Legislative Activity

The Help America Run Act aims to make it easier for everyday Americans to run for office by allowing campaign funds to cover essential living expenses. Specifically, the bill permits campaign committees to use funds for necessary personal services like childcare and elder care, which helps candidates who are not independently wealthy. This change is intended to increase the diversity of candidates and ensure elected officials better reflect the general population.

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.

The Election Mail Act aims to ensure the timely and secure delivery of federal election mail through the U.S. Postal Service. It mandates same-day processing of received absentee ballots and requires the use of intelligent mail barcodes for tracking mailed ballots starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill establishes protections against operational changes that would slow election mail delivery and sets a national standard to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within seven days after the election.

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 Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 expands reproductive and fertility care for service members and veterans. Title I mandates comprehensive fertility preservation and treatment for active-duty personnel and their families. Title II formally establishes fertility treatment, counseling, and adoption assistance as covered benefits for eligible veterans through the VA. This bill aims to remove barriers and reduce financial burdens for military families seeking to start or expand their families.

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 EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals an outdated ban that prevented Medicaid from making payments to certain healthcare providers. This legislation ensures that these previously prohibited entities will now be reimbursed for medical services rendered between the enactment of the original ban and the passage of this Act. In short, it restores payment eligibility and retroactively covers past services.

The Keep USGS Strong Act ensures the continued vital scientific work of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) by exempting it from federal hiring freezes and workforce reduction mandates. This legislation recognizes the USGS's critical role in monitoring natural hazards, managing water resources, and providing essential scientific data for public safety and resource management. The bill protects current staffing levels and property leases, safeguarding the agency's ability to serve the nation.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 significantly improves the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program for military dependents. This legislation eliminates the age restriction for TYA eligibility and removes the separate premium requirement for coverage. These changes aim to provide broader and simpler healthcare access for adult children of service members.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act aims to grant qualified Tribal law enforcement officers the authority to enforce federal law within their jurisdiction under specific federal contracts or compacts. This requires Tribal officers and their departments to meet rigorous federal training and procedural standards comparable to those of Bureau of Justice Services employees. When acting under this authority, these Tribal officers will receive the same legal protections and benefits as federal law enforcement officers. The bill also mandates the Department of Justice to improve coordination and accountability for public safety efforts on tribal lands.

The Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2025 establishes two grant programs totaling \$10 million annually to boost construction and manufacturing apprenticeships. The first program funds community outreach to recruit students and connect programs with local employers, particularly in rural areas. The second program provides funds for expanded academic advising and student support services to improve program retention and completion rates. The Act also formally defines specialized apprenticeship colleges and sets reporting requirements for grant recipients.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.

This bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly clarify that time taken off for an employee's own organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition. This ensures both private and federal sector workers receive FMLA protection for recovery from organ donation. The legislation also specifies how federal employees must substitute existing paid leave when taking FMLA time for this purpose.

This proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate immunity from criminal prosecution for federal officials, including the President, based on their official duties. It also explicitly prohibits the President from issuing a self-pardon for any federal crimes. If ratified, these changes would take effect immediately.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion to recognize their crucial and heroic service as the only all-Black unit defending the D-Day invasion in Normandy. The medal will be struck by the Treasury and ultimately deposited with the Smithsonian Institution for public display. The Act also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds returning to the U.S. Mint fund.

The EACH Act of 2025 aims to ensure equal access to abortion coverage by requiring all federally funded health programs and facilities to cover abortion services. This legislation prohibits federal interference with state or private insurance coverage of abortion and repeals Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate financial and insurance barriers to abortion care, particularly for low-income individuals relying on programs like Medicaid.

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025 incentivizes the construction of new housing near public transit by awarding extra points on federal capital investment grants. These extra points are given to applicants whose jurisdictions have adopted "pro-housing policies," such as reducing parking minimums or streamlining approval processes for multi-family housing. The Secretary must consult with HUD to ensure these local policies are expected to result in measurable increases in housing, particularly for low-income residents.

The Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act establishes a new grant program to help food hubs increase market access for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The bill also introduces an "Agriculture Hub Credit" tax incentive to encourage related spending. Furthermore, it strengthens civil rights accountability for USDA employees, grants new equitable relief powers to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, shifts the burden of proof in agency appeals, and creates an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson.

The Right to FDA-Approved Medicines Act guarantees individuals the right to obtain and receive information about medicines already approved by the FDA. This law preempts and overrides conflicting federal and state regulations that restrict access to or the provision of these approved drugs by healthcare providers. It establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, allowing both the Attorney General and private citizens to sue states that violate these protections.