Legislative Activity

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act streamlines the process for farm workers by allowing states to establish online systems for renewing seasonal, restricted Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs). This legislation also clarifies that implements of husbandry (farm equipment) are not classified as commercial motor vehicles for licensing purposes. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and simplify CDL requirements for those in the farm-related service industries.

The Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act expedites security assistance and defense sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries that have normalized relations with Israel and cooperate against Iranian threats. This process requires a shortened 15-day congressional notification period from the President for approved transfers. Furthermore, the State Department must submit regular, public reports detailing the security strategy, threat assessments, and progress in countering Iranian proxies. Crucially, the Act ensures that these provisions do not undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

The Streamlining Foreign Military Sales Act of 2025 amends the Arms Export Control Act by significantly raising the dollar thresholds for various financial reporting and approval requirements related to U.S. foreign military sales. This legislation aims to streamline the process by adjusting these key spending limits. The changes affect numerous sections governing the sale of defense articles and services to foreign nations.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.

The **Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to establish clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets under the SEC and CFTC while strictly prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). It creates specific rules for the offering, trading, and custody of digital commodities, aiming to foster innovation through regulatory clarity. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to protect individual self-custody rights and prevent the creation of a government-controlled digital currency that could enable mass surveillance.

The BANNED in Latin America Act mandates the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy to counter Iranian and Hezbollah influence operations across Latin America. This plan must detail actions against cultural centers, restrict the activities of Iranian agents, and boost intelligence gathering on these networks. Furthermore, the strategy will outline measures to disrupt Iranian and Hezbollah media platforms and address radicalization efforts within university networks.

The Black Vulture Relief Act authorizes livestock producers and their employees to take action against black vultures that pose an imminent threat to their livestock. This permission overrides certain existing regulations but strictly prohibits the use of poison. Those who take vultures under this authority must submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once the required reporting form is made available.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" ensures that hunters and anglers can continue to use lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands and waters managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. It restricts these departments from prohibiting or regulating lead in ammunition and tackle, unless the Secretary of Interior or Agriculture determines that lead ammunition is the primary cause of a wildlife population decline in a specific area. Any ban implemented must align with state laws or be approved by the state's fish and wildlife department.

The Defend Girls Athletics Act mandates that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions must certify compliance with Executive Order 14201 regarding biological fairness in women's sports to receive federal funding. This certification must be renewed annually for K-12 districts and by July 1st for colleges and universities. Failure to comply or report results in the immediate requirement to return unobligated federal funds and ineligibility for future federal financial assistance until compliance is restored.

The Self-Insurance Protection Act clarifies that stop-loss insurance purchased by self-insured group health plans is not considered standard health insurance coverage under federal law. This ensures that these policies, which protect employers against catastrophic claims, remain available to plan sponsors. Furthermore, the Act establishes federal preemption, preventing state laws from interfering with a group health plan's ability to obtain this crucial risk protection.

The Association Health Plans Act allows broader groups of employers to band together to offer health plans under ERISA, provided they meet specific size and governance requirements. This legislation clarifies that self-employed individuals can participate in these association plans. Furthermore, it establishes modified community rating rules for setting premiums while strictly prohibiting discrimination based on health status.

This Act amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to expand access to care for injured federal workers. It formally includes Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as recognized healthcare providers under the program. This ensures federal employees can receive necessary medical services from PAs and NPs, consistent with state practice laws.

The Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025 prohibits accrediting agencies from imposing political or ideological litmus tests on institutions of higher education seeking approval. This ensures that colleges are not required to support specific partisan viewpoints to maintain accreditation or access to federal student aid programs. The bill includes specific exceptions to protect the religious freedom and mission-based requirements of faith-based institutions. Finally, it limits the Secretary of Education's authority to create new, non-statutory standards for accreditation.

The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act updates federal grants supporting high-quality charter schools by enhancing technical assistance for authorizing agencies. It establishes new educator-led experience requirements for entities receiving pre-charter planning subgrants. The bill also modifies the required allocation percentages for how state entities distribute these grant funds.

The Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act overhauls the federal recognition process for accrediting agencies, introducing stricter independence requirements, new standards focused on student success metrics like value-added earnings, and enhanced public transparency. It also updates rules for state-designated accreditors and modifies the structure and term limits for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). Finally, the bill streamlines the process for institutions wishing to change accreditors and protects the religious mission of certain institutions during accreditation reviews.

The LEDGER Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive, centralized system managed by the Secretary of the Treasury to track every expenditure made by all branches of the U.S. Government. This new system must detail exactly where federal funds are spent and how long those funds were available for obligation. The goal is to significantly enhance the traceability and transparency of government spending.

This resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a recent rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning California's motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards. Specifically, it rejects the EPA's proposed regulations covering heavy-duty vehicle emissions, warranties, maintenance, and zero-emission vehicle provisions. By disapproving the rule under the Congressional Review Act, Congress effectively nullifies the EPA's action.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding California's stringent motor vehicle and engine pollution control standards, known as the "Omnibus Low NOX Regulation." By exercising disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, this measure prevents the EPA's decision on waiving federal preemption for these California standards from taking legal effect. If passed, the EPA's rule will be entirely canceled.