Legislative Activity

The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act aims to improve biosecurity in nucleic acid synthesis by establishing best practices, guidelines, and technical standards for risk management. It directs the Director to conduct research, convene a stakeholder consortium, and develop consensus priorities for synthetic nucleic acid procurement screening. The Act also requires a report to Congress summarizing the consortium's findings and authorizes appropriations for these activities.

The PEER Support Act aims to address behavioral health workforce shortages by formally recognizing and supporting peer support specialists – individuals with lived experience in recovery who assist others facing mental health or substance use challenges. It mandates the creation of a specific job category for peer support specialists in the Standard Occupational Classification system and establishes an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to promote their training, integration, and professional development. Additionally, the Act requires a report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer support specialists, with recommendations to reduce barriers to certification.

The "Building Capacity for Care Act" aims to improve mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities by providing loans, loan guarantees, and grants for construction, renovation, and infrastructure improvements. It prioritizes facilities in underserved areas or those treating complex cases, with funding allocated to both loans/guarantees and grants. The act also establishes a Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Trust Fund to further support community mental health services through block grants.

This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, affirming the validity of the 1986 Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement unless superseded by future agreements between the Grand Ronde Community and Oregon. It clarifies that any new agreements cannot infringe upon the rights of the Grand Ronde Community or other tribes and that the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Grand Ronde Community in future agreements derive solely from the authority of Oregon. The bill also allows for the review of applications to modify the Consent Decree by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. This amendment does not determine or affect the treaty or sovereign rights of any Indian Tribe.

The "Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act" aims to combat gambling addiction by providing grants to states for treatment programs and to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for research. Funding is allocated from a percentage of taxes received under section 4401(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to report to Congress on the effectiveness of these programs. This act authorizes appropriations for these grants from 2025 through 2034.

The "HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act of 2025" mandates Medicare and Medicaid to cover the first three annual primary care visits without cost-sharing. These visits encompass outpatient mental and behavioral health services, general medical care, and care coordination for physical and mental health conditions.

The "Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025" seeks to establish a uniform standard for mail-in voting across the United States by removing additional requirements for voting by mail in federal elections. It requires election officials to contact voters to resolve signature discrepancies or missing signatures on mail-in ballots, ensuring these ballots are counted if the issues are corrected promptly. This act aims to increase voter participation and convenience while maintaining the option for in-person voting. States must comply with these requirements for federal elections starting in 2026.