Legislative Activity

The Stand Strong for Medicare Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include essential fall prevention items such as grab bars, non-slip mats, and shower chairs. This legislation removes the requirement for a physician's order for these specific safety items to be covered. Furthermore, payments made by Medicare for these items will be protected from automatic budget sequestration cuts.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for members of the U.S. Congress. It sets limits requiring Senators to sit out for one year after two consecutive terms and Representatives to sit out for one year after five consecutive terms. Importantly, time served filling a vacancy generally will not count toward these consecutive term totals.

The Unclaimed Retirement Rescue Plan establishes a process for pension plan administrators to transfer forgotten retirement funds to state unclaimed property programs via a national clearinghouse. Before transferring distributions of $50 or more, plans must attempt to locate the owner using databases and send a warning notice if new contact information is found. This act protects plan fiduciaries from liability for following these new transfer rules and mandates confidential reporting of all transfers to the Department of Labor.

The Dont STEAL Act ensures employees are paid at least the highest amount guaranteed by their contract or federal/state law. It strengthens the Fair Labor Standards Act by establishing new criminal penalties, including potential prison time, for employers who willfully commit wage theft exceeding $1,000. Furthermore, fines collected from these new criminal penalties will fund the Department of Labor's enforcement efforts.

The National Guard and Reserve Student Loan Fairness Act simplifies student loan forgiveness for members of the military reserves. It mandates that qualifying years of service, based on points earned toward retired pay, automatically count as qualifying payments toward Federal Direct Loan forgiveness programs. This change applies even if the borrower was not working in public service during those payment months. The Departments of Defense and Education must coordinate data to ensure these payments are counted without requiring extra paperwork from the service member.

The Protected Time Off Act establishes a federal minimum standard for earned paid annual leave, requiring employers to grant employees at least one hour of paid time off for every 25 hours worked, up to 80 hours annually. This law specifies how leave is accrued, used, and rolled over, while protecting employees from retaliation for exercising these rights. It also ensures that existing state laws or agreements that provide more generous leave benefits remain in effect. Enforcement mechanisms are established, largely mirroring those under the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing both government investigation and direct employee lawsuits.

The BIKE Act of 2025 aims to enhance bicycle safety education for students across the country. It allows states to use federal highway safety funds to provide on-bicycle safety training in elementary and secondary schools. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary to update federal safety guidelines to emphasize comprehensive on-bicycle training, traffic rules, and helmet use for young riders. The Secretary must also consult with educators and report back to Congress on the implementation of these new safety standards.

The Prevent Illegal Gun Sales Act aims to strengthen federal oversight of firearms dealers by increasing compliance inspections and imposing stricter penalties for licensing violations and poor recordkeeping that aids trafficking. The bill also grants the Attorney General new authority to deny licenses based on public safety concerns and allows for immediate license suspension upon felony conviction. Finally, it authorizes the ATF to hire additional personnel necessary to enforce these expanded regulations.

The "Don’t Settle for Bribes Act of 2025" mandates an immediate pause on all civil lawsuits against a sitting President, President-elect, or presidential candidate until their term or election status concludes. This restriction also extends to the immediate family members and certain business entities controlled by the President or their family. Furthermore, the statute of limitations for any paused lawsuit will be tolled until the presidential stay is lifted.

The New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development on the outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This legislation ensures the long-term protection of New England's offshore environment from fossil fuel extraction.

The "Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act" amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to bolster law enforcement's ability to counter transnational repression and related terrorism threats. It mandates the development of a training program for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to identify, record, and share information on transnational repression, as well as to protect potential targets and victims. The Act also calls for research and development of technology to enhance participation in these training programs and requires a report to Congress on its implementation. Transnational repression is defined as actions by a foreign government or its agents intended to coerce, harass, or threaten individuals in the U.S.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing the National Park Service's application of preservation standards for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program over the last decade. The report must analyze processing times, outcomes, and user feedback related to historic preservation certification applications. Finally, the Secretary must provide recommendations for updating the standards to better facilitate affordable housing development and address modern challenges.

The Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act of 2025 officially adds Rhode Island as a member state to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This legislative change increases the total number of council members from 21 to 23. The Act ensures Rhode Island fishermen have representation in regional fishery management decisions.

The No Invading Allies Act strictly prohibits the President from using U.S. Armed Forces to invade or occupy territory belonging to Canada, Panama, or Greenland. Any military action against these nations requires prior authorization via a Congressional declaration of war, specific authorization, or in response to an immediate attack on the U.S. or its forces. Furthermore, the bill limits the expenditure of funds for such actions, reinforcing U.S. commitments to international rules and alliances.

This bill officially establishes "Golden Sea Bream" as an acceptable market name for the fish species *Stenotomus chrysops*. This change allows seafood sellers to use this common name on product labels without violating federal food labeling laws. Essentially, it provides a specific, approved alternative name for this particular fish.

The TRUST in Congress Act mandates that members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children place covered investments, such as securities and commodities, into qualified blind trusts within a specified timeframe. These trusts must remain in place until 180 days after the member leaves office, ensuring that investment decisions are made without the member's knowledge or influence. Members must certify their compliance or declare the absence of covered investments, with these certifications being made public. An exception is provided for spouses or dependent children whose primary income is derived from a covered investment.