Legislative Activity

The Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2025 establishes two grant programs totaling \$10 million annually to boost construction and manufacturing apprenticeships. The first program funds community outreach to recruit students and connect programs with local employers, particularly in rural areas. The second program provides funds for expanded academic advising and student support services to improve program retention and completion rates. The Act also formally defines specialized apprenticeship colleges and sets reporting requirements for grant recipients.

The Streamlining Foreign Military Sales Act of 2025 amends the Arms Export Control Act by significantly raising the dollar thresholds for various financial reporting and approval requirements related to U.S. foreign military sales. This legislation aims to streamline the process by adjusting these key spending limits. The changes affect numerous sections governing the sale of defense articles and services to foreign nations.

The Small Nonprofit Retirement Security Act of 2025 allows tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to claim valuable federal retirement plan startup and auto-enrollment tax credits. Instead of receiving a refund, eligible nonprofits can apply these credits directly against their required payroll tax obligations. This measure aims to encourage small tax-exempt employers to establish retirement plans for their employees.

The Supporting Upgraded Property Projects and Lending for Yards (SUPPLY) Act establishes a new federal insurance program, managed by HUD, to specifically back second mortgages used for financing the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This legislation also directs the FHFA to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these newly insured ADU construction loans, subject to risk oversight. The goal is to increase the availability of financing for property owners looking to add secondary housing units.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 targets foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that have seized or unfairly controlled port infrastructure essential to U.S. trade access since early 2024. The bill requires the executive branch to identify this "prohibited property" and subsequently ban any associated vessels from accessing U.S. ports or receiving services. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to explicitly include the nationalization or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets by foreign nations.

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 Accelerate Revenue for Manufacturing and Sales (ARMS) Act aims to strengthen the US defense industrial base by streamlining foreign military sales. It modifies the Special Defense Acquisition Fund (SDAF) to ensure faster delivery of defense articles to allies and partners. By simplifying funding rules for the SDAF, the bill seeks to capitalize on high global demand for US defense equipment. This ultimately supports national security interests and enhances coalition readiness.

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.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and sell special commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coins will feature designs celebrating American athletes and the Games themselves. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will be directed to the respective organizing committees to help fund the events and related youth sports programs. The entire program must be conducted at no cost to the U.S. Government.

The AFIDA Improvements Act of 2025 modernizes the reporting requirements for foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by lowering the minimum reporting threshold for certain transactions. This legislation strengthens enforcement actions and mandates the sharing of critical foreign investment data with national security officials, specifically CFIUS. Furthermore, the Act requires updates to official handbooks to incorporate national security risk assessments and establishes a timeline for fully implementing electronic AFIDA disclosure systems.

The Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide direct financial assistance to producers who suffer qualified losses due to natural disasters like drought, fire, or floods. To receive payments, producers must agree to purchase Federal Crop Insurance or enroll in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the next two succeeding crop years. Payment calculations vary based on whether the producer already has existing crop insurance coverage, and strict payment limits are set based on the producer's average adjusted gross farm income.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors the essential and dangerous work performed by these skilled professionals, especially their heroic efforts in restoring power after major disasters. The day serves to recognize their service and remember those who have lost their lives performing this vital work.

The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help cover the logistical costs associated with accessing abortion services. This funding is specifically designated for travel, lodging, childcare, and other support services for individuals, but explicitly excludes payment for the procedure itself. Priority for these grants will be given to established community organizations that assist people living in states with abortion bans or heavy restrictions. The Act also includes provisions to protect grant recipients and users from state or local interference related to the funded activities.

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to increase the number of mental health professionals in high-need school districts. This funding is specifically designed to help eligible agencies recruit, hire, and retain school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Grantees must demonstrate a plan to improve student-to-provider ratios and report annually on staffing improvements and provider retention.

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 aims to combat the growing obesity epidemic, particularly among older adults, by expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy under Medicare. This bill mandates that Medicare Part D plans begin covering FDA-approved medications for obesity and weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, it requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of these new obesity treatment strategies.

The Homecare for Seniors Act expands the definition of qualified distributions from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to include certain long-term home care expenses. This allows seniors to use tax-free HSA funds for in-home assistance with at least three daily living activities, provided the care is delivered by a licensed provider. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign to inform citizens of this new tax benefit.

The PRIDE Act of 2025 aims to update the Internal Revenue Code to ensure equal treatment and inclusive language for all married couples. It extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to file amended joint tax returns following past recognition changes. Furthermore, the bill systematically replaces gendered terms like "husband," "wife," and "his" with gender-neutral language such as "spouse" and "individual" across numerous tax provisions. These changes ensure consistent, equitable application of tax law regardless of gender identity.

The Veterans Border Patrol Training Act establishes a pilot program to leverage the Department of Defense's SkillBridge program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers directly as U.S. Border Patrol agents. This initiative aims to facilitate a smooth transition for military personnel into federal law enforcement roles. The Secretary of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on the program's participation and outcomes. This pilot program is set to automatically expire five years after its commencement date.

The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act of 2025 aims to improve services and support for older adults who identify as LGBTQI. This bill establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging and mandates the creation of a National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging. Furthermore, it updates definitions, ensures eligibility for federal grants, and requires specific data collection on discrimination faced by this population in aging services.