Legislative Activity

The VA Work-Study Improvement Act expands approved work-study locations to include state/local government agencies and nonprofits that benefit veterans. It establishes a clear standard for the minimum hourly wage paid to participants and mandates the use of electronic timesheets. Furthermore, the bill requires the VA to annually publish detailed data regarding the work-study program's activities and participants.

The National Fire Academy RESCUE Act ensures that fire departments are reimbursed for expenses incurred when National Fire Academy training courses are canceled due to a lapse in federal appropriations (a government shutdown). FEMA must reimburse departments for covered costs, such as travel and backfill staffing, within 90 days of receiving an itemized application following the shutdown's end. This reimbursement does not apply if the cancellation was due to reasons other than a lapse in appropriations, such as instructor illness or other emergencies.

The FARM SAFE Act ensures that critical agricultural disaster assistance programs continue to operate without interruption during federal government shutdowns or lapses in appropriations. This legislation mandates that necessary Department of Agriculture employees remain on the job to administer these vital aid programs. By classifying these workers as "excepted employees," the bill prevents layoffs or furloughs that could halt disaster relief efforts for farmers.

The Firefighter Learning And Management Education (FLAME) Act establishes new notification requirements for the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration when large-scale cancellations of National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control courses occur. It mandates timely notification to Congress and affected students regarding any significant course reductions. Furthermore, the bill allows fire departments to seek reimbursement for incurred expenses if a course is cancelled for reasons other than "good cause" and requires a GAO study on the impact of these cancellations.

The Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act strengthens privacy protections for individuals receiving loans or payments from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This legislation prohibits FSA employees from sharing specific borrower data with certain government personnel unless the information is aggregated or the borrower provides voluntary consent. The Act establishes significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for intentional violations of these new privacy standards.

This bill, the National Fire Academy Reporting Act, mandates that the Administrator of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control submit an annual report to Congress. This report must detail the courses and programs offered, including attendance breakdowns by department type and firefighter status. It also requires specific reporting on course cancellations and the allocation of financial assistance and student aid.

The MIL FMLA Act significantly expands existing family and medical leave protections under the FMLA for military families and veterans. It broadens the definition of covered family relationships to include domestic partners and other close relations when caring for a service member. The bill establishes a new entitlement of up to 26 workweeks of leave for caring for a covered service member or for a service member's own serious service-related injury or illness. These changes also apply to federal civilian employees, updating definitions and leave entitlements within Title 5 of the U.S. Code.

The Deafblind DATA Act aims to establish a more accurate count of Americans who are deafblind by directing the Census Bureau to cross-reference existing survey data. This new law mandates the annual publication of a public table detailing the demographic and economic characteristics of the deafblind population by state, starting in 2026. The goal is to provide essential data to ensure these individuals receive necessary support and resources.