Legislative Activity

The "Medicaid Empowerment Act of 2025" amends Section 1915 of the Social Security Act to extend renewal periods for specific Medicaid home and community-based services waivers and state plan amendments. This change affects subsections (c)(3), (h)(2), and (i)(7)(C) of the Act.

The National Coal Council Reestablishment Act reestablishes the National Coal Council within the Department of Energy, adhering to the regulations in place on November 19, 2021. The council will be governed by specific sections of title 5 of the United States Code, excluding section 1013.

The "Balance the Scales Act" aims to increase transparency and promote the voluntary establishment of private pension plans. It requires the Secretary of Labor to document and report on assistance provided in legal actions under ERISA, ensuring employers and Congress are informed. The Act also formally recognizes the importance of private pension plans for retirement security and encourages their growth.

The "Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act" aims to streamline the deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure by exempting certain collocation projects from extensive environmental and historical reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. This exemption applies to projects that involve mounting, installing, or modifying wireless service facilities on existing infrastructure, provided they require FCC approval. The goal is to accelerate the expansion of wireless services, including commercial mobile data, by reducing regulatory hurdles for infrastructure upgrades.

The "Beat Bad Bureaucrats Act" shields Social Security benefits from garnishment when an individual's identity is stolen and used to obtain certain Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. This protection applies to loans obtained under specific sections of the Small Business Act, particularly those related to COVID-19 relief, ensuring that identity theft victims are not penalized by having their Social Security benefits reduced to repay fraudulently obtained loans. The SBA Administrator is required to update regulations within 30 days to include instructions on reporting identity theft. This protection is contingent upon the individual reporting the identity theft to the Administrator through the procedure on the Small Business Administration's website.