Legislative Activity

The Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 allows nonprimary airports serving smaller aircraft to utilize state highway specifications for pavement construction and improvement projects. This legislation aims to streamline infrastructure development by permitting the use of state standards, provided the Secretary of Transportation determines that safety will not be compromised.

The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 addresses reproductive coercion as a form of intimate partner violence that undermines reproductive autonomy. This bill amends federal law to define reproductive coercion, which includes sabotaging contraception or forcing pregnancy decisions. Crucially, it establishes a new federal civil cause of action allowing victims to sue perpetrators when the abuse involves interstate or foreign commerce. This new right ensures victims can seek damages and relief in federal court for this specific type of domestic violence.

This act prohibits the Department of Defense from using fiscal year 2026 funds to implement a hiring freeze, a reduction in force, or unjustified delays in filling vacant positions at public shipyards. The goal is to ensure stable staffing levels necessary for shipyard operations.

The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act aims to strengthen protections and expand benefits for part-time and temporary employees. The legislation eliminates restrictive hours-of-service requirements for FMLA leave and prohibits discrimination based on hours worked regarding pay, benefits, and promotion opportunities. Additionally, it mandates that employers offer available work hours to existing staff before hiring new employees or contractors.

This bill, the Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act, mandates that TRICARE provide coverage for fertility treatments, including IVF, for active duty service members and their dependents starting in late 2027. The legislation outlines specific coverage limits for egg retrievals and embryo transfers while prohibiting the use of DoD funds for certain procedures like preimplantation genetic screening. It also requires the establishment of a program to coordinate this specialized fertility care for military families.

This bill aims to bolster the U.S. bioeconomy and food system resilience by promoting innovation in edible protein production, particularly through biomanufacturing and utilizing under-utilized biomass. It establishes new research centers, prioritizes funding for alternative protein research through existing programs, and creates grant opportunities for commercial-scale production and workforce development. Ultimately, the Act seeks to secure the nation's protein supply, create economic opportunities, and maintain U.S. leadership in food technology.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide workers with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request flexible or stable schedules and requires employers to engage in a good-faith discussion about these requests. For covered sector employees (like retail and food service), the bill mandates 14 days' advance notice of schedules and establishes "predictability pay" for last-minute changes or split shifts. The Act also grants employees the right to 11 hours of rest between shifts, with premium pay required if this rest period is violated.

The Healthcare Equality and Rights for Our Heroes Act (HERO Act) establishes a new legal process allowing members of the uniformed services to sue the United States for damages resulting from medical malpractice at military treatment facilities. This act repeals existing law and creates a new exclusive remedy against the U.S. government for injuries or death caused by negligence in military healthcare. Lawsuits must be filed within 10 years of discovering the injury, and damage awards cannot be reduced by any VA benefits received.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the USDA to reform its food purchasing practices to support a more just, healthy, and sustainable food system. This is achieved by mandating the purchase of foods that prioritize equity, resilient supply chains, worker well-being, and climate mitigation. The bill also establishes reporting requirements, a set-aside for specific producers, and pilot programs to help smaller and targeted producers participate in USDA contracts.

The Zero Food Waste Act establishes a competitive grant program through the EPA to achieve a 50% reduction in national food waste by 2035. These grants will support state, local, tribal governments, and nonprofits in studying, planning, collecting data on, and implementing projects to reduce food waste. The legislation prioritizes funding for projects that prevent waste and benefit communities disproportionately affected by environmental harms.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The U.S. Vets of the FAS Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs furnish essential health services to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. This requires the VA Secretary to quickly establish agreements to provide telehealth services and mail-order pharmaceuticals to these veterans. The bill sets a one-year timeline for implementing these services and requires regular reporting on progress and costs.

The Workforce of the Future Act of 2025 mandates federal studies on AI's impact on jobs and establishes new grant programs to expand technology education and workforce training. Title I requires comprehensive reports from key departments detailing necessary future skills and policy recommendations. Title II creates federal grants to boost K-12 technology education and fund retraining for workers in AI-affected industries.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by reducing massive visa backlogs and prioritizing family reunification across various categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying certain family members as "immediate relatives," and creating new pathways for permanent partners and refugees to join their loved ones. Ultimately, the bill aims to keep families together, speed up legal immigration processes, and address past discrimination in the visa system.

The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act establishes new requirements and strict time limits for the Department of Defense when providing support to civilian law enforcement agencies, requiring prior Congressional notification and justification. It also prohibits Department of Defense personnel from simultaneously serving in civilian law enforcement roles, with limited exceptions for reservists. Furthermore, the bill broadens the circumstances under which military and federal law enforcement can assist civil authorities and creates a private right of action for violations of the Act.

The Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act of 2025 restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining individuals attending or departing from immigration court proceedings or scheduled appointments, unless a judicial warrant is present or an imminent threat exists. The bill mandates specific supervisory approval for arrests during scheduled check-ins. Furthermore, it requires the DHS Inspector General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance with these new protections.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2025 establishes new grant programs to boost physician training in underserved areas. These programs will fund the creation of new rural residency programs and provide technical assistance to applicants and current grantees. The goal is to increase the number of physicians practicing in rural communities across primary care, high-need specialties, and maternal health.