous zone, as permitted by international law. These changes will take effect the day after the Act is enacted.

The "Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025" amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend death benefits to retired law enforcement officers who die or are disabled from targeted attacks due to their service. The bill applies retroactively to pending matters before the Bureau of Justice Assistance, or those filed/accruing after the enactment date, with exceptions for actions against retired law enforcement officers that occurred on or after August 28, 2012.

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas by establishing programs to train healthcare providers in obstetric emergency care, provide funding for necessary equipment and workforce development, implement teleconsultation programs, and study the challenges facing rural obstetric units. The Act authorizes grants for training, equipment, and telehealth programs, and requires a study on rural maternity ward closures and patient transport patterns.

The Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act mandates the State Department to create a national registry of Korean Americans separated from family in North Korea since 1953, in order to prepare for potential family reunions. It requires the Secretary of State to include progress toward these reunions in any dialogue with North Korea, consult with South Korea, and submit annual reports to Congress on the registry's status and reunion efforts. The registry will serve as a private internal database to organize reunions and maintain information on divided families, including those who may have passed away.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 expands milk options available to students in the National School Lunch Program by allowing schools to offer organic or non-organic whole milk. This legislation provides greater flexibility for schools in providing fluid milk choices while maintaining accommodations for students with special dietary needs. Importantly, the saturated fat content of these offered milk options will not count toward the meal's overall saturated fat limits.

The "National Plan for Epilepsy Act" aims to address the significant impact of epilepsy by establishing a comprehensive national plan for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. This act mandates the creation of an Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services, composed of federal and non-federal experts, to evaluate and improve federally funded epilepsy efforts. The council will provide recommendations to enhance coordination, diagnosis, treatment, research, and public awareness, and reduce the financial burden of epilepsy on families. Ultimately, the act seeks to improve the lives of individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers through coordinated research, improved access to care, and enhanced public awareness.

The "Doctors in our Borders Act" aims to increase the availability of medical care in underserved areas by raising the number of Conrad 30 waivers from 30 to 100 per state. These waivers allow international medical graduates to remain in the United States after completing their residency, provided they work in underserved communities. This expansion seeks to bring more doctors to areas with limited access to healthcare.

The "Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2025" aims to boost the number of physicians practicing in rural areas by establishing a new payment system to support medical resident training in those locations. This includes an "elective rural sustainability per resident payment" to hospitals training residents in rural areas and adjusts graduate medical education funding to further support rural training programs. The Act ensures that hospitals training residents in rural areas receive additional financial support, without being subject to existing program limitations, to cover the costs of training. It also includes provisions to maintain budget neutrality within Medicare's medical education spending.

The Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include alpha-gal, a sugar found in non-catarrhine primate mammals and red algae, as a major food allergen. This will require food labels to clearly identify the presence of alpha-gal. The amendment will take effect 18 months after the enactment of this Act, with an exception for mammal-derived ingredients where alpha-gal is below a detectable limit as determined by the Secretary.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility of creating a National Museum of Italian American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The commission will develop recommendations for a plan of action, including a fundraising plan to support the museum's establishment, operation, and maintenance without federal funds. The commission will submit reports to the President and Congress, and will conclude 30 days after submitting its final reports. No federal funds will be used for the commission's work.

The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 aims to enhance the safety of postal workers by funding high-security infrastructure upgrades, including electronic mailbox keys. The bill also mandates the appointment of dedicated federal prosecutors for postal crimes in every judicial district and requires stricter sentencing guidelines for those who assault or rob postal employees.