Legislative Activity

The When Minutes Count for Emergency Medical Patients Act establishes a demonstration project to provide supplemental Medicare payments to ambulance services for stocking and using critical life-saving medications and blood products during severe emergencies. The bill also mandates a comprehensive report from MedPAC analyzing Medicare payments for EMS professionals and medical directors, alongside requiring HHS to issue guidance aimed at reducing excessive wait times for EMS crews handing off patients at hospitals. Overall, the legislation seeks to improve emergency care quality and supply chain reliability for essential medical resources.

The FAIR Leave Act eliminates specific time limitations on the combined family and medical leave that spouses working for the same employer can take under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This change removes restrictions on how much leave married couples can jointly use for purposes like caring for a new child or a seriously ill family member.

The Public Safety Retirees Healthcare Protection Act of 2025 aims to increase the amount of tax-free income public safety officers can receive from their government retirement plans to cover healthcare costs. Specifically, this bill doubles the current annual exclusion limit from $\$3,000$ to $\$6,000$. This increased tax benefit will apply to distributions taken in tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help law enforcement officers secure childcare during non-traditional hours. Administered by HHS, these competitive grants will fund local agencies to offer subsidies, start new facilities, or cover operational costs for officers. The program requires state agencies to apply and secure matching funds, with a sunset date of September 30, 2030.

Violet's Law mandates that federal research facilities establish procedures to place retired research animals, including dogs, cats, and primates, into new homes. These facilities must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act standards and ensure animals are certified healthy by a veterinarian before adoption. Eligible placements include registered animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or private individuals.

The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal efforts to combat poverty by updating the core goals and operational rules of the Community Services Block Grant program. The bill revises definitions, sets a specific annual funding authorization through Fiscal Year 2032, and tightens requirements for state plans and local agency governance, including mandating tripartite boards. Ultimately, these changes seek to ensure grant funds are effectively used by local entities to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals and families.

The Honoring our K9 Heroes Act establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Homeland Security to help cover medical expenses for retired Federal working dogs. Eligible non-profit organizations with a history of supporting these retired K9s can apply for funding. This initiative is authorized with $1 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to support dogs living with their former handlers.

The Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025 addresses the significant financial burden and health risks associated with diaper need for American families. This bill makes diapers a qualified expense for tax-advantaged accounts like HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs, effectively lowering the cost through pre-tax dollars. Additionally, it prohibits state and local governments from imposing retail sales or use taxes on the purchase of diapers. These measures aim to increase access to this essential item for low-income households.

The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act aims to enhance paid family leave by establishing a federal grant program to support and improve existing state-level paid leave laws. It also creates the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (IPLAN) to encourage states to standardize definitions, administration, and benefit coordination across state lines. This dual approach seeks to increase the quality of benefits for workers while simplifying compliance for employers operating in multiple states.

The Drone Espionage Act updates federal law to specifically prohibit the unauthorized taking or transmission of **video** of national defense information. This amendment modernizes existing statutes, ensuring that capturing sensitive material via video is treated the same as capturing it via photographs or negatives. The bill aims to strengthen protections against the illicit sharing of defense secrets using modern recording technology.

The Advancing Water Reuse Act establishes a new "qualifying water reuse project credit" to incentivize businesses to recycle water. This credit offers a 30% tax break on qualified investments in on-site water recycling systems or infrastructure that supports industrial or commercial water reuse. The tax incentive is designed to encourage the adoption of water conservation technologies until the end of 2032.

The Fight Fentanyl Act strengthens federal efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis by updating the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. This legislation mandates increased reporting on fentanyl investigations, sets dedicated funding levels through 2030, and expands HIDTA purposes to prioritize fentanyl interdiction. Furthermore, it requires the Attorney General to ensure sufficient prosecutorial resources are dedicated to fentanyl trafficking cases through temporary AUSA assignments.

The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act aims to strengthen federal nutrition programs for children by clarifying eligibility rules for for-profit childcare centers and mandating a comprehensive review of serious deficiency processes to ensure fairness and reduce unnecessary state-level burdens. The bill also adjusts meal reimbursement limits, updates inflation tracking for program costs, and establishes an advisory committee to drastically reduce paperwork and modernize administrative requirements for providers. These changes seek to streamline operations, improve consistency, and better support child care providers participating in federal meal programs.

The Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act of 2025 directs the CDC to gather and publicly share critical information regarding concussions and TBIs affecting public safety officers. This effort includes developing evidence-based practices for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these injuries. The resulting data will be disseminated through an updated CDC website and various outreach efforts to medical professionals, employers, and the families of officers.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act mandates the TSA to develop and regularly update strict hygienic guidelines for screening breast milk, formula, and baby drinks at airport security checkpoints. These rules must be created in consultation with maternal health experts to minimize contamination risks during any necessary testing. Furthermore, the Inspector General will audit compliance with these new safety standards within one year of enactment.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to significantly advance the fight against brain tumors by increasing research funding and improving patient access to care. This legislation establishes new networks for glioblastoma research, creates a public database for tracking biospecimens, and launches a national awareness campaign about clinical trials. Furthermore, the Act funds pilot programs to improve long-term care for survivors and directs the FDA to ensure brain tumor patients are not unfairly excluded from relevant clinical trials.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal criminal penalties for the intentional sharing of both real and digitally forged nonconsensual intimate images, with stricter penalties for images involving minors. It mandates that covered online platforms create a clear process for victims to request the removal of such content within 48 hours. Failure by platforms to reasonably comply with these removal requests will be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The End Kidney Deaths Act establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who make non-directed living kidney donations. Eligible donors will receive an annual \$10,000 tax credit for five consecutive years, totaling a potential \$50,000 benefit. This provision is designed to incentivize altruistic donation while ensuring the credit is not considered payment for the organ.

The Lifesaving Gear for Police Act of 2025 voids federal restrictions enacted after May 15, 2015, that limit state and local police access to surplus federal equipment, unless specifically approved by Congress. This prevents federal agencies from enforcing these unapproved rules and mandates the return of equipment previously seized under those restrictions. The bill aims to ensure local law enforcement has access to necessary federal gear.