Legislative Activity

The Rural Health Care Facilities Revitalization Act establishes a new program allowing eligible rural health care facilities to access existing USDA rural development loans for vital financial relief and necessary facility improvements. This assistance can be used for debt refinancing, updating telehealth systems, and covering operating expenses, provided it preserves local access to care and improves the facility's financial standing. The bill also allows for waivers of certain requirements for facilities in areas facing persistent poverty or distress.

The Soil CARE Act of 2026 establishes a dedicated training program to educate Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel and third-party providers on modern soil health science and management practices. This initiative aims to ensure agricultural producers receive expert assistance in adopting conservation methods that improve soil biology and structure. The program mandates regular training, curriculum updates, and funding to support these critical conservation efforts through 2032.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act establishes a civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the U.S. government for constitutional rights violations committed by ICE or CBP officers. This bill holds the government financially liable for unlawful enforcement actions, even if they contradict official policy. It specifically waives sovereign immunity for these claims and permits plaintiffs to seek punitive damages.

This bill establishes the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025 to expand access to mental health and substance use services for rural and agricultural communities. It creates a grant program for eligible entities to deliver remote telehealth services directly to patients in their homes. Funds will support service delivery, quality measurement, and the necessary technology infrastructure, including broadband expansion.

This bill establishes the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2025 to address critical shortages in mental health care. It creates a federal program administered by HRSA to repay student loans for eligible mental health professionals. In exchange, participants must commit to up to six years of full-time service in designated mental health professional shortage areas. The program aims to incentivize practitioners to serve in underserved communities through significant loan forgiveness, capped at $250,000 per individual.

The Domestic Organic Investment Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the Department of Agriculture to strengthen the domestic supply chain for certified organic products. This program will provide grants to eligible U.S. entities for projects that expand storage, processing, and distribution capacity. The goal is to modernize infrastructure, improve compliance, and better compete with imported organic goods.

The Housing to Homes Act of 2025 expands the Continuum of Care homeless assistance program to allow federal funds to cover the costs of providing essential household furnishings through furniture banks to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. This provision aims to combat "furniture poverty" and stabilize housing placements. The law includes reporting requirements on the impact of this change and will expire five years after enactment.

The Social Security Data Transparency Act mandates the Social Security Administration (SSA) to publicly report detailed monthly data on its operations, including customer service performance and wait times for its 800 number. The bill requires the SSA to publish specific metrics for processing Old Age, Survivors, and Disability benefits claims, as well as appeal and hearing timelines. Furthermore, it requires the SSA to maintain a live tracker for current 800-number wait times and report on system outages.

The PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act establishes a new benefit providing eligible federal employees with at least 40 hours of paid leave when their military or Foreign Service spouse undergoes a permanent change of station. This dedicated leave is intended to facilitate the employee's relocation and must be used within one month of the move. The leave is separate from other accrued leave and is available for each instance of a permanent change of station.

The Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act aims to address the significant mental health challenges faced by Hispanic and Latino youth. It establishes a national, culturally competent awareness and outreach campaign to reduce stigma and increase access to care. Furthermore, the bill mandates comprehensive studies to better understand the scope of the youth mental health crisis and the shortage of Latino mental health professionals.

The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act establishes new grant programs to coordinate federal, nonprofit, and private investments in rural areas. It creates the Rural Partnership Program to fund comprehensive development projects and a separate Technical Assistance Grant program to help rural organizations manage grants and plan development. Furthermore, the Act reforms the existing Rural Partners Network to streamline federal assistance and reduce administrative burdens for rural communities.

The National Guard Proper Use Act prohibits active duty military personnel and National Guard members serving under Title 32 orders from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of immigration laws. This measure restricts the use of the Armed Forces for domestic immigration enforcement, aligning with existing statutes that govern such deployments.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

The Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a comprehensive, culturally sensitive outreach and education strategy to improve mental health and substance abuse support specifically for Hispanic and Latino communities. This plan requires collaboration with community groups to ensure materials address diverse linguistic and cultural needs across different age groups. The Secretary must report annually to Congress on the strategy's effectiveness in improving health outcomes for these populations.

The Bubble Tax Modernization Act of 2025 simplifies federal excise tax treatment for certain low alcohol by volume (ABV) wines. This legislation reclassifies qualifying low ABV wines (under 8.5% ABV and low carbonation) as standard still wines for tax calculation purposes under Section 5041(h). These changes will take effect for wine removed from bond after December 31, 2025.

This resolution supports designating July 20, 2025, as "National Moon Landing Day" to celebrate the historic Apollo 11 mission and its inspiration for STEM fields. It recognizes the economic and societal benefits of space exploration, from technological advancements to job creation. The bill encourages Americans to use this day to honor space pioneers, recognize sacrifices, and promote future lunar and Mars missions.

The SNAP E&T Data And Technical Assistance (DATA) Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to help states modernize their data systems for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) employment and training programs. These grants prioritize linking SNAP data with broader workforce development information to improve program effectiveness and participant outcomes. The bill also mandates strict privacy protections for all collected data and requires the GAO to report on best practices for coordinating funding and data sharing within these job training initiatives.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 aims to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. This legislation codifies existing federal regulations, known as the "Roadless Rule," which generally prohibits the construction of new roads or the cutting of timber in these sensitive zones. The purpose is to safeguard critical ecological benefits, clean water sources, and wildlife habitats while maintaining the Forest Service's multiple-use management mission.

The Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by updating funding rules based on 2030 data and mandating $500 million in annual funding from 2026 through 2030. The bill doubles funding for food storage and distribution costs to $200 million and extends infrastructure grant eligibility until 2030. Furthermore, it establishes new flexibility for geographically isolated states, allowing them alternative methods for receiving or purchasing necessary food commodities.

The STAR Plus Scholarship Act establishes a new federal program to award scholarships to students entering the substance use disorder and mental health treatment workforce. Recipients must agree to serve in designated mental health professional shortage areas for a period equal to the time they received funding. This initiative aims to increase the number of qualified professionals serving in critical shortage areas, with priority given to those likely to remain long-term and those from underrepresented backgrounds. The bill also creates a replacement fund to help facilities cover costs when service obligations are breached.