Legislative Activity

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 strengthens the national earthquake preparedness strategy by expanding its focus to include recovery standards, tsunami coordination, and improved communication protocols. This legislation specifically enhances the U.S. Geological Survey's role in improving the early warning system, ensuring faster and more accessible alerts. Furthermore, the bill authorizes specific funding levels for earthquake hazard reduction efforts through fiscal year 2030.

The Romance Scam Prevention Act requires online dating services to notify current members when they are contacted by a user previously banned for fraudulent activity. These mandatory alerts must clearly warn users about the potential scammer and advise against sending money or financial information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these new consumer protection standards.

This bill amends the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program to create a new funding set-aside for specific counties with high agricultural output. It defines "covered counties" based on significant annual agricultural production value and density. Ten percent of the program's funds must then be reserved for projects located on "farm-to-market roads" within these designated counties.

The Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 establishes a new advisory committee within the VA to focus on improving physical, digital, and service accessibility for veterans with disabilities. This committee, composed of veterans, experts, and VA staff, will review compliance with accessibility laws and provide recommendations to the VA Secretary. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for a limitation on certain pension payments for veterans residing in nursing facilities.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to significantly reform Medicare access to supplemental oxygen by removing it from the competitive bidding program and establishing new payment rates. The bill also mandates clearer documentation requirements for medical necessity using electronic templates and restores clinical judgment in claim audits. Finally, it establishes specific rights for oxygen beneficiaries and improves reimbursement for respiratory therapists.

The "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act" amends the Social Security Act to revise eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It ensures these individuals are eligible for SSI regardless of their spouse's income and resources. This change allows eligible individuals to receive the standard individual SSI rate, reduced only by their own income.

The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act extends the Conrad State 30 program, which allows foreign physicians to work in underserved areas of the U.S. in exchange for a waiver of certain visa requirements. It modifies requirements for foreign physicians seeking waivers, including employment protections, state waiver limits, and contract requirements. The bill also increases the number of waivers available to states and modifies immigration procedures for physicians, including allowing "dual intent" for medical graduates and clarifying national interest waivers. Finally, it requires an annual report on the Conrad State 30 J1 Visa Waiver Program.

The "Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2025" mandates the evaluation of container aerial firefighting systems (CAFFS) by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior for wildfire management. A report detailing the evaluation results must be submitted to relevant House and Senate committees within 120 days, following consultations with relevant agencies.

The "Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025" aims to strengthen the fight against human trafficking in government contracting by enhancing compliance, reporting, and accountability measures. It mandates detailed compliance plans, requires prompt reporting of trafficking activities, and directs investigations by the Inspector General. The Act also authorizes payment suspensions for non-compliance and requires a report on the feasibility of further strengthening anti-trafficking measures across federal agencies.