Legislative Activity

The "Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025" authorizes the EPA Administrator to award grants to air pollution control agencies for programs that help communities prepare for and lessen the impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. It establishes Centers of Excellence for research on the public health effects of these events and directs the Administrator to conduct further research and develop interventions. The Act also creates a grant program for states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to develop and implement community plans to reduce the effects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act" expands access to in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services by allowing them to be delivered via telehealth, including designating a patient's home as a provider-based location. It broadens originating sites for telehealth services and waives geographic requirements for in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. The Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for designating a patient's home as a provider-based organization, aligning with the Hospital Without Walls program.

The "Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act" extends incentive payments for healthcare providers participating in eligible alternative payment models through 2027, with a payment rate of 3.53 percent. It also updates references to future years in the Social Security Act to align with the extension of these incentive payments.

The "Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act" aims to reform and enhance the pay, benefits, and retirement options for Federal wildland firefighters. It establishes special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and rest and recuperation leave, while also addressing health concerns like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health support. The act also ensures pay parity for Federal structural firefighters and establishes a casualty assistance program for families of firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty. Finally, it modifies retirement calculations and service credit for firefighters.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The "Federal Firefighters Families First Act" aims to improve pay equality for Federal firefighters, enhance recruitment and retention, and ensure comprehensive calculation of retirement benefits. It updates the computation of pay and annuity calculations to include additional compensation for overtime hours in regular tours of duty. The Act also directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish a maximum regular workweek for Federal firefighters, not exceeding an average of 60 hours per week. These changes will impact annuity payments for individuals who separate from service 60 days after the law's enactment.

The "Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act" directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in schools across the country. The study will assess curriculum requirements, teaching methods, materials used, and how students' knowledge and recognition of antisemitism are evaluated. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress.

The "Public Lands in Public Hands Act" restricts the federal government from transferring ownership of publicly accessible federal land to non-federal entities. Exceptions exist for transfers under 300 acres (or 5 acres if accessible by waterway) and those authorized by specific existing laws or land exchanges. This act aims to maintain public access to federal lands and prevent the government from subdividing land to circumvent these restrictions.

The "Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025" aims to improve wildlife connectivity by providing financial and technical assistance to enhance habitat in key movement areas. This will be achieved through grants to state and tribal agencies, research programs, and continued mapping efforts by the USGS. The Act prioritizes collaboration among federal, state, and tribal entities, and ensures that private property rights and existing land uses are protected. It reauthorizes funding for existing wildlife programs and establishes new initiatives to support wildlife migration and habitat conservation.

The Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 reauthorizes and improves the Water Source Protection Program by expanding project eligibility, prioritizing projects that address drought and wildfire risks, and increasing funding to \$30,000,000 annually. It also amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act to ensure forest management activities do not harm watershed health and allocates \$30,000,000 annually for implementation. This act supports watershed protection and restoration while respecting existing state and federal water laws and private property rights.

The "Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025" aims to protect first responders from secondary exposure to fentanyl and other dangerous substances. It amends existing legislation to provide first responders with the necessary training, resources, and containment devices. This will help to ensure their safety while on duty.

The BEACH Act of 2025 reauthorizes funding for state and local programs that monitor coastal recreation water quality and notify the public of potential contamination. It broadens water quality monitoring to include upstream waters and allows grant funds to identify pollution sources. The act also extends the authorization of appropriations through 2029 and requires the EPA to update guidance on water contamination testing technology.

The "Increased TSP Access Act of 2025" amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the delivery of technical assistance for conservation practices. It streamlines the certification process for third-party technical service providers (TSPs) by allowing non-Federal entities and State agencies to certify them. The Act also mandates the Secretary to establish fair payment amounts for TSP services and increases transparency regarding the use and impact of third-party providers. Ultimately, this bill aims to enhance conservation efforts by expanding the pool of qualified TSPs and improving their accessibility to agricultural producers.

The "Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025" authorizes the EPA Administrator to provide grants to air pollution control agencies, including Tribal agencies, for establishing cleaner air space programs. These programs will establish clean air centers, distribute air filtration units and replacement filters to covered households in areas at risk of wildfire smoke, and provide educational materials. Grant applicants must partner with community-based organizations and meet specific requirements for program implementation, data collection, and reporting. The act allocates $30,000,000 for the program from fiscal years 2026 through 2028.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the railroad track maintenance credit from $3,500 to $6,100, adjusting for inflation after 2025. It applies to qualified expenditures starting January 1, 2024, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Reliability for Ratepayers Act" modifies employee compensation and hiring rules at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to address retention and hiring issues. It requires the BPA administrator to create a compensation plan based on surveys of similar jobs in the electric industry, and allows the BPA to hire physicians and experts without regard to certain civil service laws. The goal is to ensure that total compensation for BPA employees is comparable to similar positions at consumer-owned utilities to attract and retain qualified staff.

The "Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025" ensures veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities can receive hospital care and medical services outside of the United States. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care that meets U.S. standards, including FDA-approved medications, and mandates direct deposit for reimbursements. The Act also directs the VA to modernize its digital services by allowing digital submission and tracking of required forms, and requires a report to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these changes.

The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act establishes a grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. Grants, up to $250,000, will be awarded to eligible entities like nonprofits and veteran service organizations to operate programs that meet specific standards, hire veteran peer specialists, and provide 24/7 mental health support. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will establish an advisory committee to set program standards and best practices. The bill allocates $25,000,000 over three years to carry out the program.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.