Legislative Activity

The Suicide Prevention Act establishes two key initiatives to combat self-harm and suicide. First, it creates a national program for real-time syndromic surveillance and tracking of self-harm behaviors across public health departments. Second, it authorizes grants for hospital emergency departments to implement comprehensive screening, immediate care, and follow-up services for patients at risk of suicide upon discharge. Both programs aim to improve data collection for targeted prevention and enhance post-crisis care coordination.

This bill aims to strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness by updating its funding authorization under existing law. It removes outdated, specific funding caps, allowing for appropriations "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the Council's mission. The legislation also renumbers and retitles a section to specifically encourage greater State involvement in addressing homelessness.

The Helping More Families Save Act establishes a pilot program to help families receiving housing assistance save money as their income increases. This program creates interest-bearing escrow accounts where the amount of any rent increase due to higher earnings is deposited. Families can access these savings after a set period or upon achieving self-sufficiency goals, without jeopardizing their eligibility for other federal aid programs.

The Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2025 significantly updates federal loan limits for property improvements and the purchase of manufactured homes, increasing caps across various categories. This legislation also introduces the ability to finance Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and grants the Secretary flexibility to periodically adjust these dollar limits. Furthermore, the Act mandates a comprehensive study by HUD on the cost-effectiveness and broader utility of factory-built housing.

The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 aims to improve pediatric drug development and research. It refines the enforcement of pediatric study requirements, especially for orphan drugs, by requiring the FDA to provide opportunities for companies to respond to noncompliance allegations and limiting required pediatric assessments for certain drugs. The Act also directs the FDA to enhance reporting on PREA enforcement and authorizes funding for pediatric research at the NIH. Finally, it requires the Comptroller General to report on the impact of these changes on rare disease drug development.