Legislative Activity

The "Don't Penalize Victims Act" amends the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure disaster victims are not penalized for receiving assistance from multiple sources. This change removes the clause that previously prevented individuals from receiving disaster relief if they had already received assistance from other sources. The goal is to allow victims to fully recover without fear of losing aid due to assistance from charities, private insurance, or other aid programs.

The "Innovative FEED Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to regulate zootechnical animal food substances—additives that affect digestion or gut health, but are not intended to treat animal diseases. It classifies these substances as food additives, requiring FDA approval based on safety and intended effect, with specific labeling requirements. The FDA retains authority over approval and can reject substances that do not achieve their intended effect. This act does not authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require the use of any zootechnical food substance or food additive.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the "Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building." It also mandates that any reference to this facility in U.S. records will reflect this new designation.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to include qualified military spouses as eligible for the Work Opportunity Credit, incentivizing employers to hire them. A qualified military spouse is defined as someone certified by a local agency as married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. This change applies to amounts paid and individuals starting work after the Act's enactment.

The Veterans First Act of 2025 provides $2 billion in funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs for grants to states to construct or improve veteran care facilities. This funding will support nursing homes and domiciliary facilities for veterans. The funding is offset by rescinding $2 billion from unobligated funds available to the United States Agency for International Development.

The Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025 allows individuals to exclude from their gross income any payments or benefits they receive from state-based catastrophe loss mitigation programs designed to help homeowners protect their properties from disasters such as windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. These payments will not affect the property's basis, and the exclusion is applicable retroactively for taxable years starting after December 31, 2020, allowing individuals to claim the exclusion retroactively.

The SPEED for BEAD Act amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to streamline broadband deployment grants. It renames the "Equity" program to "Expansion," allows funds for workforce development, and permits removal of high-cost locations from project areas. The act also prohibits certain conditions related to labor, climate change, and network management, and ensures consideration of all broadband technologies.

This bill expresses support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic, while condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, support for terrorism, and attempts to develop nuclear weapons. It affirms the right of the Iranian people to self-determination and supports continued sanctions against the current regime. The bill also calls for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Albania.

The "No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act of 2025" amends immigration law to deny entry and immigration benefits to individuals involved in the Hamas attacks against Israel beginning on October 7, 2023. It deems these individuals inadmissible to the U.S. and ineligible for immigration relief. The Act also mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide an annual report to Congress regarding the number of individuals found inadmissible or removable due to their participation in Hamas terrorism against Israel.

The TREATS Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow telehealth evaluations for prescribing certain controlled substances used in substance use disorder treatment. This removes the prior requirement for an in-person evaluation, enabling remote medical assessments via real-time audio-visual or audio-only communication, in accordance with federal and state laws. The goal of this bill is to increase access to treatment for substance use disorders.

The Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025 aims to ensure veterans filing claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are aware of accredited representatives who can assist them, potentially free of charge. It requires the VA to notify unrepresented claimants about the availability of accredited representation, maintain an accessible online tool for finding these representatives, and warn claimants about potential fees charged by unaccredited agents or attorneys. The bill also directs the VA to review and improve its regulations and processes for recognizing accredited representatives and report findings to Congress.

The "Protect and Serve Act of 2025" creates federal offenses for intentionally causing serious injury or death to law enforcement officers because of their status as officers. It sets penalties including imprisonment and fines, with increased penalties if death results or if kidnapping or attempted killing is involved. Federal prosecution requires certification from the Attorney General, based on a request from the state or if it is in the public interest to ensure substantial justice. The act defines "law enforcement officer" and "State" for the purposes of the new offenses.

The "Due Process Continuity of Care Act" aims to provide Medicaid coverage for individuals in custody awaiting charges in a medical institution, removing the existing inmate limitation on benefits. It authorizes the Secretary to award planning grants to states to support providing Medicaid assistance to eligible individuals and to prepare an application that meets specific requirements. The Act requires states to develop plans for assessing health treatment needs, increasing healthcare provider participation, and ensuring quality of care for patients in custody. It allocates $50,000,000 for these planning grants.

The "Rare Earth Magnet Security Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for the production of rare earth magnets, incentivizing domestic manufacturing. The credit offers \$20 per kilogram for magnets made in the U.S. and \$30 per kilogram if 90% of the magnet's materials are U.S.-sourced. The credit phases out after 2034 and includes restrictions on sourcing materials from non-allied foreign nations, with some temporary exceptions. The act also allows manufacturers to elect to receive direct payments from the government in lieu of the tax credit.

The "Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025" extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, providing continued financial support to states and counties with federal lands through 2026. It extends secure payments, distribution of payments, and the authority for special projects on federal land. Additionally, it extends the Resource Advisory Committee pilot program and makes several technical corrections to the original Act.

The Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act prevents Congress from imposing new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between broadcasters and the recording industry, where radio provides free publicity that boosts music sales and supports artists. The act recognizes local radio's crucial role in communities by providing news, weather updates, and public service announcements. Ultimately, this bill aims to protect local radio stations and businesses from economic harm, ensuring they can continue serving their communities without additional financial burdens.

The DRIVE Act of 2025 ensures that veteran's mileage reimbursement rate for travel to VA facilities is at least equal to the federal employee rate. It mandates the VA to pay these allowances within 90 days of a complete claim submission. This act updates outdated language to reflect these changes, aiming to provide equitable and timely compensation for veterans' travel expenses.

The "Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act" requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct an independent assessment of its claim forms to improve clarity and organization. A federally funded research center will lead the assessment, consulting with various stakeholders, and provide recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary must then implement these recommendations, where legally compliant, within a set timeframe to make the forms more user-friendly for veterans.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 expands public safety officer benefits to include deaths and disabilities caused by exposure-related cancers, presuming that certain cancers diagnosed within 15 years of service are line-of-duty injuries if the officer served for at least 5 years. It defines "exposure-related cancer" and allows for updates to the list based on medical evidence, while also permitting individuals to petition for additions. The Act also clarifies "line of duty action" and applies retroactively to claims dating back to January 1, 2020, with a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments.