Legislative Activity

The Reduction of Excess Business Holding Accrual Act modifies how private foundations calculate their "excess business holdings" for tax purposes following specific employee stock buybacks. This bill allows a foundation's ownership percentage to disregard certain voting stock repurchased by a business from an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) if the foundation's total ownership remains below 49%. This provision aims to provide relief for foundations involved in these specific employee stock distribution transactions, provided certain conditions regarding the stock's disposition and the ESOP's age are met.

The GIFT Act of 2025 prohibits hospitals and other medical facilities from considering an individual's vaccination status when determining eligibility for organ transplants. This legislation amends the Social Security Act to ensure that vaccination history does not factor into organ allocation decisions. The goal is to guarantee fairness in the transplant process for all patients.

The PAGER Act aims to restrict U.S. support to the Lebanese Armed Forces unless the Secretary of State certifies that the Lebanese government has taken significant steps to counter Hezbollah's influence, prevent coordination with terrorist organizations, and ensure accountability. It also prohibits U.S. funds from supporting UN programs that aid the Lebanese armed forces or internal security forces. Additionally, the act designates Suhil Bahij Gharab as a global terrorist and requires regular reports on Hezbollah and Iranian influence within the Lebanese government.

This bill, the Moving H–2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2025, proposes transferring the administration of the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture. The transfer of responsibilities, staff, and resources will officially take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law. This legislation aims to place the oversight of agricultural worker visas under the purview of the USDA.

The Break the Chain Act significantly overhauls family-sponsored immigration by redefining "immediate relatives" to exclude parents of U.S. citizens from the top tier. It establishes new annual caps for family visas and creates a new, non-work, non-benefit nonimmigrant status (W) for parents of adult U.S. citizens. These sweeping changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025, invalidating new petitions for parents filed after enactment.

The "Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act" allows House employees to bring legal self-defense weapons into House office buildings, provided they store them in Capitol Police-operated lockers at external pedestrian entrances. The Capitol Police Board is required to install and manage these storage lockers within 180 days, enabling employees to comply with D.C. laws outside the buildings while adhering to Federal law inside. This act defines which weapons are covered and clarifies which buildings are included, excluding garages.

The FEMA for America First Act of 2025 amends the Stafford Act to restrict FEMA individual assistance to only qualified aliens, excluding asylees, refugees, and certain parolees who have not pursued permanent residency. This bill narrows the eligibility criteria for disaster relief, focusing aid on a specific subset of legal immigrants as defined by existing federal laws.

The SWIM Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $500 ($1,000 for joint returns/heads of household) for expenses related to water competency and safety lessons for minors. This includes costs for basic swimming instruction and necessary equipment, with equipment expenses limited to $100 per item. The lessons must focus on water safety and competency, not competitive swimming. This change applies to taxable years starting after the Act's enactment.

The U.S. Citrus Protection Act prohibits the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit from China into the United States. This ban will take effect 90 days after the enactment of the Act.

The Women's Protection in Telehealth Act amends the Social Security Act to exclude individuals or entities from Medicare if they provide abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth. To be eligible for Medicare, a physician must physically examine the patient, be present during the drug's administration, and schedule an in-person follow-up within 14 days. This exclusion is permanent and not subject to standard waivers.

The ACCESS Act modifies health savings account (HSA) rules to allow contributions in place of cost-sharing reductions for certain health plans. For eligible individuals enrolled in a high-deductible health plan through an exchange, the health insurance issuer will contribute to the individual's HSA, with the government reimbursing the issuer for these payments. To ensure funds are used for healthcare, distributions from the HSA during months when contributions are received must be made via a qualified medical debit card. The Act also mandates public education on HSA contributions and appropriates funds for cost-sharing reduction payments and HSA contributions, effective for months beginning after December 31, 2025.

This bill mandates the immediate abolishment of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and prohibits the use of federal funds for its operations. It rescinds all unobligated agency funds and transfers all remaining assets and liabilities to the Secretary of State.

The Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act protects veterans from losing VA benefits due to their participation in state-approved marijuana programs. It also mandates that VA healthcare providers discuss and document cannabis use in treatment plans and authorizes them to provide professional recommendations regarding state-legal marijuana programs.

The Time of Service Act removes the expiration date for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits for all veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. By eliminating these time limitations, the bill ensures that all qualifying service members have lifelong access to their earned educational assistance.

The Modern GI Bill Act allows eligible veterans to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance to repay federal student loans instead of applying those funds toward tuition and fees. The benefit provides for direct payments to loan holders, subject to annual and monthly caps that adjust for cost-of-living increases. This legislation offers veterans greater flexibility in managing their educational debt while maintaining the core structure of their existing benefits.

The Taliban Rare Earth Minerals Sanctions Act directs the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who knowingly engages in significant transactions with Afghanistan’s rare earth mineral sector. These sanctions include blocking property interests within U.S. jurisdiction and denying entry into the United States for those involved. The legislation aims to restrict economic support for the Taliban by targeting the trade of these critical resources.

The Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025 designates approximately 34 miles of the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This legislation ensures long-term protection through cooperative management between the Secretary of the Interior and local Florida agencies, while explicitly prohibiting the use of eminent domain for land acquisition. The bill maintains existing land management practices and leverages the established Myakka River Management Coordinating Council to oversee the river's preservation.

The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include all services legally authorized under a chiropractor’s state license, moving beyond the current restriction limited to manual spinal manipulation. This legislation aligns Medicare benefits with private insurance and other federal health programs to better reflect modern chiropractic practice. To provide these expanded services, chiropractors will be required to complete a one-time training program verified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from using federal funds to conduct biological, medical, or behavioral research on dogs. This legislation aims to end taxpayer-funded experimentation on canines within federal research programs.

The Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act aims to safeguard American universities by prohibiting the employment of instructors funded by the Chinese Communist Party. Under this legislation, institutions that employ such individuals will be ineligible to receive federal funding. Colleges can regain their eligibility by demonstrating that they no longer employ CCP-funded instructors.