Legislative Activity

The Stop the Wait Act of 2025 aims to provide faster financial and medical support to individuals with disabilities by eliminating the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits by 2030. Additionally, the bill removes the 24-month Medicare waiting period for SSDI recipients who lack access to affordable health insurance, ensuring they can access necessary medical coverage sooner.

This resolution affirms strong support for the U.S. Department of Education and its critical role in funding and protecting public K-12 schools. It emphasizes the importance of federal investment in closing opportunity gaps and ensuring civil rights protections for all students. Furthermore, the bill explicitly condemns any efforts to defund public education, dismantle the Department of Education, or divert public funds to private school vouchers.

The Access to Counsel Act ensures that U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, and valid visa holders have the right to consult with legal counsel and interested parties during secondary or deferred immigration inspections at ports of entry. The bill mandates that this access be provided within one hour of inspection and offers specific protections for permanent residents regarding the abandonment of their status. By guaranteeing this support, the legislation aims to provide individuals with meaningful advocacy and assistance during the inspection process.

The Combating International Islamophobia Act mandates the creation of an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia within the U.S. Department of State, led by a Special Envoy. This legislation requires the State Department to formally document and report on acts of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim incitement in foreign countries as part of its annual human rights and religious freedom reporting.

The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to support healthcare providers by extending Medicare payment adjustments through the end of 2025. Specifically, the bill provides a 6.62 percent payment increase for services rendered between April 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, to help practitioners adjust to evolving Medicare payment policies.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and ongoing contributions of tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies to communities across the United States through charitable activities, volunteer work, and financial support for members. It expresses the sense of Congress that these societies are a valuable support system that addresses unmet needs and generates substantial returns to the U.S. through their tax-exempt status. The bill also advocates for the continued promotion of fraternal benefit societies.

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act aims to improve pay equity, recruitment, and retention for federal firefighters by modernizing pay computation and establishing a maximum 60-hour regular workweek. Additionally, the bill ensures that regularly scheduled overtime is included in the calculation of federal retirement annuities. These measures seek to align federal firefighter compensation more closely with municipal standards and provide greater financial security for their families.

The Lunar New Year Day Act proposes designating Lunar New Year Day as an official federal legal public holiday. If passed, this legislation would amend federal law to include the holiday in the official list of observed public holidays in the United States.

This bill recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year. It acknowledges the importance of Lunar New Year for Asian Americans and others in the U.S., and expresses respect for those who celebrate it worldwide. The bill wishes all celebrants a happy and prosperous new year.

The Closing the College Hunger Gap Act aims to reduce food insecurity among students by ensuring those with the highest financial need are informed of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits. The bill requires the Department of Education to proactively notify students who qualify for federal aid about the SNAP application process. By streamlining communication between federal agencies, this legislation helps eligible students access essential nutritional support.

The Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act supports the music industry by allowing producers to immediately deduct up to $150,000 in qualified production costs per year. By extending tax benefits currently available to film and television to sound recordings, this legislation helps independent creators reduce their tax burden and reinvest in their work.

The Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025 broadens access to Head Start programs by clearly defining "public assistance" to include a wider range of federal and state support programs. This update ensures that families receiving various forms of aid, such as SNAP, SSI, and housing assistance, can more easily qualify for early childhood education services.

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025 updates tax code deductions for performing artists by allowing them to deduct essential business expenses—including agent and manager commissions—directly from their taxable income. The bill introduces an income-based phaseout for the deduction, increases the "nominal employer" threshold, and implements annual inflation adjustments to ensure the policy remains current. These changes aim to provide greater financial relief for working artists by simplifying how they account for professional costs.

The Assuring Medicare’s Promise Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by redirecting revenue from the net investment income tax directly to the program. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of this tax for high-income earners by including certain trade or business income and foreign earnings in the tax base. These measures are designed to improve the long-term financial stability of Medicare starting in 2026.

The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include all services legally authorized under a chiropractor’s state license, moving beyond the current restriction limited to manual spinal manipulation. This legislation aligns Medicare benefits with private insurance and other federal health programs to better reflect modern chiropractic practice. To provide these expanded services, chiropractors will be required to complete a one-time training program verified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the railroad track maintenance credit by increasing the per-mile tax credit to $6,100 and implementing annual inflation adjustments starting in 2026. It also extends the eligibility window for qualifying maintenance expenditures to include costs incurred through 2023. These updates aim to provide greater financial support for ongoing railroad infrastructure improvements.

The Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act mandates that military service eligibility and personnel policies be based solely on an individual's ability to meet occupational standards. It prohibits discrimination within the Armed Forces based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex, explicitly including gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. This legislation ensures equal treatment and opportunity for all service members.

The Veterans Member Business Loan Act amends the Federal Credit Union Act to include loans made to veterans within the definition of "member business loans." This change aims to expand access to capital for veteran-owned businesses by facilitating easier lending through credit unions.

The Young Americans Financial Literacy Act addresses the widespread need for improved financial education among young people aged 8 to 24. This bill authorizes funding for competitive grants to establish Centers of Excellence focused on developing and implementing research-backed financial literacy programs. These centers will create educational materials, train educators, and specifically target issues like student debt management for young adults. The goal is to improve financial well-being and stability through targeted, measurable educational interventions.