Legislative Activity

This resolution designates March as "Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month" to increase public understanding of this rare neurodegenerative disorder. It aims to honor those impacted by the disease while advocating for the increased research and funding necessary to develop effective treatments.

The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act provides a federal income tax credit of up to $1,000 for the purchase of qualified hearing aids. This credit is available to eligible taxpayers once every five years for costs not covered by insurance. The benefit is subject to specific income limitations and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to transfer ownership of the Colma Park and Ride Lot to the San Mateo County Transit District at no cost. This action officially conveys all federal rights and title to the property to the transit district upon the law's enactment.

The Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act directs a comprehensive study on the feasibility and best practices for building high-voltage electric transmission lines within existing highway and railroad rights-of-way. This initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of new transmission infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and lower consumer energy costs. The resulting report will provide Congress and stakeholders with an action plan for utilizing these corridors effectively.

The Staff Salary Schedule Improvement Act updates the payroll process for employees of the House of Representatives. While the standard pay date remains the last day of the month, this act grants the Chief Administrative Officer the authority to implement a twice-monthly or alternative pay schedule upon direction from the Committee on House Administration. This change will take effect when the House next upgrades its payroll system.

The FIREWALL Act establishes a new refundable personal income tax credit for homeowners who invest in specific disaster-resilience improvements to their primary residence. This credit covers 50% of qualified expenditures, up to a lifetime maximum of $25,000, for measures like strengthening homes against wind, seismic activity, or flooding. The goal is to incentivize homeowners in disaster-prone areas to increase property resilience and lower future disaster-related liabilities.

The Dredging Coordination Improvement Act establishes new requirements for the Secretary of the Army regarding maintenance dredging contracts. It mandates consultation with stakeholders and prioritizes dredging based on commercial navigation, emergencies, and environmental needs. The bill also sets new notification timelines for schedule changes and requires the availability of capability numbers to non-Federal sponsors.

The HEAR Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand Medicare benefits by establishing coverage for comprehensive hearing rehabilitation services. This legislation specifically amends the Social Security Act to include hearing aids as covered durable medical equipment and mandates coverage for necessary aural rehabilitation services. The goal is to ensure eligible Medicare beneficiaries receive necessary audiological assessments, appropriate hearing aids, and follow-up rehabilitation care.

The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2025 aims to improve veterans benefits for certain individuals who served in the forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts. This legislation amends existing law to expand eligibility criteria and mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs consider alternative documentation when verifying service. Furthermore, the Act requires an annual report to Congress detailing the number of applicants and approvals for these benefits.

The Weatherization Resilience and Adaptation Program Act establishes a grant program to help low-income homeowners and eligible property owners adapt their homes against increasing climate-driven hazards like floods and extreme heat. This program requires the development of new resilience and adaptation standards in consultation with NIST. Funding is authorized to support these critical upgrades, ensuring vulnerable communities can better withstand the impacts of a changing climate.

The REACT Act establishes a new FEMA program to provide technical assistance and funding to local, state, and Tribal governments to strengthen their emergency alert systems. This support focuses on improving community-level drills, clarifying operating procedures, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of public warning messages. The program aims to ensure robust, measurable, and well-understood alert capabilities across all levels of government over a ten-year period.

The AV Safety Data Act mandates that manufacturers and operators of autonomous and advanced driver-assistance vehicles submit detailed monthly reports to NHTSA regarding vehicle mileage, unplanned stops, and accidents. This new legislation requires NHTSA to make this collected data publicly accessible online in a machine-readable format within 120 days of enactment. The goal is to increase transparency and allow for public analysis of safety performance for these advanced vehicle systems.

The Resilient LEO PNT Act establishes a program for the Secretary of the Air Force to contract with commercial providers to demonstrate a resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system operating in Low Earth Orbit. This demonstration must prove the system can operate independently of GPS, resist jamming, and maintain high accuracy for users. Following a successful test, the Secretary is directed to move toward awarding a contract for full operational deployment of the proven technology.

The Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to create detailed, publicly accessible maps forecasting groundwater rise along all U.S. coasts through the year 2100. Following this mapping, the bill mandates a comprehensive two-phase study by the National Academies to assess the resulting impacts on critical infrastructure and public health. This legislation aims to provide necessary data and analysis to help coastal communities prepare for the threats posed by rising groundwater tables.

The Battery and Regenerative Braking Act expands eligibility for federal rail infrastructure and safety funding. It specifically allows commuter rail passenger transportation entities to apply for these funds. This new access is targeted toward projects focused on developing and implementing regenerative braking systems and energy storage technologies to improve energy efficiency.

The Language Access in Transit Act ensures that recipients of federal transportation funds must provide meaningful language access for individuals with limited English proficiency. This legislation mandates that organizations receiving federal aid actively take steps to help non-English speakers understand and utilize transportation services. It updates existing nondiscrimination rules to explicitly include this requirement for language accessibility.

The FARE Act establishes the Advisory Committee on Rail Electrification, tasked with identifying barriers to electrifying the nation's railroads. This committee will bring together diverse stakeholders to recommend solutions and necessary research and development. The committee's findings and recommendations will be reported regularly to Congress.

The Transit Captions Innovations Act authorizes the Department of Transportation to support the use of real-time transcription and translation technology in public transit systems. This initiative aims to improve accessibility for riders who are deaf, hard of hearing, or limited English proficient. The bill also sets specific funding authorizations through fiscal year 2031 to support these innovative language access projects.

The SAFE CROSS Act mandates a one-year study by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to evaluate the safety benefits, costs, and best practices for implementing AI-enabled sensors at railroad crossings. This research will compare AI technology against traditional safety measures like grade separations. Upon completion, the findings and recommendations will be publicly shared to guide federal, state, tribal, and local safety initiatives.

The Empty Lots to Housing Act streamlines the process for transferring federally funded, unneeded real property to local entities or qualified private developers. This transfer is contingent upon the recipient agreeing to long-term affordability requirements for the resulting housing. Specifically, at least 40% of new units must be affordable for low-income families, with a portion reserved for extremely low-income households.