Legislative Activity

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical importance of California's three public higher education systems—UC, CSU, and CCC—to the state's economy and workforce development. It highlights the massive scale of these institutions and their vital role in providing access and economic mobility for millions of students. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the United States' commitment to supporting these essential public educational pillars.

The Countering Russian Innovation and Safeguarding Individual Scientists Act of 2025 (CRISIS Act) establishes a new special immigrant pathway for highly educated Russian nationals holding doctoral degrees in critical STEM fields. This program allows up to 3,000 eligible scientists and their families annually to immigrate to the U.S. to work in their expertise, bypassing standard visa caps. The Act mandates expedited processing and rigorous security vetting for all applicants.

The ANCHOR Act directs the National Science Foundation to develop a comprehensive plan to significantly upgrade the cybersecurity and telecommunications infrastructure for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This plan must assess necessary network capabilities, identify security risks, estimate costs, and propose a funding strategy involving multiple stakeholders. The goal is to ensure research vessels have the necessary high-speed connectivity to support advanced science, crew well-being, and remote expertise.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025 significantly increases the penalty-free withdrawal limit from retirement accounts for first-time homebuyers. This legislation raises the maximum allowable distribution from $\$10,000$ to $\$50,000$. This change is designed to provide greater financial flexibility for individuals purchasing their first home, taking effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent review of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forms sent to claimants to ensure they are clear and easy to understand. The VA Secretary must hire an outside entity to assess these forms and implement recommendations for improvement within a set timeline. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

The Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025 aims to better inform veterans about their right to free representation from recognized Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) when filing initial VA claims. It mandates that the VA maintain and regularly update an accessible online tool for finding accredited representatives. Furthermore, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veteran pension payments.

This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizing its vital role in advancing U.S. science, engineering, and education since 1950. Congress acknowledges the NSF's foundational support for groundbreaking innovations, including the internet and advancements in medical technology. The bill reaffirms Congress's commitment to ensuring the NSF continues to lead in scientific discovery for decades to come.

The Chip Security Act mandates the installation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported from the United States. These requirements aim to verify chip location, prevent diversion, and protect U.S. technological leadership. The Secretary of Commerce must also study and implement additional security features to enhance export control enforcement and national security.

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to update the federal definition of a "motorcycle." The updated definition specifies that a motorcycle is a motor vehicle originally built with an engine, designed for a rider to sit astride a seat or saddle, and capable of speeds over 30 mph. This change ensures federal regulations align with a clearer, standardized description of what constitutes a motorcycle.

This bill officially renames Gravelly Point Park, located along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington County, Virginia, to the Nancy Reagan Memorial Park. The legislation ensures that all future federal documents, maps, and records will use the new designation.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 340 East 1st Street in Tustin, California, as the "Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all official government records and documents will use this new name for the specified location.

The EAGLE Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help small, local law enforcement agencies cover the costs associated with achieving or renewing official professional accreditation. This funding is specifically designated to pay for accreditation fees, on-site assessments, and related expenses from recognized organizations like CALEA. The program is funded with $10 million for Fiscal Year 2025 to support agencies with fewer than 350 employees.

The Fiscal Commission Act establishes a bipartisan commission tasked with developing legislative recommendations to improve the nation's long-term fiscal health, aiming to reduce the national debt ratio to 100% of GDP by 2039. This Commission, composed of appointed members from both chambers of Congress and outside experts, must submit its final report and proposed legislation within a specific timeframe. The Act also creates an expedited, amendment-free process for Congress to consider and vote on any resulting "implementing bills."

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help law enforcement officers secure childcare during non-traditional hours. Administered by HHS, these competitive grants will fund local agencies to offer subsidies, start new facilities, or cover operational costs for officers. The program requires state agencies to apply and secure matching funds, with a sunset date of September 30, 2030.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sharing a veteran's information with the DOJ for national background checks solely based on the appointment of a fiduciary. This bill prohibits the VA from classifying a veteran as a "mental defective" based only on an administrative finding of incompetence or the need for a fiduciary. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General if previously shared information based on fiduciary status is no longer valid.

The Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act clarifies and strengthens federal authority over emission standards for existing locomotives and engines. This legislation limits the ability of states to set their own pollution control standards for certain railroad equipment. Specifically, it expands federal preemption to cover more nonroad engines and locomotives engaged in commerce.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a recent rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Specifically, it rejects the Service's decision to list the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt as an endangered or threatened species. By disapproving the rule, Congress nullifies the listing status for this specific smelt population.

The ABC-ED Act of 2025 aims to alleviate emergency department boarding and crowding by modernizing public health data systems to track real-time hospital bed capacity. It also directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to pilot programs specifically improving emergency care for older adults and those in acute psychiatric crisis. Finally, the bill mandates a study on best practices for statewide, real-time capacity tracking systems and their impact on ER wait times.