Legislative Activity

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

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 Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act establishes a presumption of service connection for specific diseases developed by veterans who served at the Pentagon Reservation between September 11 and November 19, 2001. This provision simplifies the process for these veterans to receive VA disability benefits for listed conditions like asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, linking them automatically to their toxic exposure following the 9/11 attacks. The Secretary is also empowered to add other related illnesses to this covered list.

The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025 (RESULTS Act) aims to improve Medicare payment rates for clinical lab tests by mandating the collection of more accurate, real-world payment data directly from large, independent private insurance claims databases. This legislation updates definitions, collection timelines, and calculation methods to ensure Medicare payments for widely available tests reflect current market rates. It also establishes default payment rules if sufficient private payor data cannot be secured.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends crucial federal funding for programs supporting law enforcement officers in crisis. This bill specifically reauthorizes existing support and treatment initiatives for an additional five years, running from 2025 through 2029. It ensures continued resources are available for officers needing mental health and wellness assistance.

The Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act of 2025 amends existing law to grant the Secretary of Agriculture greater flexibility in restoring disaster-damaged watersheds. This change allows the Secretary to restore areas to a condition better than pre-disaster levels if it ensures long-term watershed health. The bill focuses on proactive, improved recovery efforts following natural disasters.

The Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act ensures that certain qualified relief payments received by individuals for wildfire-related losses are excluded from their federal gross income. This provision applies to payments covering uninsured or underinsured expenses, damages, or lost wages resulting from federally declared forest or range fires. The tax exclusion is designed to prevent double benefits and is set to expire for payments received after December 31, 2032.

The PART Act aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new vehicles to have traceable identifying markers on these parts. It establishes a federal grant program to help entities stamp identifying numbers onto existing converters. Furthermore, the bill imposes strict record-keeping requirements on businesses that buy used converters and creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking stolen catalytic converters.

The Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act of 2025 updates the criteria for clinics to qualify as Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) under Medicare. This legislation revises the definition of an "urban area," setting a new population threshold of 50,000 people to determine eligibility. These changes to the location standards will take effect starting January 1, 2027.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The Quiet Communities Act of 2025 addresses the growing public health crisis caused by noise pollution by reestablishing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Noise Abatement and Control. This office will be tasked with researching noise impacts, supporting state and local noise control efforts through technical assistance and grants, and conducting a specific study on aircraft noise. The Act authorizes \$25 million annually through Fiscal Year 2030 to fund these critical national noise reduction initiatives.

The BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons issue a REAL ID-compliant photo identification card to all departing federal prisoners, valid for at least 18 months. This federal release card must be accepted for identity verification when accessing major federal benefits like Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP. Furthermore, the BOP must establish agreements with states to help former inmates use this card to obtain standard state identification. The Attorney General will also issue guidance to states on creating similar release ID programs for state prisoners.

The Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts (ASPIRE) Act establishes a new grant program managed by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund specialized workforce training in agriculture. These grants will enable eligible schools to partner with industry to develop hands-on programs, internships, and technical workshops. The goal is to enhance the agricultural workforce by ensuring training directly meets industry needs and supports worker recruitment.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal program, managed by the EPA Administrator, to assess, reduce, and prevent exposure to indoor air contaminants in all buildings, with a special focus on schools and childcare facilities. The Act mandates the creation of science-based guidelines for contaminants of concern and supports technical assistance, training, and voluntary "Healthy Building Certifications." It also directs the development of model building codes and a national assessment of air quality in educational settings to ensure healthier indoor environments nationwide.

This bill seeks to amend federal law to provide hazard pay for federal employees carrying out prescribed burns and for smokejumpers. It officially recognizes that performing prescribed burns and parachute jumping for firefighting duties involve unusual physical hardship or hazard comparable to fighting active wildfires. The Office of Personnel Management is tasked with implementing the necessary regulations to ensure this hazard pay takes effect promptly.

The Nitazene Control Act permanently classifies the entire class of highly potent synthetic opioids known as nitazenes as Schedule I controlled substances. This action aims to proactively combat the rising threat of these dangerous analogues, which are often more potent than fentanyl. By scheduling the entire chemical class, the law seeks to simplify enforcement and enhance public health protection against fatal overdoses. The Act also includes provisions to ensure ongoing, approved medical research can continue temporarily under specific conditions.

The FEMA Critical Staffing Act aims to address increased disaster frequency by immediately reinstating involuntarily separated FEMA employees who wish to return to their positions. This legislation also mandates that the FEMA Administrator must continue all existing, authorized disaster preparedness and recovery programs without making them harder to access. Specifically, the bill requires the immediate restart of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and flood mitigation assistance programs.

The Next Generation of Farmers Act of 2025 significantly lowers the minimum experience requirement for farmers and ranchers seeking direct farm real estate loans from the government. This legislation reduces the required substantial management experience from previous multi-year standards down to a minimum of one year. The Secretary of Agriculture retains discretion to accept alternative education or experience in place of direct farm management.

The Shielding Students from Wildfire Smoke Act directs the EPA to commission a comprehensive study on how K-12 schools and childcare facilities currently manage wildfire smoke exposure for children. This review will assess existing policies, identify gaps in protection, and recommend actionable strategies to Congress for improving safeguards, especially for resource-limited settings.