Legislative Activity

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 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.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month to combat a growing national crisis. It highlights alarming statistics regarding rising mental illness rates, significant barriers to accessing care, and disproportionate impacts on youth and marginalized communities. Ultimately, the bill declares mental health a national priority and encourages increased public awareness and support for mental health services.

The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025 overhauls residential job training facilities for underserved youth run by the Interior and Agriculture Departments. It mandates specialized training programs focused on conservation and wildland firefighting, and sets annual hiring goals for program graduates into federal roles. The bill also establishes pilot programs to boost the wildland firefighting workforce and improve related federal housing using student labor.

The Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act establishes a new grant program to provide emergency assistance to farm workers following covered disasters, such as severe weather or health crises. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Secretary must award grants to eligible farm worker organizations to deliver direct relief and build community resilience. These funds are specifically designated to help workers who lose income or are unable to work due to a qualifying event.

The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act aims to enhance national security by updating guidelines for synthetic DNA production. It mandates research to improve the accuracy and reliability of nucleic acid screening tools used in biomanufacturing. The bill also establishes a stakeholder consortium to develop best practices and roadmaps for these critical biosecurity measures.

The PEER Support Act aims to formally recognize and strengthen the profession of peer support specialists who use their lived experience to help others in recovery. The bill establishes a new Office of Recovery within SAMHSA, led by an individual with lived recovery experience. Furthermore, it mandates the official classification of peer support specialist roles in the federal job system and directs a review of state criminal background check processes for these specialists.

The Building Capacity for Care Act establishes a federal program to provide loans, loan guarantees, and grants for improving and expanding mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities. This funding prioritizes projects that increase inpatient bed capacity in underserved or high-need areas. Furthermore, the bill creates a dedicated Trust Fund, financed by revenue from the loan program, to support community mental health services 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.