Legislative Activity

The ROTOR Act mandates a comprehensive study to investigate cancer prevalence and mortality rates among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel. This research, conducted by the Defense Health Agency in partnership with the NIH and NCI, will first compare cancer rates in these service members against the general population. If elevated rates are found, a second phase will seek to identify potential toxic exposures or environmental factors linked to helicopter operations that may be causing the increased risk.

The Saving Vet Halls Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides funding to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) specifically for repairing facilities and upgrading technology. Grants are capped at $\$75,000$ or the total project cost (whichever is higher), and organizations receiving funds are ineligible to reapply for five years. The legislation authorizes $\$10$ million to support these essential improvements for VSOs.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

This bill, the National Fire Academy Reporting Act, mandates that the Administrator of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control submit an annual report to Congress. This report must detail the courses and programs offered, including attendance breakdowns by department type and firefighter status. It also requires specific reporting on course cancellations and the allocation of financial assistance and student aid.

The Fair Representation Act fundamentally reforms federal elections by mandating Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for all federal contests and restructuring how states elect their House delegations, potentially moving toward multi-member or at-large districts. It also establishes strict, nonpartisan criteria and public transparency requirements for drawing congressional district maps, banning partisan gerrymandering. The bill provides federal funding to help states implement these changes, with most new district structure rules taking effect after the 2030 census.

The PAAW Act, or Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act, prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or supporting research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs and cats. This ban specifically targets studies categorized as causing pain levels D or E according to established animal welfare standards. The prohibition takes effect 90 days after the Act is officially enacted into law.

The EACH Act of 2025 aims to ensure equal access to abortion coverage by requiring all federally funded health programs and facilities to cover abortion services. This legislation prohibits federal interference with state or private insurance coverage of abortion and repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate financial and insurance barriers to abortion care, particularly for low-income individuals relying on programs like Medicaid.

This proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate immunity from criminal prosecution for federal officials, including the President, based on their official duties. It also explicitly prohibits the President from issuing a self-pardon for any federal crimes. If ratified, these changes would take effect immediately.

This bill establishes a new State judicial threat intelligence and resource center to enhance the security of state and local judges and court staff. The center will provide training, monitor threats, standardize reporting, and create a national database for incidents against the judiciary. It also requires annual reporting to Congress on the number and severity of threats received.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly clarify that time taken off for an employee's own organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition. This ensures both private and federal sector workers receive FMLA protection for recovery from organ donation. The legislation also specifies how federal employees must substitute existing paid leave when taking FMLA time for this purpose.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.

The Supporting Military Voters Act mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of how effectively the government supports voting access for absent uniformed services members and their families. This review will analyze current ballot delivery and counting processes under existing law. Furthermore, the GAO must study actionable steps the military departments can take to improve voter registration assistance for service members. The final report detailing these findings and recommendations is due by September 30, 2027.

The Stop NOAA Closures Act places a temporary moratorium on the closure or restriction of access to any National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facilities. This freeze remains in effect until 180 days after key officials submit a required report to Congress detailing the criteria and process for any future facility changes. After the moratorium lifts, any major facility action will still require a 30-day advance notice and justification report to Congress, except in cases of immediate emergency threatening staff safety.

The Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act establishes a dedicated Veterans Advocate position within FEMA to ensure fair treatment of veterans under existing disaster relief laws. This Advocate will coordinate with veterans service organizations and promote veteran hiring within FEMA during disaster responses. The bill focuses on improving access to current assistance, not authorizing new types of aid.

The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act aims to enhance protections for Medicare beneficiaries receiving custom braces and artificial limbs. This bill ensures that payment will not be made for certain devices shipped directly to a patient without required training from a qualified practitioner. Additionally, it expands exemptions from competitive bidding for certain providers and clarifies access to replacement custom orthotic devices.

The Uncheck the Box Act prohibits political committees from automatically enrolling donors into recurring contribution plans based on pre-checked boxes or inaction. Donors must provide explicit, affirmative consent to establish any recurring donation. Furthermore, committees accepting these funds must provide clear receipts detailing future payments and easily accessible cancellation instructions.

The PRESUME Act, or Providing Radiation Exposed Servicemembers Undisputed Medical Eligibility Act, simplifies the process for veterans seeking recognition for radiation exposure during service. This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requiring veterans to provide proof of a specific, measured radiation dose to be officially classified as a radiation-exposed veteran. This change ensures that service members exposed to radiation are not denied status due to a lack of precise dosimetry records.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress by establishing comprehensive safety standards. This Act requires the Secretary of Labor to create evidence-based rules covering engineering controls, administrative procedures, required training, and paid rest breaks to prevent heat-related illness. Furthermore, the law establishes strict enforcement mechanisms, whistleblower protections, and specific timelines for the implementation of these new federal heat protection standards.

This bill amends federal law to officially include Parkinson's disease in the list of illnesses presumed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities. This addition aims to simplify the process for federal firefighters and emergency responders to qualify for related benefits when diagnosed with Parkinson's.

The State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2025 empowers individual states to design and implement their own comprehensive universal health coverage systems. States can apply for a federal waiver to bypass most existing federal health insurance rules, including major parts of the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid. In exchange for waiving federal funding, the federal government will transfer equivalent funds to the state, provided the state commits to covering at least 95% of its residents within five years and maintains budget neutrality for the federal government.