Legislative Activity

The Michelle Alyssa Go Act revises the definition of an "institution for mental diseases" under Medicaid to allow federal funding for smaller facilities. Specifically, it excludes mental health facilities with 36 beds or fewer from the IMD exclusion if they meet specific, evidence-based quality standards set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This change aims to increase access to care by making smaller, qualified treatment centers eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This Act, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, aims to speed up Medicare coverage for innovative, FDA-approved "breakthrough devices." It establishes a process for manufacturers to gain a four-year transitional coverage period for these devices, ensuring patients have timely access while long-term coverage decisions are finalized. The bill also allocates funding to CMS to manage these expedited reviews and allows for oversight of provider billing practices related to these new technologies.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It highlights the critical economic and environmental value of estuaries, which support millions of jobs and provide vital natural protection for coastal communities. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the need to protect and restore these essential ecosystems.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

The Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare (TRAVEL) Act of 2025 authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to assign existing physicians as traveling doctors to provide essential healthcare services in U.S. territories and possessions for up to one year. These traveling physicians will receive special relocation or retention bonuses in addition to their regular salary. Furthermore, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until December 31, 2032.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives opposing the implementation of the proposed Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. The House believes this model would severely undermine beneficiary access to necessary healthcare by significantly expanding prior authorization requirements in traditional Medicare. It urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to terminate the plan due to concerns over patient access and the poor track record of private entities managing these reviews.

This proposed constitutional amendment grants Congress and the states the authority to establish reasonable limits on campaign spending by candidates and outside groups to ensure fair elections. It allows for different spending regulations for individuals versus corporations or other entities. Crucially, this new power cannot be used to restrict the freedom of the press.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act expresses strong U.S. support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan, citing concerns over military influence and recent election interference. This legislation directs the President to identify and impose sanctions on Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democratic processes or committing serious human rights abuses. The Act emphasizes the need for civilian control over the military and sets an expiration date for its provisions in September 2030.

The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act establishes a new, increasing schedule of authorized appropriations for key Impact Aid programs through fiscal year 2031. This legislation specifically sets funding levels for federal property acquisition, basic payments to heavily impacted school districts, payments for children with disabilities, and construction activities. The goal is to gradually increase federal support for these essential educational services.

This bill amends current law to mandate the exclusion of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) when calculating the gross household income for eligible members of the Armed Forces. This change specifically impacts the determination of eligibility for benefits tied to the basic needs allowance. By removing the housing stipend from income calculations, the legislation aims to provide a more accurate assessment of a service member's actual financial need.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

This bill authorizes Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the nurses who served in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps during World War II to recognize their extraordinary service and sacrifice. The legislation highlights the dangerous conditions these nurses faced, often without full military status or benefits. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Expanding the VOTE Act updates language assistance requirements under the Voting Rights Act by modernizing the definition of "voting materials" to include digital information. It also establishes new state responsibilities for providing language assistance and creates a grant program to incentivize voluntary language support beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill includes special provisions for unwritten American Indian and Alaska Native languages and mandates a study on lowering thresholds for language assistance coverage.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over when this paid leave is taken, which can include early voting periods if permitted by state law. This Act prohibits employers from penalizing employees for utilizing this required voting leave.

The CHALLENGES Act aims to protect election integrity by establishing strict new requirements to prevent dishonest or bad-faith challenges to registered voters' eligibility. It mandates that individuals challenging a voter's status must provide specific, firsthand evidence and swear under oath, while also imposing criminal penalties for knowingly submitting false challenges. Furthermore, the bill requires online challenge systems to reject anonymous submissions and clearly state the prohibition against bad-faith filings.