Legislative Activity

The Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act of 2025 restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining individuals attending or departing from immigration court proceedings or scheduled appointments, unless a judicial warrant is present or an imminent threat exists. The bill mandates specific supervisory approval for arrests during scheduled check-ins. Furthermore, it requires the DHS Inspector General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance with these new protections.

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 Rural Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the USDA to provide essential technical assistance to small rural communities recovering from major Presidential-declared disasters. This assistance will help eligible communities with planning, securing federal and state funding, and implementing recovery projects across various infrastructure sectors. The program is funded through annual appropriations and provides support for up to three years following a disaster declaration.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 seeks to reverse harmful provisions affecting unaccompanied children. This bill eliminates various immigration-related fees for current and former unaccompanied children, including those for asylum and employment authorization. It also prohibits physically intrusive medical examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the Act mandates the refunding of previously paid fees.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The Veteran Education Empowerment Act establishes a grant program to help colleges and universities create and operate dedicated Student Veteran Centers. These centers will serve as centralized hubs to coordinate academic support, transition services, and community building for student veterans. The bill authorizes funding for these grants, which can be used for establishing and operating the centers, with specific reporting requirements to track effectiveness.

The Migrant Due Process Protection Act grants non-citizens in removal proceedings the right to request that their hearings be conducted virtually via video or telephone conference. Immigration judges are required to grant these requests, provided the virtual format does not prejudice the non-citizen's case. This legislation amends existing immigration law to expand access to remote hearings.

The Boosting the Rural STEM Pipeline Act aims to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in rural areas. This bill achieves this by eliminating the cost-sharing requirement for institutions participating in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. By removing this barrier, the Act seeks to encourage broader participation in training the next generation of rural STEM educators.

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.

This bill proposes amending the House Rules to increase the threshold required for disciplinary action against a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. Specifically, it mandates that a supermajority of at least 60% of votes cast must support any resolution for censure, disapproval, or removal from committee membership. This change establishes a higher bar for imposing these specific forms of House discipline.

The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act of 2025 extends existing protections by imposing a 6% interest rate cap on new loans servicemembers take out to consolidate or refinance pre-existing student debt during their military service. This amendment specifically targets the refinancing of prior student loans, ensuring servicemembers do not face excessive interest rates on this debt while serving. The bill clarifies that this cap only applies when the refinancing exclusively covers eligible student loans.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the ongoing epidemic of violence targeting transgender people, particularly transgender women of color. It memorializes the lives lost this year and highlights the systemic barriers, including discrimination and lack of healthcare access, faced by the transgender community. The bill calls for urgent action from the government to protect these lives through inclusive legislation and policies that ensure dignity and respect for all individuals.

The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act aims to expand access to crucial preventative care by mandating that Medicaid and Medicare cover annual lung cancer screenings without cost-sharing or prior authorization for eligible individuals. The bill also expands Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation services to all beneficiaries and prohibits private health insurance plans from imposing prior authorization for recommended screenings. Finally, it authorizes funding for a national education campaign and requires a report on lung cancer screening demographics.

The Unlocking Affordable Housing Act modifies federal transportation loan programs, specifically TIFIA and RRIF, to create flexible creditworthiness standards for projects that incorporate residential or mixed-use development. This change aims to encourage the inclusion of housing in transportation infrastructure projects by aligning credit review with standards used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Secretary of Transportation is required to establish these new, tailored credit rules within 180 days of enactment.

The Patients Over Paperwork Act of 2025 aims to streamline healthcare by repealing recent changes to Medicaid eligibility redeterminations. This action effectively restores prior regulations concerning how beneficiaries' eligibility is reviewed. The bill focuses on reducing administrative burdens to prioritize patient care.

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 End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 prohibits rental property owners from hiring coordinators or engaging in activities that involve collecting, analyzing, or recommending rental prices or terms across multiple properties. This coordinated activity is deemed an unlawful restraint of trade under existing antitrust laws. The bill grants enforcement power to the FTC, the Attorney General, and State Attorneys General, while also allowing injured persons to sue for treble damages. Furthermore, it lowers the pleading standard for civil lawsuits brought under this Act and related antitrust claims.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

This resolution officially recognizes and supports the goals of National Rural Health Day to honor the vital role of rural communities and their healthcare providers. It acknowledges the unique challenges faced by rural residents, such as limited access to care and hospital closures. The bill expresses a commitment to advancing policies that improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in rural America.