Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the "Jim Kolbe Memorial Post Office." This action ensures all official records reflect the new name honoring Jim Kolbe.

The Association Health Plans Act amends federal law to allow certain groups or associations of employers to sponsor a single group health plan, treating them as a single employer for coverage purposes. This aims to expand access to health coverage by enabling broader risk pooling across different industries. The bill establishes specific criteria these associations must meet to qualify, including minimum size and operational standards. Finally, it outlines rules for setting premium rates and prohibits discrimination based on health status for plans established under this Act.

The Protect RAIL Act amends immigration law to prevent non-citizens convicted of or admitting to crimes involving the theft or tampering of goods shipped across state or international lines from entering the United States. Furthermore, this bill makes non-citizens already in the U.S. deportable if they have committed such offenses related to interstate or foreign shipments.

The Guarantee Utilization of All Reimbursements for Delivery of Veterans’ Health Care Act (GUARD Veterans Health Care Act) mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must seek reimbursement from Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for healthcare services provided to eligible veterans. Additionally, the bill strengthens the government's authority to recover costs for non-service-connected disability care from responsible third parties. It establishes strict timelines and penalties for third parties who fail to promptly process and pay these recovery claims to the VA.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, specifically targeting the sponsorship, exhibition, and gambling associated with these events. This legislation clarifies the definition of a rooster for legal purposes and bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting. Furthermore, it empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against violators, allowing for civil penalties and the potential seizure of property used to facilitate illegal animal fighting.

The Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program managed by the FAA for law enforcement to test drones equipped only with non-lethal tools during active shooter events. This initiative aims to assess the safety, training, and effectiveness of using these specialized drones to keep officers at a safer distance. Following the testing phase, the FAA must create a formal rulemaking process to allow agencies nationwide to seek approval for using these domestically manufactured, non-lethal drones.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Fiscal Commission Act establishes a bipartisan commission tasked with developing legislative recommendations to improve the nation's long-term fiscal health, aiming to reduce the national debt ratio to 100% of GDP by 2039. This Commission, composed of appointed members from both chambers of Congress and outside experts, must submit its final report and proposed legislation within a specific timeframe. The Act also creates an expedited, amendment-free process for Congress to consider and vote on any resulting "implementing bills."

The Help Hoover Dam Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to expend non-reimbursable funds from the Boulder Canyon Project account for any authorized activity related to the Hoover Dam's operation, maintenance, and capital improvements. This authority includes funds already recovered or to be recovered in the future. The Secretary must consult with specific contractors involved in the project before making expenditure decisions.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Canadian Snowbird Act creates a special visitor status for qualifying Canadian retirees, allowing them to stay in the U.S. for up to 240 days per year while maintaining their Canadian residency. This legislation also ensures that these Canadian visitors are treated as non-resident aliens for U.S. tax purposes, preventing them from being taxed like U.S. residents. The bill aims to simplify entry and tax obligations for long-term seasonal visitors from Canada.

The Hospital Adoption Education Act of 2025 aims to improve adoption awareness and support within healthcare settings. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and distribute educational resources for hospital staff regarding sensitive adoption issues. Furthermore, the Act establishes grants to fund professional development and training for care providers on patient-centered care for expectant mothers and adoptive families. The goal is to ensure objective, unbiased information is accessible where expectant parents most trust to find it.

The Unfair Tax Prevention Act amends the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) rules to specifically target certain U.S. companies connected to foreign tax systems operating outside their direct jurisdiction. These "foreign-owned extraterritorial tax regime entities" will now be automatically subject to BEAT, with specific exceptions removed and a portion of their cost of goods sold automatically treated as a base erosion benefit. This legislation aims to close loopholes related to complex, indirect foreign ownership structures.

The WOLF Act of 2025 aims to increase financial support for livestock producers affected by Mexican gray wolf depredation. This legislation mandates that farmers receive 100% of the market value for livestock killed by these wolves. Additionally, it establishes a new emergency relief program to help producers mitigate ongoing negative impacts, such as increased management costs and reduced birth rates.

The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2025 makes permanent a significant tax benefit for motorsports entertainment complexes. This legislation ensures these large venues can continue to use an accelerated 7-year recovery period for depreciating their building costs. By removing the previous expiration date, the Act provides long-term financial certainty for the industry.

The "Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act" extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for prosecuting fraud related to specific pandemic unemployment programs. It applies to violations or conspiracies under Title 18 and Title 31 of the U.S. Code and rescinds $5,000,000 from previously allocated funds to offset the budget. The changes made by this law will begin on the date of enactment.

The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 officially ratifies a major agreement to settle long-standing water rights claims for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The bill authorizes significant funding for tribal water projects, establishes dedicated trust funds for future development, and mandates the construction of the *iin b paa tuwaqatsi* pipeline to deliver Colorado River water. Finally, it confirms specific water allocations, details leasing options, and establishes limited waivers of sovereign immunity to ensure the settlement is enforceable.

The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025 revises how businesses treat research and experimental (R&E) expenditures for tax purposes. Taxpayers can now choose between immediately deducting R&E costs or amortizing them over a period of at least 60 months. This legislation also makes technical adjustments to ensure consistency between immediate deductions and claiming the research tax credit.

The Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act seeks to reinstate the previous, higher reporting thresholds for third-party payment processors issuing Form 1099-K. This means payment networks will only be required to report earnings to the IRS if a user exceeds both a \$20,000 total payment amount and 200 separate transactions in a calendar year. Furthermore, the bill applies this "de minimis" standard to backup withholding rules for these network payments starting in 2025.