Legislative Activity

The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reform Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) practices related to wetland determinations. It clarifies standards for wetland compliance, shifts the burden of proof to the Secretary of Agriculture, and establishes an appeal process for landowners, including the right to an on-site visit and state oversight committees. The Act also mandates customer satisfaction surveys, retraining for judges, and compensation for successful appellants and prohibits the NRCS from acquiring any permanent easement.

The "Stop Stealing our Chips Act" incentivizes individuals to report export control violations, especially those involving advanced AI chips being diverted to hostile countries, by establishing a whistleblower program that offers monetary rewards for original information leading to penalties. It also protects whistleblowers from employer retaliation and ensures confidentiality, while creating a dedicated fund to support the program and compensate victims. This act aims to bolster national security by improving enforcement of export control laws through incentivized reporting and protection of whistleblowers.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. The bill revises subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) by removing "except in the case of crops and grasses used for grazing" and revises subsection (l)(1) by removing ".". This change expands the program to include crops and grasses used for grazing.

The "New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2025" amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to allow interstate shipment of meat and poultry products inspected under state programs. It authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to oversee state meat and poultry inspection programs, enforce federal requirements, and report on the status of these programs. This act overrides state laws that restrict the sale of state-inspected meat and poultry products in interstate commerce, aiming to broaden market access for state-inspected producers.

The Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to clarify and improve livestock indemnity payments. It refines indemnity provisions and mandates the Secretary to determine market value quarterly in coordination with the Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, utilizing appropriate resources.

The Returning Education to Our States Act aims to reorganize federal education programs by transferring responsibilities from the Department of Education to other departments like Interior, Defense, Treasury, and Labor. It establishes state block grant programs for early childhood, elementary, secondary, and higher education, providing states with more control over education funding. States must submit annual student data and undergo audits to ensure appropriate use of funds and compliance with federal civil rights laws. This act also addresses the procedural aspects of these transfers, including funding, reorganization plans, and personnel changes.

The "Health Tech Investment Act" aims to improve Medicare payments for algorithm-based healthcare services by creating a new technology payment classification. Starting in 2026, these services will have payment rates based on manufacturer cost submissions, with the Secretary adjusting the classification as needed. The act defines "algorithm-based healthcare service" and codifies the hospital outpatient prospective payment system for "software as a service" as of January 1, 2023.

The Rural Development Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act of 2025 codifies and enhances the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program, providing targeted support to rural hospitals through technical assistance and training. This program aims to improve the financial stability, operational efficiency, and healthcare delivery in rural areas, with a focus on preventing hospital closures and increasing access to USDA loans and grants. The Act prioritizes support for hospitals serving underserved populations and those in health professional shortage areas. It also requires annual reports to Congress on the program's effectiveness and authorizes appropriations of $2 million per year through 2029.

This resolution urges the U.S. government to formally recognize the 1994 Rwandan genocide as the "genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" and calls for the Secretary of State to use this terminology publicly. It also acknowledges the importance of recognizing the atrocities committed against other Rwandan groups, including Hutus and the Indigenous Twa community, during that period.

The MedShield Act of 2025 establishes a program led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enhance the nation's preparedness for and response to pandemics using artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. It aims to create a national medical shield by integrating public and private sector innovations to improve medical solution delivery and protect against biological threats through continuous monitoring and real-time detection. The Act requires the Secretary to develop a plan, consult with federal agencies and international partners, and submit a report to Congress detailing the plan. It also authorizes specific appropriations for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out the MedShield program.

The INFORM Act of 2025 mandates the Postal Service to submit planned nationwide service changes to the Postal Regulatory Commission for review. The Act also requires the Postal Service to post notices in affected post offices for at least 30 days, detailing the changes, timelines, impacts, and opportunities for public comment.

The "Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025" aims to improve mental health and substance use services for underserved rural populations by providing grants to telemental health provider networks. These grants will facilitate home-based telemental health services, support infrastructure improvements like broadband access, and develop quality assessment metrics. The Act allocates \$10 million per fiscal year from 2025-2029 for this program and requires regular reports to Congress on its impact.

The "Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act" amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, revising notification protocols for emergency medical services obtained by Native Americans from external providers. It mandates that the Indian Health Service be informed of emergency treatment or admission within 15 days, with exceptions for elderly or disabled individuals. This change aims to streamline the process for covering emergency care costs, ensuring parity in healthcare access for Native American communities.

This joint resolution nullifies a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The rule concerned the prohibition of creditors and consumer reporting agencies from using or sharing medical information. By disapproving the rule, this resolution prevents the regulation from taking effect.

The "Protect Our Military Families 2nd Amendment Rights Act" ensures that military members and their spouses have equal rights to receive firearms, regardless of their duty station location. It amends federal law to define residency for military families, allowing them to purchase firearms in the state where they maintain legal residence, where the member is stationed, or where the member commutes from daily to their permanent duty station. These changes will take effect 180 days after the law is enacted.

The "Traveler's Gun Rights Act" clarifies the definition of "State of residence" for firearm purchases, particularly for military personnel and those without a fixed residence. It allows active duty military members and their spouses to purchase firearms in the state of their permanent duty station or where they commute from, and individuals without a physical residence to use the location of their private mailbox or post office box. The bill also updates background check requirements to accommodate these new definitions, ensuring accurate identification of firearm transferees.

The "Avian Flu Vaccination Strategy Act" mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to create a poultry vaccination strategy against highly pathogenic avian influenza, ensuring it aligns with World Trade Organization rules. This strategy must be developed within 180 days and finalized within one year, following consultation with the United States Trade Representative.

The "PASS Act" amends the Defense Production Act of 1950, requiring increased scrutiny by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) of agricultural land transactions involving foreign entities. Specifically, CFIUS must review transactions reported by the Secretary of Agriculture and block land purchases by certain foreign persons near sensitive U.S. military sites or those that would give them control of a U.S. agricultural business. The President may waive the prohibition if it is deemed in the U.S. national interest.

The "Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act" ensures approximately 40 acres of Tribal land at the Wounded Knee Massacre site are held in restricted fee status by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. This land will be part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, protected against alienation, and used according to the Tribes' Covenant, while also prohibiting gaming activities. The Secretary of the Interior is directed to finalize all actions to enact this within 365 days.

The "Farmers Freedom Act of 2025" amends the Clean Water Act to redefine "navigable waters" and exclude "prior converted cropland" from federal oversight. It defines key terms like "abandoned," "agricultural purpose," and "prior converted cropland" to clarify which lands are exempt. The bill also prevents the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from regulating prior converted cropland under the "change in use policy."