Legislative Activity

The Chief Nimham Purple Heart Act authorizes the posthumous award of the Purple Heart to Daniel Nimham. This special recognition honors his service and injuries sustained as a Commissioned Captain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, waiving standard eligibility requirements.

This resolution expresses the Sense of Congress that medication abortion is a safe treatment approved by the FDA. It further declares that federal approval preempts state laws attempting to restrict dispensing medication abortion in person or via telehealth.

Melanie's Law establishes a federal grant program to encourage states to expand the scope of protective orders. These orders can now cover individuals related by blood or marriage to those in intimate relationships, or protect third parties related to those involved. Grants will fund training, enforcement, tracking systems, and victim services related to these expanded protective orders. The program is authorized at $200 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2036.

The No Funds for Iran War Act prohibits the use of federal funds for military action in or against Iran through the end of 2026. This ban remains in effect unless Congress formally declares war or passes a specific authorization for military force. Exceptions are made only for actions consistent with the War Powers Resolution or necessary self-defense against an imminent attack.

The REPAIR Infrastructure Act reauthorizes and amends an existing program to establish the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure (REPAIR) program, funding it with $3 billion annually from 2027 through 2031. This legislation adds new criteria focused on community access, economic mobility, and redressing historical barriers when selecting projects, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds to increase highway travel lanes. Furthermore, it expands eligibility for REPAIR-funded projects across several other major federal surface transportation grant programs.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to significantly speed up the accreditation and use of secure commercial facilities (SCIFs) by private industry. The goal is to streamline processes like construction and IT deployment to better support national security innovation and classified work. The resulting plan will propose policy changes, potential standardization, and digital tools to reduce approval timelines for industry partners.

This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit a detailed report to Congress regarding the Department of Defense's use of "other transaction authority" for prototype projects. The report must cover specific contract activity between 2020 and 2025, detailing the number of prototype awards and subsequent follow-on production contracts. Furthermore, the Secretary must assess trends, lessons learned, and provide recommendations to improve the transition from prototype to full production.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

This bill aims to ensure the consistent administration of the federal Impact Aid program by requiring the Secretary of Education to maintain the program's operational standards as they existed on January 1, 2025. The Secretary is prohibited from making discretionary changes to the program's administration unless mandated by new federal law or a court order. Furthermore, the Secretary must annually certify to Congress that the program is being administered in compliance with this established standard.

The Stop Millionaires Using Service for Kickbacks (Stop MUSK) Act aims to prevent conflicts of interest among high-level executive branch officials. It mandates that these officials must recuse themselves from decisions that could financially benefit organizations where they were employed or worked as a competitor within the four years prior to taking their current government role. This expands the look-back period to ensure greater impartiality in government decision-making.

The More Funding for COPS Act reauthorizes and increases funding for the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program. This legislation extends the authorization for this vital program for an additional five fiscal years, covering 2026 through 2030. The bill specifically increases the maximum authorized funding level to support the hiring of more community police officers.

The Hudson River Protection Act amends federal regulations concerning anchoring on the Hudson River. This legislation removes previous anchoring restrictions and grants the Coast Guard Commandant the authority to prohibit anchoring in specific river sections. Vessels are now barred from anchoring in designated areas unless that spot was an officially established anchorage ground prior to January 1, 2021.

The Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act of 2025 establishes a temporary federal tax credit for qualifying commercial truck drivers to support the supply chain. Eligible drivers who meet specific income and hour requirements can receive a credit of either \$7,500 or \$10,000, depending on their prior year's employment status. This incentive program is scheduled to expire after the 2026 tax year, though the credit amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation until then.

The Protecting Social Security Act aims to secure the future of Social Security by mandating that field offices remain open in all counties with over 150,000 residents. The bill also establishes a mechanism to ensure full benefit payments if trust funds become insolvent and creates an expedited legislative process for Congress to pass solvency measures funded by corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

The Mortgage Rate Reduction Act aims to increase housing affordability by enabling homebuyers to more easily assume existing government-backed mortgages. The bill authorizes the FHA, USDA, and VA to insure or guarantee second mortgages on properties where they already hold the primary loan. Additionally, it requires these agencies to publish a public database of all government-backed properties to improve transparency.

The Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025 mandates that cable and satellite providers issue rebates to subscribers whenever they lose access to promised programming due to contract disputes. This legislation directs the FCC to establish clear regulations and appropriate compensation amounts to protect consumers from service interruptions caused by carriage negotiations.

The Deliver Housing Now Act of 2025 aims to expand the Moving to Work demonstration program by removing the current cap on the number of participating public housing agencies. By replacing the 30-agency limit with a minimum requirement of 15, the bill allows for greater flexibility and broader participation in the program.

The Lower Grocery Prices Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive 20-year study on the rising costs of groceries for U.S. consumers. The resulting report will provide Congress with data-driven recommendations aimed at identifying and implementing strategies to lower food prices.

The Working Families Housing Tax Credit Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to incentivize the development and rehabilitation of rental housing for moderate-income households. By providing financial support for projects serving a mix of income levels, the bill aims to increase the availability of quality housing for essential workers and families. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $100 million in grants and loans to support critical infrastructure projects in rural and exurban areas connected to these housing developments.

The Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs and Drug Savings For All Act aims to lower prescription drug costs by preventing "patent thickets" that artificially extend market exclusivity. The bill establishes a legal presumption that drug patents expire concurrently with the first-issued patent unless the owner can prove the inventions are distinct. Additionally, it mandates a comprehensive USPTO review to improve examination practices and prevent the improper issuance of overlapping patents.