Legislative Activity

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The TRACE Act mandates updates to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NMUPS) to specifically track cases involving federal land. This includes adding data fields to record when a missing person's last known location or the discovery of unidentified remains occurred on federal property. Furthermore, the Attorney General must submit an annual report detailing these cases, categorized by the managing federal agency.

The HELPER Act of 2025 establishes a new FHA mortgage insurance program to assist first responders, educators, and law enforcement officers in purchasing homes. This program offers eligible first-time homebuyers 100% financing with no down payment required. Instead of monthly premiums, borrowers pay an upfront FHA insurance premium at closing.

The Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical federal funding for graduate medical education programs at children's hospitals through fiscal year 2030. The bill increases annual funding allocations for the program during this extension period. Notably, it introduces a new restriction that prohibits payments to hospitals that provided certain gender-affirming surgeries and high-dose hormone treatments to minors in the preceding year, with specific exceptions for emergency care and treatment of certain medical conditions.

The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act transitions TSA personnel to standard federal employment rules under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set date no later than December 31, 2025. This mandates the freezing of current personnel policies during the transition while protecting current employee pay and benefits. The bill also requires extensive reviews by the Comptroller General on hiring, diversity, and workplace safety, and mandates consultation with employee representatives regarding labor relations. Finally, it ensures that screening agents retain collective bargaining rights and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.

This bill, the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act, directs the striking of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the American Red Cross volunteers who served in the Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program during the Vietnam War. These volunteers, known as "Donut Dollies," provided crucial morale support to troops on the front lines. The original medal will be presented on behalf of Congress and ultimately housed at the Smithsonian Institution, with provisions made for selling bronze duplicates.

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act aims to improve support for individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. This bill eliminates the standard waiting period for receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits and waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage. These changes ensure immediate access to crucial financial and healthcare support upon diagnosis.

The Credit for Caring Act of 2025 establishes a new, non-refundable federal income tax credit for working family caregivers who incur significant expenses caring for a relative with long-term care needs. Eligible caregivers can claim a credit equal to 30% of qualified expenses exceeding \$2,000, up to a maximum annual credit of \$5,000. The bill specifies detailed requirements for the care recipient's needs, the types of allowable expenses, and includes income phase-out limits for claiming the benefit.

This bill acknowledges and honors the significant contributions, valor, and sacrifices of military animals and their handlers throughout history, recognizing their vital role in the United States' freedom and safety. It supports establishing a yearly process to nominate animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal, further commemorating their meritorious achievements.

This Act authorizes the creation and sale of special commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The coins will feature designs honoring the victims and first responders, with the phrase "Never Forget" required on at least one design. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will be donated to support the ongoing operations and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The Treasury must ensure the entire coin program results in no net cost to the Federal Government.

The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025 revises how businesses treat research and experimental (R&E) expenditures for tax purposes. Taxpayers can now choose between immediately deducting R&E costs or amortizing them over a period of at least 60 months. This legislation also makes technical adjustments to ensure consistency between immediate deductions and claiming the research tax credit.

The Affordable Loans for Students Act establishes a sweeping program to lower student debt burdens by automatically refinancing eligible federal loans held by the government to a fixed 2.0% interest rate. It also creates procedures for refinancing other federal loans into new Direct Consolidation Loans at the same low 2.0% rate, without origination fees. Furthermore, new federal student loans disbursed after the Act's enactment will also carry a fixed 2.0% interest rate.

This bill censures Representative Al Green of Texas for disrupting the President's address to Congress on March 4, 2025. It condemns his actions and orders him to appear before the House of Representatives to receive a formal reprimand. During this time the Speaker of the House will publicly read the resolution of censure.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to create an exception to the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT). Specifically, it prevents certain payments made to foreign related parties from being treated as "base erosion payments." This exception applies only if the foreign recipient company and the payment itself are subject to an effective foreign income tax rate of at least 15 percent. The legislation directs the Treasury to issue regulations to implement this calculation and prevent tax abuse.

The HERO Act establishes a national system to track suicides among public safety officers to better understand prevention needs. It also creates grant programs to fund peer-support and wellness programs for fire, EMS, and healthcare workers. Finally, the bill mandates the development of educational resources to improve mental health treatment for first responders dealing with trauma and PTSD.

The TREAT PTSD Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to provide stellate ganglion block (SGB) to veterans and members of the Armed Forces diagnosed with PTSD who elect to receive it after being fully informed of its risks and benefits. It allows the treatment to be furnished through VA or military medical facilities, or qualified healthcare providers. The bill also requires updating the VADOD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD management to include SGB as a therapy option.

The "Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates the federal excise tax on indoor tanning services. This bill removes Chapter 49 from the Internal Revenue Code, effectively repealing the tax. The repeal is applicable for services provided after the bill's enactment.

The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and equipment for veterans under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program from $1,000 to $1,400. Beginning in 2026, this stipend will be subject to annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index.

The "End Congressional Stock Trading Act" prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks, bonds, commodities, futures, and other securities, with certain exceptions like diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Current and new members, along with their families, must divest prohibited assets within specified timeframes, with extended periods for complex investments. Violators may face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation, and the bill allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required asset sales reinvested in permissible assets.

This resolution censures Representative Al Green for disrupting President Trump's address to Congress, violating decorum, and bringing disrepute to the House. It mandates that Representative Green present himself to the House for a public reading of the censure resolution by the Speaker.