Legislative Activity

The Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act designates a site within the Reserve area of Washington, D.C., for the construction of the National Medal of Honor Monument. This monument, authorized in 2021, will honor Medal of Honor recipients from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The goal is to commemorate their valor and inspire future generations by establishing a lasting tribute near the Lincoln Memorial. Construction will adhere to federal regulations, ensuring the monument appropriately represents the extraordinary actions and spirit of American heroes.

The HELP Copays Act ensures that financial assistance from non-profits and drug manufacturers counts towards a person's deductible, coinsurance, and copay limits for health insurance plans. Beginning in 2026, this includes a "safe harbor" provision to protect high-deductible health plans. These changes apply to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management, while still allowing the use of tools like prior authorization. The Act is effective for health plans starting on or after January 1, 2026.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to streamline the process for disaster survivors to apply for and receive federal aid by creating a unified intake system. This system will consolidate applications, expedite assistance, prevent fraud, and ensure data security while allowing disaster assistance agencies to share information more efficiently. The Act mandates the FEMA Administrator to develop this system, certify participating agencies, and report to Congress on its implementation and impact. Ultimately, this bill seeks to speed up community recovery and protect survivors' information.

The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act aims to make child care more accessible and affordable for families by expanding employer-provided child care credits, increasing tax-free dependent care assistance, and creating a refundable household and dependent care tax credit. The employer-provided child care credit is expanded by increasing the amount of qualified child care expenditures and the maximum credit amount, with special rules for small businesses. The amount excludable for dependent care assistance programs is increased from $5,000 to $7,500 (or $2,500 to $3,750). A new refundable tax credit is created for employment-related expenses paid for household services and care of qualifying individuals, with the credit amount varying based on income and the number of qualifying individuals.

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with physical copies of the form needed to claim reimbursement for certain travel expenses. Veterans can request the form by mail or obtain it at VA medical facilities. Completed forms can be submitted in person or by mail to any VA medical facility for processing.

The Falun Gong Protection Act aims to combat forced organ harvesting in China by imposing sanctions on individuals involved, requiring reports on China's organ transplant practices, and expressing U.S. policy to pressure China to end state-sponsored organ harvesting. It mandates the President to create a list of individuals involved in forced organ harvesting and block their assets and deny them entry into the U.S. The Act also requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on organ transplant policies in China, including the sources of organs and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

The "Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to adjust the basis of certain assets, like common stock and tangible property, for inflation when calculating capital gains or losses, using the GDP deflator to determine the inflation adjustment. This adjustment applies to indexed assets held for more than 3 years and acquired after December 31, 2025, requiring taxpayers to maintain written records of the original purchase price. The bill includes specific rules for pass-through entities, regulated investment companies, and real estate investment trusts, and disallows adjustments for sales between related persons or when the primary purpose is to increase the indexing adjustment. It also authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.

The Guarding Readiness Resources Act allows the National Guard Bureau to credit funds received as reimbursement from states for the use of military property to the original or a currently available appropriate account. These funds can only be used by the Department of Defense for the repair, maintenance, replacement, or similar functions directly related to assets used by National Guard units operating under State active duty status.

The "Telehealth Expansion Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow more flexibility for health plans covering telehealth services. This act ensures that offering telehealth services without a deductible does not disqualify a health plan as a high-deductible health plan. These provisions aim to expand access to remote healthcare services by reducing financial barriers. The changes will take effect for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "RTP Full Funding Act of 2025" aims to ensure the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) receives full funding, commensurate with the fuel taxes paid by nonhighway recreation vehicles. It directs the Federal Highway Administration to provide Congress with accurate estimates of nonhighway fuel taxes collected, ensuring the RTP is funded appropriately under existing law without affecting other highway programs. This will allow for the continued support of trail infrastructure development and maintenance.

The "Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2025" enables the Secretary to provide additional financial assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal facilities. This includes offering grants and low-interest loans, as well as loan forgiveness or refinancing options, to help these entities maintain public health and address financial challenges in disadvantaged areas. The Secretary will also establish a residential indicator of affordable water services to determine eligibility for assistance.

The EARLY Minds Act amends the Public Health Service Act to prioritize early intervention for youth mental health. States can use up to 5% of federal mental health funds for evidence-based prevention programs for children and adolescents, regardless of diagnosis. The Secretary must report to Congress on the implementation and outcomes of these programs, focusing on access to care and reduced mental illness severity.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow the use of 529 education savings accounts for expenses related to postsecondary credential programs. These programs include workforce training, professional certifications, and licenses. This change expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses to include tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and testing fees associated with recognized postsecondary credentials. The bill aims to make workforce training and professional certifications more accessible and affordable.

The "Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct biennial risk assessments of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities within the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It also mandates annual crisis simulation exercises for five years to evaluate and improve the preparedness of government and private sectors in responding to food-related emergencies and cyberattacks. The Act aims to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the agriculture and food sector, protect food safety, and ensure national security. It authorizes \$1,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out these activities.

The Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act mandates an independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction care provided by the VA and non-VA providers. This study will evaluate health outcomes, use of evidence-based practices, care coordination, and patient satisfaction. The goal is to identify areas for improvement in veteran mental health and addiction treatment within and outside the VA system. A report of the study's findings must be submitted to Congress and published online.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" mandates pilot projects to evaluate advanced technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling at U.S. land ports of entry. These projects aim to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce wait times, and improve existing detection equipment. The Act requires reports to Congress on the effectiveness, impacts on privacy and civil liberties, and recommendations for implementing new technologies, while forbidding new funding appropriations.

This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's rule regarding national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants in rubber tire manufacturing. By disapproving the rule, the resolution prevents the EPA from enforcing stricter emission standards in the rubber tire manufacturing industry.

The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act extends and modifies the Conrad State 30 program, which allows foreign physicians to work in the U.S. in underserved areas in exchange for a waiver of certain visa requirements. It increases the number of available waivers, provides employment protections for participating physicians, and modifies the requirements for physicians seeking waivers, including allowing them to pursue permanent residency and extending their visas in certain circumstances. The Act also requires annual reporting on the program's usage.

This resolution marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its people's resistance. It rejects Russia's territorial claims, encourages continued support for Ukraine's defense and democratic efforts, and emphasizes Ukraine's role in determining its future. The resolution also commends efforts to support Ukraine's defense, human rights, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

This resolution supports 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.