Legislative Activity

The STOP Scams Against Seniors Act amends existing law to allow federal Byrne JAG grant funds to be used by states and local governments to establish and operate elder justice task forces. These task forces will focus on combating financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting individuals aged 60 and older. The legislation also mandates detailed reporting on the task forces' activities, case outcomes, and victim support provided.

This bill establishes the **National Strategy for Combating Scams Act of 2025** to address the massive financial and personal toll of scams, which are increasingly utilizing advanced technology like AI. It mandates the FBI to form a working group with numerous federal agencies to develop a comprehensive, coordinated national strategy. This strategy will define "scam," evaluate risks, improve federal coordination, and outline plans for prevention, victim recovery, and international cooperation.

The Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 significantly increases funding authorization for the Weatherization Assistance Program through 2030. This bill also raises the maximum average cost allowed for weatherizing a single home from $6,500 to $12,000. Finally, it mandates that the Department of Energy's annual readiness report to Congress include details on how enhancement efforts impact program eligibility.

The Parental Workforce Training Act establishes a $10 million childcare grant program to support parents participating in job training. Local workforce development boards will receive competitive grants to help eligible individuals cover childcare costs while they engage in employment and training activities. This initiative aims to remove childcare barriers for parents seeking to enhance their job skills.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act officially recognizes the installation of mechanical insulation in federal buildings as a qualifying energy or water efficiency measure. This legislation defines compliant mechanical insulation as meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements and resulting in energy loss reduction. Furthermore, the Act mandates that comprehensive evaluations of federal buildings must identify these specific energy and water-saving insulation opportunities.

The College Athletics Reform Act establishes comprehensive federal standards for college athletics, primarily by securing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes and prohibiting restrictions on their ability to earn compensation or obtain professional representation. The bill also introduces new regulations for sports agents, mandates significant expansion of financial and participation data disclosure by institutions, and establishes a new Commission to study and recommend future governance structures for college sports. Finally, it amends broadcasting law to exempt certain large athletic association media agreements from antitrust scrutiny.

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 Electricity Transmission Scorecard Act mandates that major electricity transmission entities annually report detailed performance data to FERC and the EIA. This data, covering interconnection queues, project development, and system performance, will be made publicly available via an online portal. The goal is to create standardized transparency to improve accountability, reliability, and affordability across the national transmission system. FERC is also required to periodically review and update these scorecard metrics with stakeholder input.

The Grid Research and Development Act mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to modernize and standardize how electric utilities report detailed data on transmission projects, costs, and operations. This law establishes a centralized, publicly accessible data repository, managed by FERC and the EIA, to make this information searchable and machine-readable. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct research and develop a public dashboard to analyze grid expansion costs, interconnection efficiency, and overall system performance for improved affordability and planning.

This bill mandates that the FEMA Administrator administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program. It requires the immediate disbursement of obligated 2022 funds and the initiation of grant awards for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the bill calls for research and development to improve the accessibility, resiliency, and security of emergency warning systems.

The NOAA Data Preservation Act aims to ensure the uninterrupted storage of critical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data sets. This legislation restricts the Secretary of Commerce from canceling cloud storage contracts unless a comprehensive plan for seamless data transition and protection is established in collaboration with NOAA. The bill focuses on maintaining continuous access to vital environmental data.

The ROTOR Act aims to enhance aviation safety and transparency, primarily by narrowing exceptions for disabling ADS-B tracking on government aircraft and mandating that aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out must also install ADS-B In technology. The bill further requires the FAA to conduct comprehensive safety reviews of military and civilian operations in complex airspace, such as around Reagan National Airport. Finally, it mandates formal agreements for the FAA and the Department of the Army to share critical aviation safety data.

The PEARL Act establishes a three-year pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enhance its Support Canine Program. This initiative requires CBP to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them to serve as support dogs.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

The Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act mandates a comprehensive report from the State Department assessing the capacity of the U.S. Mission in Australia. This report must detail planned growth in staffing and operations through 2030, identify resource gaps, and recommend necessary funding to support key U.S. objectives and the U.S.-Australia alliance.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The VISIT USA Act mandates the transfer of $\$160$ million from unobligated balances in the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA. This funding is intended to support international tourism promotion efforts for the United States. The transfer must be completed within 30 days of the Act becoming law.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Attorney General to publicly release all unclassified Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates within 30 days of the bill becoming law. This release must include materials concerning investigations, flight logs, settlements, and internal communications, with very limited exceptions for victim privacy or active investigations. The Act strictly prohibits withholding documents due to political sensitivity or reputational harm and requires detailed justification for any redactions made.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

The RIDER Safety Act authorizes federal grants for public transit systems to hire unarmed "Transit Support Specialists." These specialists are tasked with increasing rider security through their visible presence, engaging with the public, and handling minor conflicts. Their role is to deter disruptive behavior and connect riders with necessary services, allowing law enforcement to focus on critical incidents.