Legislative Activity

The "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expanding SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans. It includes veterans with a 60% or higher disability rating, those with multiple disabilities totaling 70% or higher with one at 40%, those catastrophically disabled, and those under 65 receiving certain pensions. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2030.

The "Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act" amends the Social Security Act to reinforce protections for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. It prevents health plans from discriminating against ESRD patients or making Medicare the primary payer for their healthcare costs. The act clarifies that dialysis services should not be singled out for unfavorable treatment or coverage limits compared to other medical services, while allowing plans to manage their dialysis provider networks.

The "Saving NSFs Workforce Act" prevents the National Science Foundation (NSF) from conducting layoffs or involuntary employee separations until full funding is secured for fiscal year 2026. Exceptions are made for employee misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency. This moratorium aims to stabilize the NSF workforce during a period of funding uncertainty.

The "Saving NIST's Workforce Act" prevents the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from conducting layoffs or involuntary separations of employees. This moratorium is in effect until full-year funding is secured for fiscal year 2026. Exceptions are made only in cases of employee misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.

The Saving DOE's Workforce Act prohibits the Department of Energy from conducting workforce reductions or involuntary employee separations until full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are enacted. This moratorium excludes actions due to misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency and applies to employees in the competitive service, excepted service, and Senior Executive Service. The new law does not override any other authorities regarding adverse personnel actions.

The "Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025" extends Medicare payment rules for ground ambulance services for three years, ensuring continued access to these vital services for Medicare beneficiaries through 2028.

The "Saving NOAA's Workforce Act" prevents the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from initiating any workforce reductions or involuntary employee separations. This moratorium is in effect until the full-year appropriations for NOAA are enacted for fiscal year 2026. Exceptions are made only in cases of employee misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.

The "Saving NASAs Workforce Act" prevents NASA from conducting layoffs or involuntarily separating employees until the full budget for fiscal year 2026 is approved. This moratorium protects most NASA employees, with exceptions only for cases of misconduct or poor performance. The bill aims to stabilize NASA's workforce during a period of budget uncertainty. This is in addition to any other existing regulations regarding adverse personnel actions.

The HELPER Act of 2025 amends the National Housing Act to establish an FHA mortgage insurance program for first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and teachers. This program allows the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages up to 100% of the appraised value for eligible first-time homebuyers, waiving down payment requirements but requiring an up-front mortgage insurance premium. Mortgagors must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a first-time homebuyer, completing a housing counseling program, and meeting employment and good standing requirements as a first responder. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 and requires reauthorization of the program after 5 years.

This bill establishes a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Irish American History in Washington, D.C. The commission will explore the museum's feasibility, including fundraising, location, governance, and potential inclusion within the Smithsonian Institution. It requires the commission to submit reports, fundraising plans, and legislative recommendations to the President and Congress, with the goal of establishing and maintaining the museum through public contributions without federal funding. The commission will terminate 30 days after submitting the final reports and plans.

This bill, known as the "Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act," amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to expand eligibility for a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The expansion includes veterans who served in Guam between August 15, 1958, and July 31, 1980, or in American Samoa. This change makes it easier for these veterans to receive benefits for diseases linked to herbicide exposure during their service.

The Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Program Act of 2025 establishes a new Medicare payment system for radiation therapy, moving from fee-for-service to per-episode payments to encourage efficient and patient-centered care. This program aims to stabilize payments, reduce disparities, enhance quality, and promote the use of advanced technology while protecting Medicare resources. The act mandates participation for radiation therapy providers and includes adjustments for geographic location, health equity, and practice accreditation, as well as incentives for meeting quality standards. It also revises civil monetary penalties to allow transportation assistance for patients and exempts the program from budget neutrality adjustments to ensure its financial stability.

The Major Richard Star Act allows eligible combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. This eliminates the previous offset that reduced retirement pay for those receiving disability compensation. The changes apply to payments beginning the month after enactment.

The "No Round Up Act" repeals sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act related to alien registration that were part of the Alien Registration Act of 1940. This bill eliminates the requirement for broad categories of aliens to register with the federal government. It also removes the Attorney General's authority to create registration and fingerprinting forms for these groups.

The "Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act" amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to create a grant program supporting students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. These grants will fund training for school personnel on seizure awareness, preparedness, and the implementation of individualized health care and emergency plans for affected students. The act allocates \$34.5 million for fiscal years 2026-2030 to ensure schools are equipped to support students with these conditions.

The "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act" mandates the transition of TSA personnel management systems to align with Title 5 of the U.S. Code, ensuring TSA employees receive similar rights and protections as other federal employees, including collective bargaining rights. It protects current pay and benefits during the transition, requires consultation with employee representatives, and addresses concerns related to employee well-being, safety, and diversity. The Act also calls for reports and plans to improve recruitment, address workplace harassment, and update background check requirements.

The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing services, including preventative care, exams, and devices like dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Coverage for most services begins in 2026, with specific cost-sharing arrangements and limitations outlined in the bill. The Secretary has the authority to implement additional limitations and modify coverage based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill also requires the United States Preventive Services Task Force to include at least one oral health professional.

The "Access to Family Building Act" establishes a federal right for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) services and for healthcare providers to offer these services, free from undue restrictions. It allows the Attorney General and affected individuals to file lawsuits against those who limit ART access and permits states to enforce health and safety regulations that are the least restrictive means to ensure safety. The act overrides conflicting federal and state laws, ensuring its provisions are upheld, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations for implementation.

The Stop Comstock Act seeks to revise Title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Tariff Act of 1930, narrowing the scope of prohibited materials that cannot be sent through the mail or interstate commerce to only obscene materials, thus removing restrictions related to abortion and contraception. This bill aims to repeal sections of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that criminalized the dissemination of certain materials through the mail. By amending these laws, the bill intends to clarify and limit the federal government's power to regulate the distribution of materials deemed to be obscene.

The "Caring for Survivors Act of 2025" increases dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It changes the calculation of benefits to be based on 55 percent of a specified monthly compensation rate and includes a provision to ensure those receiving benefits based on a veteran's death before January 1, 1993, receive the greater of their current amount or the newly calculated amount. The Act also modifies the requirements for survivor benefits related to veterans who die while having a total disability rating, reducing the required period of disability from 10 to 5 years, and proportionally reducing benefits for those rated totally disabled for less than 10 years.