Legislative Activity

The Protecting America’s Diplomatic Workforce Act establishes stricter transparency requirements and limitations on large-scale workforce reductions across key international agencies. It specifically overhauls the State Department's procedures for laying off Foreign Service employees, prioritizing performance and increasing required advance notice periods for all affected federal workers. Furthermore, the bill mandates extended review periods and increased congressional notification before the State Department can update its Foreign Affairs Manual.

The Expanding Access to Military Child Care Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program to address childcare shortages for military families. This initiative directs the Department of Defense to partner with existing civilian childcare providers near military installations to increase capacity and improve staff retention. The program will run until 2030, requiring regular reporting to Congress on its effectiveness in meeting the childcare needs of service members.

The Energy Circuit Riders Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to fund expert advisors, or "Circuit Riders," who will assist rural communities with energy efficiency and clean energy projects. These funded professionals will provide technical assistance on planning, financing, and implementing energy initiatives across multiple rural areas. The program aims to boost rural energy resilience while requiring annual reporting on energy savings and emission reductions.

The Global Respect Act of 2025 mandates the President to publicly identify foreign individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses against LGBTQI individuals. Those identified will be deemed inadmissible to the United States, and their visas will be subject to cancellation. The Act also requires enhanced reporting to Congress regarding the identification process and strengthens the State Department's tracking of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity abroad.

The Community Wood Facilities Assistance Act of 2025 renames and significantly updates the existing Community Wood Facilities Grant Program, increasing the applicant matching requirement to 50% and setting a maximum grant award of $5 million. The bill also modifies eligible activities to focus on forest products manufacturing and increases the total funding authorization for the program through 2030. Additionally, it makes corresponding adjustments to the Wood Innovations Grant Program to broaden its scope toward expanding forest products manufacturing.

This Act officially designates July 11th as the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide. It serves to honor the over 8,000 Bosniak victims of the 1995 massacre and condemn the genocide committed during the Bosnian War. The legislation further encourages efforts to fight genocide denial and support the territorial integrity and multi-ethnic future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This resolution celebrates the upcoming June 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague and reaffirms the United States' commitment to transatlantic security. It sets expectations for allies to significantly increase defense spending, potentially aiming for a new benchmark of 5% of GDP. Furthermore, the resolution underscores the importance of addressing Russian aggression and maintaining NATO's open-door policy for prospective members.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to the safety and well-being of refugees and displaced persons globally, recognizing the severity of the current worldwide displacement crisis. It strongly advocates for upholding U.S. legal and moral obligations by restoring and strengthening the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and full asylum protections. The measure specifically calls on federal leaders to reverse recent restrictive policies that have suspended refugee admissions and limited access to protection. Ultimately, this statement urges the U.S. to resume its leadership role in humanitarian aid and international refugee resettlement efforts.

The Jury ACCESS Act of 2025 explicitly prohibits the exclusion of citizens from serving on federal juries based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This amendment updates existing federal law to ensure equality in jury service selection. The bill ensures that all capable citizens have the right to serve, regardless of their identity.

This bill proposes the complete repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. By enacting this legislation, all existing rules and requirements established under that 2019 act will be eliminated.

The Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must ensure at least one full-service VA hospital is located within the borders of each of the 48 contiguous states. If a physical hospital is not feasible, the VA must provide comparable services through contracts with other local health care providers. The Secretary must report to Congress within one year on compliance with these new access requirements.

The International Quantum Research Exchange Act establishes a new Department of State program to foster international collaboration in quantum information science. This program will provide matching grants for joint research and support scientist exchange visits with allied nations. The Secretary of State must coordinate with relevant agencies and report annually to Congress on the program's activities and priority countries.

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2025 aims to improve Medicare coverage for diabetes training and nutrition services. It expands who can oversee training, removes patient cost-sharing for these services, and mandates testing for virtual diabetes management programs. These changes are designed to make essential diabetes self-management education more accessible and affordable for beneficiaries starting in 2027.

This bill establishes the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Response Team Grant Program to fund local and tribal teams dedicated to responding to childhood trauma. Administered by the Attorney General and HHS Secretary, these grants will support coordinated responses, build partnerships with mental health services, and provide trauma-informed training. Congress has authorized $10 million annually for this program from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2029.

The Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act aims to strengthen democracy, economic stability, and security across the seven nations of the Western Balkans. The bill codifies existing sanctions, launches new initiatives to combat corruption and bolster cybersecurity, and promotes cultural and leadership exchanges. Ultimately, it seeks to accelerate the region's integration with European and transatlantic institutions while countering malign foreign influence.

The Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act establishes a new, non-regulatory program to coordinate restoration and protection efforts across the five-state watershed. This initiative will develop a comprehensive strategy and support it through a competitive, voluntary grant program to fund projects benefiting ecology, water quality, and climate resilience. The law specifically mandates outreach to environmental justice communities and requires annual reporting to Congress on funded projects. Funding is authorized through fiscal year 2030, with at least 75% of appropriations dedicated to the grant program.

The Defense Workforce Integration Act of 2025 establishes new pathways for service members medically disqualified from service to transition directly into civilian roles within the Department of Defense. The bill also mandates the creation of a program to connect individuals ineligible for military service with opportunities in the defense industrial base. Finally, it requires the Navy to inform separating personnel about career opportunities specifically within the Military Sealift Command.

The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025 ensures that if group or individual health insurance plans cover diagnostic or supplemental breast examinations, they cannot impose any cost-sharing requirements like deductibles or copayments for those services. This means patients will receive these specific, necessary breast health tests at no out-of-pocket cost. The provisions apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This Act prohibits executive agencies from awarding contracts or grants to companies in which a "special Government employee" held a beneficial ownership stake of 5% or more on or after January 1, 2025. This restriction applies unless the individual immediately resigns from their government role and remains separated for one year following the law's enactment. Essentially, the bill aims to prevent federal funds from flowing to businesses recently or currently controlled by temporary government appointees.

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify state authority in identifying drinking water contaminants and expands eligibility for federal assistance programs. It allows states to request grants on behalf of disadvantaged communities or those facing financial hardship due to contamination. Furthermore, the legislation enables direct grant assistance for owners of private drinking water wells.