Legislative Activity

This bill mandates that all advertisements for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans must clearly disclose key statistics regarding their prior authorization denial rates. Specifically, ads must include the total number of denials, the number of denials later overturned upon reconsideration, and the average time taken for those reversals. This aims to provide consumers with crucial transparency about plan utilization management practices before enrollment.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to impose new limitations on the number of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans an organization can offer under contract. Specifically, it restricts MA organizations from offering more than three MA plans unless those plans have significant differences in premiums, benefits, or cost-sharing. This measure aims to streamline the offerings available through Medicare Advantage.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to mandate the exclusion of individuals and entities who commit fraud from participating in any Federal health care program. Specifically, it requires the Secretary to exclude those convicted of certain fraud-related offenses or determined to have engaged in prohibited fraudulent activities. This ensures that those who misuse federal health programs due to financial misconduct are barred from future participation.

The Bivens Act of 2025 amends existing law to redefine the scope of civil actions that can be brought against individuals acting under federal authority. This legislation specifically revises Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes concerning such lawsuits. The core change narrows the focus of these civil actions to exclusively target persons acting under the authority of the United States.

The FRESHER Act of 2025 aims to regulate stormwater runoff from oil, gas, and mining operations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. This legislation modifies existing permit requirements and mandates a study by the Secretary of the Interior on the contamination risks associated with this runoff. The resulting report will detail measurable contamination and the susceptibility of groundwater resources to pollution from these operations.

The CLOSE Act aims to strengthen air quality regulations by removing the exemption that previously allowed for the aggregation of emissions from oil and gas sources under the Clean Air Act. Furthermore, this legislation mandates the EPA to formally list hydrogen sulfide as a hazardous air pollutant. This action will require the EPA to establish specific source categories for hydrogen sulfide emissions, including oil and gas wells.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025 amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to bring hydraulic fracturing fluid injection under federal regulation. This bill mandates that operators disclose the specific chemicals used before and after fracturing operations to the relevant state authority. Furthermore, it ensures immediate disclosure of proprietary chemical formulas to medical professionals during emergencies.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and maintain a public website for Medicare beneficiaries. This resource will allow users to easily search for healthcare providers and suppliers participating in either Medicare Advantage (MA) plans or traditional Medicare. The website must clearly identify which networks each provider belongs to.

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from using appropriated funds to automatically enroll individuals into Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It ensures that enrollment in an MA plan only occurs when an individual actively makes that choice, rather than it being the default option.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to mandate that Medicare Advantage plans must automatically reconsider any determination that denies coverage. This process will occur without requiring the enrollee to submit a formal request for reconsideration. The automatic review begins immediately upon the plan's initial denial of coverage.

This resolution expresses support for designating November as Prematurity Awareness Month to highlight the ongoing maternal and infant health crisis in the U.S. It draws attention to alarming rates of preterm birth and unacceptable racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality. The bill advocates for increased investment in research and public health programs to prevent preterm births and reduce associated risk factors.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continue to operate without interruption in fiscal year 2026 if standard appropriations are delayed. If funding lapses, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use funds from the Treasury to provide benefits and reimburse state agencies. This special funding remains in effect until full appropriations are enacted or until September 30, 2026.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025 establishes strict new standards for the use of non-deadly force by federal immigration personnel, requiring proportionality and de-escalation efforts. The bill mandates identification requirements, restricts the use of certain crowd-control equipment, and imposes new body camera and detailed reporting mandates. Furthermore, it creates affirmative duties for officers to intervene against excessive force and requires annual training on these new policies.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

This joint resolution commemorates October 2025 as Head Start Awareness Month to recognize the program's enduring positive impact. It honors Head Start's 60-year legacy of preparing over 40 million children and their families for success through comprehensive health, nutrition, and educational support. The resolution highlights the program's role in promoting long-term academic achievement and empowering parents.

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

The Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a three-year pilot program to provide a monthly, unconditional cash payment to 10,000 eligible individuals, set at the local fair market rent for a two-bedroom home. This initiative aims to study the effects of guaranteed income on financial stability, health, and overall well-being, noting that payments will not affect eligibility for other federal assistance programs. The Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the IRS and an external research organization, will manage the program and report findings to Congress within specified timelines. Congress has authorized \$495 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to fund this study.

This resolution formally honors the extraordinary life, leadership, and enduring legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall. It celebrates her groundbreaking scientific contributions to primatology and her tireless global advocacy for wildlife conservation and environmental education. The bill recognizes her founding of the Roots and Shoots program and extends sympathy to her family and colleagues.