Legislative Activity

The Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 strengthens the Water Source Protection Program by expanding its scope to include adjacent non-federal lands and increasing annual funding to $30 million. This legislation enhances watershed health and water security by fostering collaborative partnerships, streamlining project implementation, and prioritizing resilience against wildfire and drought. Additionally, it establishes new safeguards to ensure forest management activities do not cause long-term degradation to watershed conditions.

The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025 authorizes the use of federal grant funds to better equip and train emergency personnel. This legislation enables first responders to purchase specialized containment devices and receive training to prevent accidental secondary exposure to fentanyl and other lethal substances.

The Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 aims to expand and accelerate the delivery of conservation technical assistance to farmers and ranchers by diversifying the certification process for third-party providers. The bill authorizes non-federal entities and state agencies to certify providers, streamlines credentialing for qualified professionals, and mandates fair payment rates. These reforms are designed to increase capacity, improve transparency, and ensure more efficient implementation of conservation practices nationwide.

The BEACH Act of 2025 strengthens coastal water safety by expanding monitoring requirements to include upstream waters and public beach access points. The bill provides $30 million in annual funding through 2029 to support these efforts and allows states to use grants to identify specific sources of contamination. Additionally, it mandates that the EPA incorporate the latest testing technologies into its guidance for state and local water quality programs.

The Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025 authorizes the EPA to provide grants to air pollution control agencies for the establishment of community-based clean air centers and the distribution of free air filtration units to vulnerable, low-income households. This program aims to protect public health during wildland fire smoke events by improving indoor air quality and providing essential educational resources.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the railroad track maintenance credit by increasing the per-mile tax credit to $6,100 and implementing annual inflation adjustments starting in 2026. It also extends the eligibility window for qualifying maintenance expenditures to include costs incurred through 2023. These updates aim to provide greater financial support for ongoing railroad infrastructure improvements.

The Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025 mandates that the VA provide hospital care and medical services to veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities residing outside the United States. The bill also modernizes the reimbursement process by requiring direct deposit options and new mobile application features for document tracking and submission. Additionally, it requires the VA to report to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these expanded services.

The Reliability for Ratepayers Act authorizes the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to establish a flexible, market-based compensation system independent of standard federal pay schedules. This change is designed to help the agency attract and retain the skilled workforce necessary to maintain reliable operations. By aligning salaries with comparable public-sector electric utilities, the bill aims to support the BPA’s mission of providing cost-effective power to consumers.

The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act establishes a $25 million grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. This initiative provides grants to eligible organizations to hire veteran peer specialists, offer 24/7 nonclinical support, and ensure veteran privacy by prohibiting the collection of personally identifying information.

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.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to health insurance by removing the 400% federal poverty level income cap for premium tax credits. It also introduces a new sliding-scale contribution formula to ensure that insurance costs remain affordable for households across all income levels. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act ensures veterans do not pay more for contraception than the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pays for the medication. Additionally, it eliminates copayments for contraceptive items if health insurance coverage is required without cost-sharing under the Public Health Service Act.

The Dental Care for Veterans Act aims to improve veterans' access to dental care by integrating it more closely with other medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill removes specific limitations and updates existing code to allow the Secretary to provide comprehensive dental care, including dentures and appliances. The implementation of these expanded benefits will be phased in over four years, prioritizing veterans based on existing eligibility criteria. Additionally, the bill makes necessary clerical updates to reflect these changes in the U.S. Code.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act proposes admitting the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union, while maintaining a reduced federal district to serve as the nation’s capital. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for the transition, including the election of congressional representatives, the transfer of local government authority, and the gradual shift of federal responsibilities to the new state. This legislation aims to grant D.C. residents full voting representation in Congress while ensuring the continued security and operation of the federal seat of government.

The Prevent Family Fire Act of 2025 establishes a federal tax credit for businesses to incentivize the retail sale of qualified safe firearm storage devices. By providing a credit of up to $400 per device, the bill aims to increase the accessibility and affordability of secure storage options to prevent unauthorized access to firearms. This credit remains available for qualifying sales through the end of 2032.