Legislative Activity

This resolution strongly condemns the antisemitic shooting attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. It expresses solidarity with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community worldwide. Furthermore, the bill reaffirms the U.S. commitment to combating all forms of religious hatred and violence.

This bill aims to bolster the U.S. bioeconomy and food system resilience by promoting innovation in edible protein production, particularly through biomanufacturing and utilizing under-utilized biomass. It establishes new research centers, prioritizes funding for alternative protein research through existing programs, and creates grant opportunities for commercial-scale production and workforce development. Ultimately, the Act seeks to secure the nation's protein supply, create economic opportunities, and maintain U.S. leadership in food technology.

The Restore Trust in Government Act establishes strict new federal restrictions on senior government officials and their immediate families regarding the ownership and trading of specific financial investments. Covered individuals must divest existing investments that fall under the law's definition within a set timeframe, with limited exceptions. Violators face significant financial penalties, including a 10% fee on the investment value and disgorgement of any profits earned from prohibited transactions.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2025 aims to combat the significant health threat posed by human papillomavirus (HPV) and related cancers. This legislation establishes a national public awareness campaign, managed by the CDC, to increase HPV vaccination rates and combat misinformation. Additionally, it increases funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to improve screening access. The overall goal is to leverage vaccination and early detection to reduce the incidence of HPV-associated cancers.

The Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act establishes a direct payment program administered by the USDA to compensate specialty crop growers and wine producers for specific financial losses, such as those related to increased tariffs or reduced exports. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to purchase surplus crops for distribution through federal nutrition assistance programs. This assistance is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with required reporting to Congress on payments and purchases.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act officially recognizes the installation of mechanical insulation in federal buildings as a qualifying energy or water efficiency measure. This legislation defines compliant mechanical insulation as meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements and resulting in energy loss reduction. Furthermore, the Act mandates that comprehensive evaluations of federal buildings must identify these specific energy and water-saving insulation opportunities.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Safe Social Media Act mandates that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, conduct a comprehensive study on the social media usage habits and associated mental health effects among individuals under 17. This study must detail the personal information collected by platforms, how algorithms use that data, and the impact of targeted advertising. The FTC is required to submit a final report to Congress, including any recommended policy changes, within three years of the Act's enactment.

The REAP Modernization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) by prioritizing climate benefits and expanding eligibility to producer and rural electric cooperatives. This bill increases maximum grant and loan amounts while requiring a streamlined application process and technical assistance for applicants. It also mandates a study on dual-use energy systems that combine renewable energy and agricultural production on the same land.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act establishes new cost-sharing limits for certain insulin products in health plans starting in 2026. For selected insulin, patients will pay no more than the lesser of \$35 or 25% of the negotiated price for a 30-day supply. These patient payments must count toward the annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The requirements apply across various federal health plan laws, though they generally do not apply to out-of-network pharmacies.

The Food Bank Emergency Support Act of 2025 establishes a \$462.5 million emergency fund to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can continue providing full benefits during funding shortfalls or government shutdowns. These funds are specifically appropriated to prevent benefit reductions when other resources are insufficient. Furthermore, the Act ensures essential SNAP staff can continue working during a lapse in appropriations.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The MIRACLE Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study and report by the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the prevalence and outcomes associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This study will specifically examine data among Medicaid beneficiaries and the availability of services in pediatric transitional care facilities. The findings and recommendations must be reported to Congress and made publicly available within three years of enactment.

This bill, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, updates how Medicare physician payments are adjusted annually starting in 2026. It mandates that the annual update to the Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor will be directly tied to the estimated percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). This change ensures physician payment updates reflect economic changes measured by the MEI for 2026 and beyond.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act establishes a program to purchase and distribute essential supply kits to mothers recovering from childbirth and their newborn infants. These kits will contain necessary supplies, educational materials on maternal health resources, and information on federal support programs. The legislation reserves federal funds from 2026 through 2030 to award grants to nonprofit entities for the nationwide distribution of these kits, prioritizing areas of greatest need.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.