Legislative Activity

The Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act of 2025 (ASAP Act) amends Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting in 2028. This coverage applies to FDA-cleared tests, including genomic sequencing and other equivalent diagnostic methods, designed to detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. The bill ensures these screenings are added to the list of covered medical services under Medicare.

The Fairness and Access for Immigrant Rights (FAIR) Act establishes new requirements for providing constituent services to immigration detainees. This bill mandates that detainees must have timely access to necessary privacy release forms and essential handbooks in their preferred language. Furthermore, it ensures detainees have the tools to communicate with their congressional representatives or third-party assistants, and outlines a clear process for filing complaints if these rights are violated.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

This resolution officially recognizes and supports the goals of National Rural Health Day to honor the vital role of rural communities and their healthcare providers. It acknowledges the unique challenges faced by rural residents, such as limited access to care and hospital closures. The bill expresses a commitment to advancing policies that improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in rural America.

The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.

The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act of 2025 mandates that a specific, population-based percentage of total Federal cancer research funds must be dedicated to pediatric cancer research each fiscal year starting in 2026. This required percentage will be calculated annually based on the ratio of the U.S. population under age 18 to the total U.S. population. This ensures federal research funding reflects the proportion of children affected by cancer.

The No Payola Act repeals existing Senate notification requirements concerning legal processes related to the disclosure of Senate data. Furthermore, it mandates that any Senator who received funds through a private right of action under the repealed law must return those awarded funds to the Treasury.

This bill ensures that service in specific Female Cultural Support Teams (CSTs) between 2010 and 2021 is officially recognized in military records and for veterans benefits. It mandates updating service records and requires the VA to treat this service as combat for disability claims purposes. Furthermore, the legislation requires the VA to conduct outreach regarding these benefits and mandates a study on similar unrecognized service.

The USS Frank E. Evans Act mandates the Secretary of Defense to add the names of the 74 crew members lost when the USS Frank E. Evans sank on June 3, 1969, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This action must be completed within one year of the Act becoming law. The Secretary is required to consult with relevant authorities regarding space on the Memorial Wall for these additions.

This bill ensures that all Bureau of Prisons personnel continue to receive their salaries even during periods when discretionary appropriations have lapsed. It mandates that the Treasury provide the necessary funds to cover these payments for both correctional and non-correctional staff at BOP facilities.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025 establishes strict new standards for the use of non-deadly force by federal immigration personnel, requiring proportionality and de-escalation efforts. The bill mandates identification requirements, restricts the use of certain crowd-control equipment, and imposes new body camera and detailed reporting mandates. Furthermore, it creates affirmative duties for officers to intervene against excessive force and requires annual training on these new policies.

The Home for the Brave Act of 2025 ensures that veterans' disability compensation and dependency/indemnity compensation are not counted as household income by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This change will positively affect eligibility and the calculation of housing assistance benefits for veterans and their families.

The Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2025 amends the National Flood Insurance Act to allow specific variances for elevating or floodproofing agricultural structures in special flood hazard zones under strict local conditions. This bill also directs FEMA to offer an optional umbrella insurance policy for property owners with multiple structures on the same property. These changes aim to provide flexibility for agricultural building standards while maintaining appropriate risk assessment for flood insurance premiums.

The Helping Our Heroes Act allows volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel to claim a charitable deduction for the value of their services. This deduction is set at \$20 per hour, up to 300 hours annually. The provision also permits taxpayers who do not itemize deductions to claim this specific charitable contribution.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

The FARM Act establishes the "Right to Repair" for agricultural equipment by requiring Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to provide owners and independent repair providers with necessary documentation, parts, software, and tools on fair and reasonable terms. This ensures farmers and independent mechanics can diagnose, maintain, and repair farm equipment without being solely reliant on the OEM. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these requirements, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices subject to specific civil penalties for non-compliant OEMs. The Act also includes provisions allowing circumvention of certain digital locks for repair purposes while explicitly protecting OEM trade secrets and safety/emissions compliance.

The National Fire Academy RESCUE Act ensures that fire departments are reimbursed for expenses incurred when National Fire Academy training courses are canceled due to a lapse in federal appropriations (a government shutdown). FEMA must reimburse departments for covered costs, such as travel and backfill staffing, within 90 days of receiving an itemized application following the shutdown's end. This reimbursement does not apply if the cancellation was due to reasons other than a lapse in appropriations, such as instructor illness or other emergencies.

The 21st Century Dyslexia Act formally recognizes dyslexia under federal education law by updating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) definition of specific learning disabilities. This legislation provides a clear definition of dyslexia, emphasizing unexpected reading difficulty due to phonological processing challenges. Furthermore, the Act ensures equitable access to necessary accommodations and services for all eligible children, specifically addressing disparities for low-income and English language learner students.

The Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025 ensures that states, local governments, or school districts are reimbursed for any of their own funds used to keep Head Start and Early Head Start programs operational during a lapse in federal appropriations. This legislation protects these vital early childhood education services from disruption caused by government shutdowns. By guaranteeing reimbursement, the Act encourages local entities to maintain program continuity without bearing the financial burden.