Legislative Activity

The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2025 aims to repeal specific provisions within the Affordable Care Act and related legislation that limited exceptions to the prohibition on certain physician referrals to hospitals under Medicare. This action effectively restores pre-ACA rules regarding physician referrals for hospital services. The bill focuses on modifying existing Medicare regulations concerning physician-hospital relationships.

The Baseload Reliability Protection Act prohibits owners of certain dispatchable power plants in areas facing high or elevated risk of electricity shortages from retiring those units or switching their fuel source. Owners can seek an exemption from this ban from FERC, which must grant it if continued operation causes financial hardship or if retirement does not harm grid reliability. The Department of Energy may offer financial assistance to keep essential, money-losing plants operational.

The New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the United States' readiness to combat the reintroduction of the New World screwworm, a devastating parasite of warm-blooded animals. This study, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, must assess current threat levels, sterile fly production capacity, surveillance systems, and emergency response plans. The resulting report will provide Congress with critical recommendations to strengthen national preparedness against this costly agricultural and wildlife pest.

The Visa Overstays Penalties Act significantly increases penalties for individuals who enter the country illegally or overstay their authorized visas. This legislation establishes a new violation specifically targeting nonimmigrant visa holders who remain in the U.S. for more than 10 days past their authorized status. Consequences include increased criminal penalties, up to two years in jail for repeat offenses, and substantial civil fines ranging from $\$500$ to $\$1,000$ per violation.

This resolution strongly condemns the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, and expresses solidarity with the victims and first responders. It highlights the alarming rise of antisemitism across the nation and calls for the perpetrator to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Furthermore, the bill urges immediate action to secure the border and address visa overstays.

This resolution calls upon all Americans to observe Memorial Day, 2025, as a solemn occasion to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and peace. Congress recognizes the profound debt owed to these patriots who have died defending American values globally. The bill encourages a national expression of respect, pride, and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

This bill expresses the disapproval of Congress, under the Congressional Review Act, of a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The rejected rule concerned the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the rubber tire manufacturing industry. As a result of this disapproval, the EPA's proposed standards will not take effect.

This resolution strongly condemns the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. It specifically honors the memory of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were tragically murdered while promoting peace. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of hate and ensuring the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom.

The END CELLS Act amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the introduction, possession, or transfer of unauthorized wireless communication devices in jails and prisons. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations involving contraband electronics in detention facilities. The law specifically targets actions that violate existing federal or state rules regarding such devices within correctional settings. These new rules apply to all conduct occurring after the date the Act is officially enacted.

The Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act mandates that federal agencies develop and implement a "permitting by rule" system as an alternative to slow, traditional permitting processes. This new system requires applicants to certify compliance with written standards, streamlining approval with a 180-day automatic grant deadline if the agency fails to act. Agencies retain the right to audit and enforce compliance after permits are issued, with the burden of proof shifting to the agency during appeals.

This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Sergeant Alfredo 'Freddy' Gonzalez for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. The medal will be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and ultimately presented to the Museum of South Texas History for permanent display. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with all proceeds returning to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The Supporting Our Surviving Spouses Act removes the statute of limitations for certain survivor benefit claims filed by the spouses of armed forces members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. This change allows eligible survivors to file these specific claims at any time after the law is enacted. The bill ensures that no deadline prevents these survivors from seeking entitled benefits.

This resolution strongly condemns former FBI Director James Comey for a social media post interpreted as inciting violence against President Donald J. Trump during his overseas trip. Congress demands that federal authorities investigate Comey's actions and permanently bar him from any future federal employment. The measure asserts that political violence incitement by former high-ranking officials is unacceptable and threatens national security.

The STAND Against Emerging Opioids Act aims to control the emerging threat of tianeptine by reclassifying it under federal law. This bill specifically moves tianeptine, along with its analogues, salts, and isomers, to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This scheduling change will take effect 90 days after the Act is signed into law.

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act aims to increase diversity and accessibility in medical research by funding outreach to underrepresented populations. It updates anti-kickback laws to allow sponsors to cover participant expenses and provide necessary digital health tools to encourage enrollment. Furthermore, the bill exempts up to \$2,000 annually in payments received by participants from federal income tax.

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 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 State Border Security Assistance Act establishes two new federal grant programs to support state and local efforts along the southern border. The first fund provides billions for physical barriers, surveillance technology, and border reinforcement activities. The second fund allocates resources for the investigation, prosecution, and detention of criminal non-citizens. Both programs offer reimbursement for eligible expenses dating back to January 20, 2021, and are scheduled to sunset in January 2029.

The STOP Screwworms Act mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile New World screwworm flies in high-risk areas to combat infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture must build these modular facilities within 180 days of enactment and provide annual public reports on the threat and control efforts. The bill authorizes up to $300 million to fund these necessary actions.

The Eliminating Thickets to Increase Competition Act (ETHIC Act) aims to curb anti-competitive practices by limiting the number of patents a company can assert in a single patent infringement lawsuit against drug or biological product competitors. This prevents brand-name manufacturers from overwhelming generic challengers with numerous, related patents, often referred to as "patent thickets." Specifically, it restricts plaintiffs to asserting only one patent per defined "Patent Group" in these actions.