Legislative Activity

The "Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act" increases consumer protection in the household goods shipping industry by allowing the Secretary to enforce penalties for violations, enabling states to use grant money for enforcement and retain penalties, and setting requirements for registration. This includes defining "principal place of business," requiring disclosure of relationships within the transportation industry, and allowing the Secretary to withhold or revoke registration for non-compliance.

The "Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act" or the "SAD Act" aims to prevent deceptive advertising related to reproductive health services, particularly concerning contraception, abortion services, or the employment of licensed medical personnel. It empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these prohibitions, treat violations as FTC Act violations, and pursue civil actions against violators, including imposing significant civil penalties. The FTC is required to report to Congress on its enforcement activities under this act.

The "Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025" authorizes the EPA Administrator to award grants to air pollution control agencies for programs that help communities prepare for and lessen the impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. It establishes Centers of Excellence for research on the public health effects of these events and directs the Administrator to conduct further research and develop interventions. The Act also creates a grant program for states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to develop and implement community plans to reduce the effects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat.

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 "Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act" aims to ensure that foreign nongovernmental organizations are eligible for assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, part I, regardless of the health or medical services they provide with non-U.S. government funds if such services are legal in their country. It also prevents these organizations from facing stricter requirements than U.S. organizations regarding the use of non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying.

The "Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act" expands access to in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services by allowing them to be delivered via telehealth, including designating a patient's home as a provider-based location. It broadens originating sites for telehealth services and waives geographic requirements for in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. The Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for designating a patient's home as a provider-based organization, aligning with the Hospital Without Walls program.

The "Federal Firefighters Families First Act" aims to improve pay equality for Federal firefighters, enhance recruitment and retention, and ensure comprehensive calculation of retirement benefits. It updates the computation of pay and annuity calculations to include additional compensation for overtime hours in regular tours of duty. The Act also directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish a maximum regular workweek for Federal firefighters, not exceeding an average of 60 hours per week. These changes will impact annuity payments for individuals who separate from service 60 days after the law's enactment.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

This bill condemns the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election and Lukashenka's autocratic rule, denounces the regime's support for Russia's war against Ukraine, and calls for the release of political prisoners. It advocates for free and fair elections in Belarus, continued support for the Belarusian democratic opposition, and further sanctions against the Lukashenka regime. The bill expresses solidarity with the Belarusian people's pursuit of a democratic future.

The "Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act" directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in schools across the country. The study will assess curriculum requirements, teaching methods, materials used, and how students' knowledge and recognition of antisemitism are evaluated. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress.

This bill recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year. It acknowledges the importance of Lunar New Year for Asian Americans and others in the U.S., and expresses respect for those who celebrate it worldwide. The bill wishes all celebrants a happy and prosperous new year.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' disapproval of the President's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, recognizing climate change as a threat and highlighting the increasing costs of extreme weather events. It commends entities supporting the Agreement, urges the President to reconsider, and encourages Congress to prioritize U.S. leadership on climate change.

The "Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2025" amends the Head Start Act to broaden the definition of "public assistance." This expansion includes families receiving TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, federal housing assistance, and other federal benefits, making more children eligible for Head Start programs. The bill aims to provide early childhood education and support to a greater number of disadvantaged children.

The "Build Housing with Care Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to encourage the co-location of affordable housing and child care services. The program, managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will award competitive grants to eligible entities for projects that design, plan, construct, or renovate co-location facilities. The bill prioritizes entities operating in childcare deserts or serving low-income families and requires a report to Congress on the program's implementation. Additionally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to study child care access for public housing residents and provide recommendations for improvement.

The Close the Medigap Act of 2025 aims to strengthen consumer protections and improve transparency in the Medicare supplemental insurance market. It ensures guaranteed issue of Medigap policies regardless of health status, sets minimum medical loss ratios, and prohibits age-based pricing discrimination. The Act also enhances the Medicare plan finder website to provide clearer information about Medigap options and requires transparency in payments to brokers. Finally, the Act restores access to first-dollar Medigap coverage.

The "Assuring Medicare's Promise Act of 2025" aims to bolster the solvency of Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by expanding the application of the net investment income tax. It directs revenue from the net investment income tax to the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and broadens the base of the tax to include trade or business income for high-income individuals, with certain income thresholds and phase-in provisions. This act amends both the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to ensure the financial stability of Medicare.

The "Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025" authorizes the EPA Administrator to provide grants to air pollution control agencies, including Tribal agencies, for establishing cleaner air space programs. These programs will establish clean air centers, distribute air filtration units and replacement filters to covered households in areas at risk of wildfire smoke, and provide educational materials. Grant applicants must partner with community-based organizations and meet specific requirements for program implementation, data collection, and reporting. The act allocates $30,000,000 for the program from fiscal years 2026 through 2028.

The "Boosting Long-term US Engagement in the Pacific Act" or "BLUE Pacific Act" aims to establish a comprehensive U.S. strategy for the Pacific Islands, focusing on strengthening partnerships, promoting regional stability, and supporting sustainable development. It directs the President to develop a detailed partnership strategy, encourages increased staffing and strategic communication, and enhances coordination with allies. The Act authorizes various programs to improve public health, education, media freedom, and workforce development, while also addressing peace and security through institutional strengthening and transnational crime prevention. Additionally, it focuses on resource and economic development, environmental and disaster resilience, ocean and environmental sustainability, and enhanced technology and connectivity, with significant funding allocated to support these initiatives.

This bill recognizes the 96th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth and reaffirms his teachings on diversity, tolerance, and civil rights. It condemns hate, discrimination, and prejudice against minority groups and individuals based on gender or sexual orientation. The bill honors Dr. King's legacy and calls for upholding his values of justice, equality, and peace.

The Equal COLA Act aims to provide fair cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities. Starting December 1 of each year, annuity payments will be increased based on the percentage change in the price index between the base quarters of the current and previous years, rounded to the nearest 1/10 of 1 percent. This adjustment applies to COLAs made after the enactment of this Act and to annuities starting before, on, or after that date, ensuring retirees receive adequate support to keep pace with inflation.