Legislative Activity

The Naomi Schwartz and Susan Rose Safe Parking Act of 2025 amends federal law to officially designate "safe parking" as an eligible activity under the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program. This allows states to use ESG funds to operate secure overnight parking locations for individuals experiencing homelessness in vehicles. These designated sites must connect residents with re-housing services and supportive assistance to help them transition into stable housing.

The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to boost the domestic market for U.S.-grown specialty crops. The Secretary of Agriculture will award funds to eligible organizations to execute approved marketing and development projects. Recipients must provide non-Federal matching funds and adhere to strict spending guidelines monitored through annual reviews and audits.

The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard Act (SUN Act) enhances Congressional oversight of the President's domestic deployment of National Guard and reserve forces. It requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress within 15 days outlining the legal justification, goals, costs, and impact of any domestic deployment. This reporting requirement is waived only when reserve forces are deployed specifically following a Presidential declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act for a natural disaster.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The Growing Opportunities in Agriculture Act (GO Ag Act) establishes a new competitive grant program to fund the creation of innovative, high-quality agricultural education programs in high schools. These grants, limited to $100,000 per entity, are intended to develop new curricula, support work-based learning, and fund leadership training. Recipients must report annually on program performance, with a total authorization of $5 million through FY 2028.

The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act designates significant new wilderness areas and additions across California, alongside establishing protected Wild and Scenic River segments along several creeks and rivers. The bill also creates the Fox Mountain Special Management Area and two new Scenic Areas, all with specific conservation mandates. Finally, it directs studies for a new national scenic trail and improved nonmotorized recreation opportunities in designated National Forest districts.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 repeals specific prior reconciliation health provisions. This bill significantly expands eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the 400% Federal Poverty Level income cap. It also updates the subsidy calculation formula to ensure a smoother, linear adjustment of assistance across various income levels.

The EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The Don Young American Grown Act mandates that official floral and greenery decorations in high-level federal buildings, including the Executive Office of the President, State, and Defense Departments, must be grown in the United States. This requirement applies to cut flowers and greens used for official displays, excluding personal decorations. The new rule will take effect one year after the Act is signed into law.

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act establishes a new program to support local food producers and strengthen regional food security. This initiative requires the Secretary of Agriculture to fund agreements that ensure nutritious, locally sourced food is purchased and distributed widely, prioritizing small and beginning farmers. Funds must be used to buy minimally processed local products and provide technical assistance to producers. The program is backed by mandatory funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025 aims to improve the Medicare payment system for emergency air ambulance services. This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update payment rates using newly collected cost data from providers. Furthermore, it mandates the timely finalization of data collection rules and requires the GAO to study the true operating costs of air ambulance services to inform future payment adjustments.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating July 2025 as "American Grown Flower and Foliage Month." It aims to recognize the vital contributions of domestic flower and foliage growers to the U.S. economy and communities. The bill encourages consumers to actively choose and display flowers and greenery grown in the United States to support American farmers.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals an outdated ban that prevented Medicaid from making payments to certain healthcare providers. This legislation ensures that these previously prohibited entities will now be reimbursed for medical services rendered between the enactment of the original ban and the passage of this Act. In short, it restores payment eligibility and retroactively covers past services.

The Biochar Research Network Act of 2025 establishes a National Biochar Research Network, managed by the USDA, to study the real-world effectiveness of biochar across various soils and climates. This network will focus on quantifying carbon sequestration, improving crop production, and developing science-backed guidance for sustainable biochar use. The goal is to provide farmers and land managers with the data needed to boost profits while enhancing soil health and climate resilience.

The Critical Minerals Investment Tax Modernization Act of 2025 updates tax incentives for domestic mineral production. Specifically, this bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the percentage depletion rate to 22% for the mining of rare earths and scandium. This change aims to encourage investment in the extraction of these strategically important materials.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 establishes a structured process for distributing up to 2,000 additional, federally funded residency positions annually between fiscal years 2026 and 2032. This distribution prioritizes hospitals serving in underserved areas, those already training above their limit, and those committed to primary care and general surgery training. The bill also mandates a study and report by the Comptroller General on effective strategies to increase diversity within the health professional workforce.

The LEAD Act of 2025 reclassifies the export control of specific advanced, reusable unmanned aircraft systems. This legislation mandates that these covered drones be treated the same as manned aircraft systems for the purpose of implementing Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines. The goal is to separate these advanced drone technologies from stricter export controls typically applied to missile technology and launch vehicles. The President is required to update relevant export regulations within 180 days to reflect this new policy.

The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act significantly increases financial penalties for group health plans and insurance issuers that violate balance billing protections. It establishes steep fines, including up to $\$10,000$ per affected individual for serious non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill imposes severe penalties, including triple the disputed amount plus interest, for failing to make required payments promptly after an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) determination. Finally, it mandates more frequent and detailed transparency reporting on enforcement actions and violations.

This bill, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, updates the eligibility requirements for creating records of lawful admission for long-term residents. It replaces a fixed entry date with a new standard requiring applicants to have resided in the U.S. for at least seven years prior to applying. These revised provisions will take effect 60 days after the Act is enacted.

The Share Holder Allocation for Rewards to Employees Plan Act (SHARE Plan Act) establishes a new corporate tax incentive for U.S. companies that distribute a significant amount of their stock equity to employees through formal, broad-based plans. Eligible "SHARE corporations" receive a 3 percentage point reduction in their corporate income tax rate. Crucially, stock received by employees under a qualified SHARE plan is excluded from the employee's gross income for federal tax purposes. The bill sets strict requirements for plan structure, employee participation, and minimum equity distribution ratios to qualify for these benefits.