Legislative Activity

The Journalist Protection Act would make it a federal crime to intentionally assault a journalist while they are newsgathering, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. The bill defines a journalist as someone who works for a news outlet or engages in newsgathering with the intent to report on events of public interest, and newsgathering as regularly collecting, preparing, or reporting news. Penalties increase if the assault results in serious bodily injury.

The "Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act" aims to improve the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and related items during airport security screening. It mandates the TSA to update its guidance in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks and ensure hygienic standards are met during additional screenings. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will audit compliance and report on screening technologies' impact on these items.

The "Right Drug Dose Now Act of 2025" aims to improve patient safety and healthcare outcomes by advancing the use of pharmacogenomics to prevent adverse drug events. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update the National Action Plan for Adverse Drug Event Prevention, provide guidance to healthcare professionals on pharmacogenomic testing, and improve electronic health record systems to better utilize pharmacogenomic information. The act also seeks to enhance the FDA's adverse event reporting system to include drug-gene interaction data and improve drug labeling. Additionally, it requires studies and recommendations on how to further integrate pharmacogenomics into healthcare practices.

The "Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act" aims to improve disaster preparedness and response by prioritizing assistance to high-risk, low-income, and environmental justice communities. It increases funding for pre-disaster mitigation, encourages climate change considerations in project planning, and establishes a central database for tracking disaster-related spending. The act also mandates community outreach to ensure vulnerable areas can access and utilize available resources for resilience and mitigation projects.