Legislative Activity

The Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act mandates an annual preventative health evaluation for veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. This comprehensive assessment will cover risks, pain management, nutrition, and the need for advanced assistive technologies, including neuromodulation devices. The VA is required to consult with specialists and manufacturers when developing implementation guidelines. Furthermore, the Secretary must report biennially to Congress on the utilization and outcomes of these evaluations and assistive technologies.

The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act mandates the public registration and timely reporting of results for all NIH-funded clinical trials. It also establishes strict diversity goals for participant recruitment based on race, ethnicity, age, and sex, requiring detailed plans to achieve representation. Furthermore, the bill authorizes a study on eliminating participant cost barriers and funds a national campaign to boost public awareness of diverse trial participation.

The Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act of 2025 aims to enhance consumer safeguards for "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) loans. It amends the Truth in Lending Act to apply specific credit card protections, such as dispute resolution rights, to these short-term installment loans. Furthermore, the bill subjects BNPL lenders to direct federal supervision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is required to issue implementing rules within one year of enactment.

The Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act reauthorizes and updates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office. This legislation solidifies the Office's role as NOAA's primary representative in the watershed, focusing its functions on coordination, education, and scientific support. The bill authorizes specific programs for integrated coastal observations, watershed education and training, and the management of coastal and living resources.

This bill mandates the President to immediately remove all United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela. This action is required unless Congress has specifically authorized the use of military force. The legislation aims to ensure that military engagement in Venezuela requires explicit Congressional approval.

The Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to combat rising antisemitism through comprehensive federal action, emphasizing evidence-based strategies consistent with democratic values. The bill establishes new offices within the DOJ and FBI to coordinate counter-efforts and improve hate crime data collection. Furthermore, it mandates specific compliance and reporting requirements for colleges regarding civil rights and prohibits partisan conditions on nonprofit security grants.

The Bridge to Summer Nutrition Act of 2025 aims to strengthen summer food assistance programs by increasing federal support for state administrative costs. Specifically, it mandates that the USDA reimburse states 90% of their monthly administrative expenses for operating summer electronic benefit transfer (EBT) programs for children. This increased funding also applies to administrative costs for regular SNAP operations.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide workers with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request flexible or stable schedules and requires employers to engage in a good-faith discussion about these requests. For covered sector employees (like retail and food service), the bill mandates 14 days' advance notice of schedules and establishes "predictability pay" for last-minute changes or split shifts. The Act also grants employees the right to 11 hours of rest between shifts, with premium pay required if this rest period is violated.

This resolution strongly condemns the antisemitic shooting attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. It expresses solidarity with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community worldwide. Furthermore, the bill reaffirms the U.S. commitment to combating all forms of religious hatred and violence.

The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act aims to strengthen protections and expand benefits for part-time and temporary employees. The legislation eliminates restrictive hours-of-service requirements for FMLA leave and prohibits discrimination based on hours worked regarding pay, benefits, and promotion opportunities. Additionally, it mandates that employers offer available work hours to existing staff before hiring new employees or contractors.

The Public Health Air Quality Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance air quality monitoring and public data access across the United States. It establishes new federal requirements for industrial facilities to monitor and report hazardous air pollutant emissions, including real-time fenceline data. The Act also mandates the deployment of hundreds of new, advanced air quality monitors in vulnerable communities to better assess compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to use improved, publicly accessible data to protect public health from industrial air pollution.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to ending pediatric HIV/AIDS globally by supporting critical prevention and treatment efforts. It emphasizes the need to close gaps in care, particularly for women and children in high-burden areas, and supports expanding access to testing, antiretroviral therapy, and new prevention methods. The bill specifically encourages continued U.S. leadership through initiatives like PEPFAR to achieve the goal of eliminating new pediatric HIV infections by 2030.

The D-BLOC Act establishes a national 10-minute time limit for trains blocking public highway-rail grade crossings, with specific exceptions for safety or emergencies. The bill mandates investigations and potential civil penalties for railroads that frequently violate this limit. Additionally, it enhances public access to reporting mechanisms by requiring railroads to establish public contact numbers and link to the federal blocked crossing portal.

The Protect Our Students Act aims to significantly enhance safety in school zones by requiring states to prioritize crash reduction efforts in these areas. This legislation mandates the Secretary of Transportation to clarify eligible safety improvements, including funding for crossing guards, traffic calming measures, and school zone audits. Furthermore, it increases the federal allocation for the Highway Safety Improvement Program to support these critical safety initiatives.

The Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a public online mapping tool within one year to identify communities disproportionately burdened by environmental, climate, health, economic, and social factors. This tool will use specific thresholds across various categories to flag census tracts needing attention. Federal agencies must then adopt this tool to prioritize funding and resources for the identified communities.

The Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025 empowers state attorneys general to file lawsuits on behalf of their residents against companies violating federal antitrust laws. This legislation strengthens consumer protections by allowing states to seek damages for anti-competitive practices under the Sherman Act.

This bill aims to bolster the U.S. bioeconomy and food system resilience by promoting innovation in edible protein production, particularly through biomanufacturing and utilizing under-utilized biomass. It establishes new research centers, prioritizes funding for alternative protein research through existing programs, and creates grant opportunities for commercial-scale production and workforce development. Ultimately, the Act seeks to secure the nation's protein supply, create economic opportunities, and maintain U.S. leadership in food technology.

The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services conduct widespread outreach to educate Medicare beneficiaries on how to authorize family caregivers to access their personal health information via 1-800-MEDICARE. The bill requires the integration of this authorization process into official Medicare resources and mandates the development of new fraud protection best practices to ensure beneficiary security. By streamlining access and providing clear guidance, this legislation aims to better support caregivers while safeguarding sensitive health data.

The Healthcare Equality and Rights for Our Heroes Act (HERO Act) establishes a new legal process allowing members of the uniformed services to sue the United States for damages resulting from medical malpractice at military treatment facilities. This act repeals existing law and creates a new exclusive remedy against the U.S. government for injuries or death caused by negligence in military healthcare. Lawsuits must be filed within 10 years of discovering the injury, and damage awards cannot be reduced by any VA benefits received.

The Restore Trust in Government Act establishes strict new federal restrictions on senior government officials and their immediate families regarding the ownership and trading of specific financial investments. Covered individuals must divest existing investments that fall under the law's definition within a set timeframe, with limited exceptions. Violators face significant financial penalties, including a 10% fee on the investment value and disgorgement of any profits earned from prohibited transactions.