Legislative Activity

The Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs headstones, markers, and burial receptacles. This bill removes the restriction that an individual must have died on or after November 11, 1998, to be eligible.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective from the date of enactment. It adjusts gift tax calculations by setting the lifetime gift exemption at $10,000,000, with inflation adjustments after 2011. The Act also includes transitional rules for applying certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code during the enactment year.

The "Protecting America's Seniors' Access to Care Act" prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from enacting or enforcing the CMS's final rule published on May 10, 2024, which mandates minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities and Medicaid institutional payment transparency reporting. This bill effectively blocks the implementation of these new federal standards and any similar regulations.

This bill expresses support for designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week," celebrating the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders through agricultural education. It also recognizes the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America and the 75th anniversary of the Future Farmers of America federal charter.

The DRILL Now Act prevents river basin commissions from regulating hydraulic fracturing within the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River basins unless authorized by the respective State. This ensures that state legislatures have the authority to decide on hydraulic fracturing regulations within their jurisdiction.

The "National Right-to-Work Act" amends both the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to protect an employee's right to choose whether or not to join or support a labor union. It eliminates the possibility of mandatory union membership or dues payments as a condition of employment, ensuring that employees cannot be forced to join or support a union against their will.

The "Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025" aims to improve pediatric drug development and access by requiring more research into pediatric cancer drugs, ensuring completion of pediatric studies, and extending priority review vouchers for rare pediatric disease treatments. The act also addresses organ transplantation network improvements, limitations on orphan drug exclusivity, and establishes an FDA office to coordinate with Abraham Accords countries on regulatory standards. Additionally, the act allocates funding for pediatric drug studies and mandates reports and studies to assess the effectiveness of these changes.

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" amends Medicare Part D to improve access to non-opioid pain management drugs by waiving deductibles and ensuring they are placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The Act also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, further easing access for patients. These changes aim to provide more accessible alternatives for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas by establishing programs to train healthcare providers in obstetric emergency care, provide funding for necessary equipment and workforce development, implement teleconsultation programs, and study the challenges facing rural obstetric units. The Act authorizes grants for training, equipment, and telehealth programs, and requires a study on rural maternity ward closures and patient transport patterns.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 expands public safety officer benefits to include deaths and disabilities caused by exposure-related cancers, presuming that certain cancers diagnosed within 15 years of service are line-of-duty injuries if the officer served for at least 5 years. It defines "exposure-related cancer" and allows for updates to the list based on medical evidence, while also permitting individuals to petition for additions. The Act also clarifies "line of duty action" and applies retroactively to claims dating back to January 1, 2020, with a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments.

The "Future in Logging Careers Act" amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, defining "timber harvesting employer" and "mechanized timber harvesting employer". It modifies child labor provisions for 16 and 17-year-olds in hazardous logging occupations, except when employed by their parent or guardian. These provisions are applicable based on the type of timber harvesting activities performed by the employer.

This bill transfers the responsibilities of the Food for Peace Act from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). It ensures the continuation of programs like the Famine Early Warning Systems Network and allows the Secretary of Agriculture to amend regulations and utilize existing statutory authorities to maintain program continuity. The Secretary of Agriculture will consult with the Secretary of State when carrying out authorities under title II of the Food for Peace Act.

The Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, Section 481(b) to allow training programs to exceed the state minimum for clock hours, up to 150% of the state or federal agency's minimum clock hour requirements, while still remaining eligible. This change applies to the 2024-2025 award year and beyond.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025" requires the Department of Transportation to mandate that all new vehicles include AM radio receivers as standard equipment, ensuring continued access to AM broadcasts for drivers. The Act directs the Comptroller General to study the role of AM radio in emergency alerts and allows manufacturers producing fewer than 40,000 vehicles in 2022 at least four years to comply. The rule will sunset 10 years after the enactment of this Act.

The "Banning Strategic Petroleum Reserve Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act" prohibits the Secretary of Energy from selling or exporting petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or any entities controlled by them, including the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy can waive this prohibition if it is deemed to be in the national security interest of the United States. A rule to carry out this section must be issued within 60 days of the enactment of this Act.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025" extends increased Medicare payment support for physicians and practitioners through 2025. It increases payment rates by 6.62% for services provided from April 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also updates a section of the Social Security Act to include the years 2021 through 2025 for conforming changes.

The "End China's De Minimis Abuse Act" amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prevent duty-free treatment for goods that circumvent trade restrictions or are split into multiple shipments to avoid duties. It mandates electronic filing of tariff classifications for goods from countries subject to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and establishes penalties for violations. These changes aim to close loopholes that allow certain imports to bypass tariffs and trade regulations. The act will take effect 30 days after enactment.