Legislative Activity

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 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 Ban Corporate PACs Act restricts the ability of corporations to establish separate segregated funds for political purposes. Under this bill, only nonprofit corporations will be permitted to set up these political action committees. Furthermore, these funds will be prohibited from soliciting contributions from stockholders and their families. Existing non-nonprofit corporate political funds must dissolve within one year of the Act's enactment.

This resolution officially expresses the support of Congress for designating July as Disability Pride Month nationwide. It recognizes the significant contributions of people with disabilities while acknowledging ongoing discrimination. The bill encourages the public and organizations to observe the month through appropriate celebrations and by actively working to prevent exclusion.

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 Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act prioritizes federal funding for research and extension programs specifically aimed at controlling the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. This legislation ensures that developing effective tools and treatments against this pest becomes a high-priority initiative. Additionally, the Act extends the authorization for several existing high-priority agricultural research programs until 2030.

The Next Generation Farmer Act significantly lowers the experience requirement for certain farm loan applicants from three years to just one year. Furthermore, it allows the Secretary to waive this new one-year requirement for qualified beginning farmers who have relevant management experience as hired labor or who have secured a commitment from an approved mentor. This legislation aims to make federal farm loans more accessible to new agricultural producers.

The Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act establishes a new federal program dedicated to repairing and improving critical local and rural roads essential for agriculture. This program aims to enhance access to farms and agricultural facilities, reduce weight-restricted bridges, and increase the safety and resilience of rural transportation networks. Federal funding for these projects will cover up to 90 percent of the total cost.

The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 allows eligible veterans to use their existing educational assistance benefits to pay for specific exams and assessments designed to earn college credit. This provision caps the benefit usage at \$500 per covered test, including DSST and CLEP exams. Using these benefits for testing will count against the veteran's total entitlement time, calculated based on the cost of the exam.

The Supporting Upgraded Property Projects and Lending for Yards (SUPPLY) Act establishes a new federal insurance program, managed by HUD, to specifically back second mortgages used for financing the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This legislation also directs the FHFA to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these newly insured ADU construction loans, subject to risk oversight. The goal is to increase the availability of financing for property owners looking to add secondary housing units.

This bill amends federal law to officially include Parkinson's disease in the list of illnesses presumed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities. This addition aims to simplify the process for federal firefighters and emergency responders to qualify for related benefits when diagnosed with Parkinson's.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress by establishing comprehensive safety standards. This Act requires the Secretary of Labor to create evidence-based rules covering engineering controls, administrative procedures, required training, and paid rest breaks to prevent heat-related illness. Furthermore, the law establishes strict enforcement mechanisms, whistleblower protections, and specific timelines for the implementation of these new federal heat protection standards.

The CIRCLE Act aims to boost domestic recycling capacity by introducing a new, temporary federal tax credit for investments in recycling infrastructure. This credit, set at 30% of qualified investment, incentivizes modernizing facilities and increasing the supply of domestically recycled materials. The bill also enhances the definition of recyclable materials to support U.S. markets against foreign competition.

The Child Care for Working Families Act establishes comprehensive federal programs to ensure access to high-quality, affordable child care and universal preschool for young children. The legislation creates an entitlement program for child care, mandates that provider reimbursement rates cover actual costs and ensure living wages for staff, and establishes free, universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Additionally, it provides dedicated funding to stabilize childcare providers and extend the operating hours and compensation for Head Start staff.

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The Qualified to Serve Act aims to standardize and clarify medical accession standards for individuals joining the Armed Forces. It prohibits disqualification based on certain medical conditions diagnosed before age 13, provided specific conditions regarding subsequent treatment and current fitness are met. The bill also mandates formal review and national security waiver processes for medical disqualifications and requires annual reporting on disqualifications and waivers to Congress.

This bill reauthorizes key programs under the Kay Hagan Tick Act to combat vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease through 2030. It extends funding for the national strategy and regional centers focused on these illnesses. Additionally, the legislation continues enhanced support for local health departments to improve disease surveillance and response capabilities.

The CROP for Farming Act updates existing conservation programs to explicitly include climate change mitigation as a primary focus. It expands the definition of a "conservation incentive" to cover issues like reducing nitrous oxide and methane emissions. Furthermore, the bill redefines successful conservation to include measurable reductions in greenhouse gases and increases in soil carbon storage.

The Remembering Our Local Heroes Act establishes a new grant program, managed by the Secretary of the Interior, to support the building, repair, or maintenance of local memorials. This funding is available to local governments and nonprofits for structures honoring veterans, law enforcement, or firefighters. Recipients must secure matching funds for at least half of the project cost.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.