Legislative Activity

The "Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025" updates how Medicare reimburses hospitals for the costs of running nursing and allied health education programs. It broadens the definition of "reasonable costs" to include both direct and indirect expenses, regardless of whether they are incurred directly by the hospital or through related entities. The Act also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue rules implementing these changes and to refund hospitals for past cost reductions that would now be allowable. This aims to provide greater financial support for these crucial healthcare education programs.

This bill officially redesignates the site currently known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It mandates that all official U.S. records, maps, and documents be updated to reflect this new name and repeals the previous joint resolutions that established the former designation.

The "Public Health Funding Restoration Act" aims to fully fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund at $2,000,000,000 annually beginning in 2026. This will restore investments in crucial public health programs focused on preventing diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. By ensuring consistent funding, the act seeks to improve healthcare, quality of life, and preparedness for future health crises.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

This bill directs the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for permanent display within the United States Capitol. The statue is required to be acquired by the end of 2025 and installed in a publicly accessible location by December 31, 2026.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the United States as children and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Title I, the Dream Act of 2025, establishes conditional permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Title II, the American Promise Act of 2025, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to eligible individuals from TPS or DED countries. Title III outlines general provisions, such as background checks, application processes, and fee exemptions, applicable to all seeking to adjust their status under this Act.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act allows wrongly fired or dismissed veterans in civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date to be reinstated to their previous position or a similar one. It mandates executive branch agencies to report to Congress every three months on all veteran employees who were fired or dismissed and the reasons for their termination, effective until January 20, 2029. The Act relies on existing U.S. Code definitions for key terms like "veteran" and "civil service."

The "Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act" prohibits the U.S. government from recognizing Russia's claim of sovereignty over Crimea. It also prevents any federal department or agency from taking actions that could imply recognition of this claim.

The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2025 aims to bolster the cybersecurity of the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct regular risk assessments of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It also mandates annual cross-sector crisis simulation exercises to assess preparedness, identify gaps, and improve coordination in the food supply chain. These exercises will involve government and private sector entities, with reports submitted to Congress to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the agriculture and food sector. Finally, the Act authorizes $1,000,000 per fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the simulation exercises.

The "Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act" allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to complete Medicare paperwork for covering therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes, increasing access to this benefit.

This resolution condemns the Iranian regime for its ongoing human rights abuses, state-sponsored terrorism, and regional instability. It expresses strong support for the Iranian people's struggle for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic. Furthermore, the bill advocates for international accountability for the regime's crimes and calls for the protection of Iranian political refugees.

The RAISE Act of 2025 introduces a refundable tax credit for eligible teachers, offering $1,000 plus additional amounts for teachers in qualifying schools with high student poverty levels. It also increases the tax deduction for educators' expenses to $500 and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Additionally, the Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide mandatory funding to support local educational agencies that maintain or increase teacher salaries, with a portion reserved for teacher salary incentive grants. These grants can be used for various programs aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving educator skills.

The "World Language Education Assistance Program Act" aims to address the language skills crisis in America by establishing a grant program to create, improve, and implement world language and dual language programs in schools. These grants will support professional development for teachers, partnerships with community-based language schools, and innovative language immersion programs. The act prioritizes programs that demonstrate language proficiency growth, can be replicated, and have a sustainability plan, with the goal of equipping students with the language skills needed for a globalized world. The act authorizes \$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent fiscal year to carry out this section.

The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act extends the Conrad State 30 program, which allows foreign physicians to work in underserved areas of the U.S. in exchange for a waiver of certain visa requirements. It modifies requirements for foreign physicians seeking waivers, including employment protections, state waiver limits, and contract requirements. The bill also increases the number of waivers available to states and modifies immigration procedures for physicians, including allowing "dual intent" for medical graduates and clarifying national interest waivers. Finally, it requires an annual report on the Conrad State 30 J1 Visa Waiver Program.

Ethan's Law establishes federal requirements for the secure storage of firearms to prevent unauthorized access by minors and prohibited persons, making improper storage a civil violation with escalating penalties if injury or death results. The bill also creates a federal grant program to incentivize states and Tribes to adopt matching safe storage laws. Furthermore, Congress declares that failing to comply with these storage requirements constitutes negligence and may be considered the direct cause of resulting firearm injuries.

The "Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025" ensures that Coast Guard members receive equitable pay and benefits compared to other branches of the Armed Forces. During a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse, the bill guarantees continued pay for Coast Guard military members, qualified civilian and contract employees, death gratuities, funeral travel, and basic housing allowance for dependents of Coast Guard members who die on active duty. This funding continues as long as Department of Defense funding is available, up to two weeks after a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse begins. The bill affirms the Coast Guard as a military service and aims to provide financial security to its members during funding uncertainties.

The Federal Retirement Fairness Act amends title 5 of the United States Code, allowing civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, to be creditable under the Federal Employees Retirement System. This change applies to current employees and Members of the United States Postal Service, and requires the Office of Personnel Management to notify eligible individuals and issue implementing regulations.

The "New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act" aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare kidney diseases through research, education, and increased public awareness. It establishes Centers of Excellence for Rare Kidney Disease Research, directs studies on testing and treatment approaches, and promotes provider education in nephrology. The Act prioritizes addressing disparities in affected populations and seeks to delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and transplant. It authorizes appropriations for these activities from 2026 through 2030.

The "DOC Access Act of 2025" aims to enhance health care coverage under vision and dental plans by ensuring fair payment practices, protecting doctors' choices in labs and suppliers, and respecting state laws. It allows optometrists and dentists to charge their standard rate for non-covered services if the plan's payment is unreasonable, while ensuring they can only charge the contracted rate for dental cleanings. The bill also gives doctors more control over agreement extensions with limited benefit plans and allows them to opt out of certain provisions. Ultimately, this act seeks to balance federal guidelines with state oversight in regulating health insurance issuers and dental or vision benefit plans.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity as the war enters its third year. It condemns Russia’s ongoing war crimes and human rights abuses, including the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, while demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces. Furthermore, the bill insists that any path to peace must be determined by Ukraine and its allies, ensuring accountability for those responsible for atrocities.