Legislative Activity

The Choose Medicare Act establishes a new "Medicare Part E Public Health Plan" offering comprehensive coverage, including reproductive services, available on and off the ACA exchanges. It also caps annual out-of-pocket spending for traditional Medicare Part A and B services starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill enhances marketplace subsidies by benchmarking them against Gold plans and makes enhanced cost-sharing reductions permanent. Finally, it requires employers who do not offer adequate coverage to refer employees to health insurance navigators.

The Medical Research for Our Troops Act increases the budget for the Defense Health Agency's research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E). This legislation specifically restores and increases funding for these critical defense health programs. The restored funds must be used to support all previously directed medical research programs and initiatives as outlined in prior appropriations acts.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

This resolution declares the severe lack of affordable housing a national crisis requiring urgent, coordinated action. It calls upon federal, state, and local governments, alongside private and nonprofit partners, to prioritize the production of new affordable units and the preservation of existing ones. The bill emphasizes the need for smart policies that encourage building, protect tenants, and ensure housing stability for all Americans.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 updates Medicare rules to ensure comprehensive coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. This legislation clarifies and expands the scope of telehealth coverage under Medicare for these essential services. Furthermore, it removes previous restrictions, making the expanded coverage effective retroactively to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025 reforms federal firearm background check procedures, establishing a formal petition process for buyers when the system delays a decision beyond 10 business days. This bill removes the previous 10-day time limit on background checks under the Brady Act while mandating extensive reporting from the GAO and FBI on the effectiveness and outcomes of these delayed transfers. Furthermore, the Attorney General must report on the law's impact on domestic violence victims within 150 days of enactment.

The LIHEAP Staffing Support Act establishes minimum staffing requirements for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure effective program administration. It mandates a baseline of at least 20 dedicated employees, with limits on contractor usage during normal operations. Furthermore, the bill requires an emergency staffing boost to at least 30 employees within 45 days of declaring an energy crisis.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 updates federal programs to better support and protect runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth. This legislation modernizes grant programs to ensure services are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and address critical needs like housing, education, and mental health. It also expands communication channels to include online outreach and strengthens coordination across federal agencies to combat youth homelessness and exploitation.

The Reimagining Inclusive Arts Education Act establishes a new competitive grant program to fund activities that enhance and ensure inclusive arts education for children with disabilities. These grants will support organizations in developing new teaching methods, providing professional training, and adapting materials to increase access. Priority will be given to entities serving schools already receiving Title I funding, with an authorization of $15 million across five fiscal years.

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management training by eliminating patient out-of-pocket costs and expanding the pool of qualified providers. The bill establishes a new structure for training hours, granting patients an initial block of 10 hours plus two additional hours annually. Furthermore, it mandates that the Secretary of HHS test models for covering virtual diabetes self-management training services to evaluate their impact on health outcomes and costs.

The Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act of 2025 prohibits immigration officers from the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE and CBP, from wearing any item bearing the word "police" while performing their duties. This measure aims to prevent confusion and deceptive practices related to immigration enforcement.

The Elder Pride Protection Act of 2025 establishes the ELDER Task Force within the Department of Justice to combat abuse targeting older LGBTQI+ individuals. This group is charged with studying the causes of this abuse, developing national best practices, and creating training materials for law enforcement. The Task Force must report its findings and progress to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The ADINA Act mandates that prescription and over-the-counter drugs must clearly label if they contain ingredients derived from major food allergens or gluten-containing grains. This new requirement aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency regarding potential allergens in medications. Drugs failing to include this specific warning will be considered misbranded under federal law.

The TRACE Act mandates that all newly manufactured firearms include a second, hidden serial number, either internally or visible only under infrared light. It also extends the retention period for instant criminal background check records to 180 days and requires licensed dealers to conduct regular physical inventories of their firearms. Finally, the bill removes several past budgetary limitations placed on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The True Justice Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Attorney General to significantly improve public defense services nationwide. These funds are designated for providing legal representation to indigent defendants immediately following arrest and for specialized training of defense attorneys. Congress further affirms its belief that the constitutional right to counsel must extend to all post-arrest proceedings, not just the initial trial.

The Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act of 2025 mandates that direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid must disclose the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply, provided the cost exceeds $35. This aims to increase consumer awareness of drug pricing, as current advertising practices often drive demand for expensive, newly approved medications without providing cost transparency. Failure to comply with this new disclosure requirement will result in significant civil monetary penalties.

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act aims to reform employment-based immigration by eliminating certain numerical caps for specific visa categories. This legislation amends existing law to adjust how preference statuses are allocated for these immigrant visas. The overall goal is to streamline the process for certain employment-based immigrants.

The Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through culturally competent care and resource development. These grants strictly prohibit funding for conversion therapy practices. The bill also mandates federal data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and requires a report on the needs of those in foster care.

The "Don’t Settle for Bribes Act of 2025" mandates an immediate pause on all civil lawsuits against a sitting President, President-elect, or presidential candidate until their term or election status concludes. This restriction also extends to the immediate family members and certain business entities controlled by the President or their family. Furthermore, the statute of limitations for any paused lawsuit will be tolled until the presidential stay is lifted.

The STOCK Act 2.0 significantly enhances ethics and transparency rules for federal officials by requiring timely reporting of government payments received by covered persons and their families. It expands ethics oversight to include Federal Reserve bank leaders and bans high-ranking officials from holding or trading specific assets, including cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the bill mandates that financial disclosure and transaction reports across Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary be made publicly available in searchable, accessible online databases.