Legislative Activity

The Emergency Care Improvement Act officially brings qualifying Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) into the standard Medicare and Medicaid coverage systems. This legislation ensures that these state-licensed facilities, which operate as full emergency departments, are reimbursed for providing specified emergency services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly includes FECs under the requirements of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

The "Prove It Act of 2025" aims to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses by requiring agencies to consider indirect costs when creating new rules, allowing small businesses to petition for reviews of agency certifications, and mandating agencies to publish guidance documents and allow comments on rules with a significant economic impact on small businesses. Additionally, the Act amends the periodic review process for rules, requiring agencies to consider indirect costs and providing a mechanism for the Small Business Administration to address rules not reviewed within a 10-year period. The Act specifies that no additional funds will be allocated for its implementation.

The Business over Ballots Act reaffirms that the Small Business Administration's (SBA) primary mission is solely to support small businesses. This legislation explicitly prohibits the SBA from engaging in or facilitating voter registration activities. Furthermore, it mandates that all new contracts and existing assistance agreements must restrict recipients from using SBA funds for voter registration efforts.

The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025 ensures that group health plans and insurers must cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. This means no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance will apply to these necessary exams. These provisions take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act repeals the federal ban on mailing certain concealable firearms. This legislation also prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from enacting rules that would block or unduly restrict the mailing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. Furthermore, the USPS cannot require sellers to disclose customer records or firearm serial numbers as a condition for mailing these items.

The Duty Drawback Clarification Act updates the U.S. tariff schedule to standardize the classification of whiskies under Chapter 22. This legislation removes an outdated whiskey classification code and requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to add new statistical tracking codes for imports. These changes will take effect 15 days after the Act is officially enacted.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) significantly amends federal law to require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This legislation mandates that states actively clean their voter rolls and cooperate with federal agencies to verify citizenship status. It establishes new criminal penalties for officials who fail to enforce these documentation requirements.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act aims to combat sophisticated, cross-border criminal organizations driving massive increases in retail and supply chain theft. This bill updates federal laws regarding stolen goods and money laundering to strengthen enforcement tools against these groups. Furthermore, it establishes a new federal Coordination Center within Homeland Security to share intelligence and coordinate efforts between federal, state, and private sector partners. The legislation recognizes that these theft rings often fund other serious criminal activities, threatening national security and the economy.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025 mandates strict transparency regarding foreign funding in U.S. civil litigation. It requires parties to disclose any foreign entity that has a contingent financial stake in a lawsuit's outcome. Furthermore, the Act explicitly bans agreements where payment contingent on a case's success comes from a foreign state or its sovereign wealth fund. The Attorney General must also submit an annual report to Congress detailing foreign litigation funding activities in federal courts.

The Manifest Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal requirements for public disclosure of cargo manifest information for all incoming ships, vehicles, and aircraft. This bill mandates that manifests include more specific details, such as the Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading and precise country of origin data for all cargo. These new disclosure standards will take effect thirty days after the Act is signed into law.

The 1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act aims to eliminate the mandatory data collection and reporting requirements for small business loans previously established under Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Proponents argue that these regulations impose unnecessary compliance costs on lenders, potentially hindering small business access to credit. This bill repeals those specific reporting mandates to reduce regulatory burdens on financial institutions.

The Reduce Duplication and Improve Access to Work Act grants states the flexibility to transfer certain federal Social Security Act funds directly into workforce development programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This allows states to repurpose funds for job training and employment services, provided they adhere to specific planning and reporting requirements. These provisions are set to take effect starting October 1, 2026.

The Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act (RIFLE Act) eliminates the existing federal tax on firearm transfers. This legislation strikes the relevant section from the Internal Revenue Code and makes necessary technical updates to related statutes. Importantly, this Act does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any new authority over regulated firearms.

The Maximum Pressure Act dramatically tightens and expands U.S. sanctions against Iran across its military, missile, and economic sectors, codifying existing restrictions and severely limiting the President's authority to grant sanctions relief. It mandates immediate sanctions on top Iranian officials and increases penalties for international parties aiding Iran's weapons programs. Furthermore, the bill enhances oversight by requiring numerous detailed reports to Congress regarding Iran's terrorism financing, nuclear timeline, and economic influence, while also redirecting certain frozen Iranian funds to victims of state-sponsored terrorism.

The Secure Family Futures Act of 2025 modifies tax treatment for certain debt holdings of applicable insurance companies, excluding specific debt instruments from being treated as capital assets for tax purposes. Additionally, this Act extends the capital loss carryover period to 10 years for specified losses incurred by these insurance companies. These changes apply only to transactions occurring after December 31, 2025.

The Kairo Act of 2025 mandates that all federally funded child care and early learning providers establish a "Parents Bill of Rights." This bill must clearly outline parents' rights to access crucial facility records, inspection reports, and video evidence related to their child. Providers must distribute these rights to all parents and face consequences for non-compliance.

The Unfair Tax Prevention Act amends the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) rules to specifically target certain U.S. companies connected to foreign tax systems operating outside their direct jurisdiction. These "foreign-owned extraterritorial tax regime entities" will now be automatically subject to BEAT, with specific exceptions removed and a portion of their cost of goods sold automatically treated as a base erosion benefit. This legislation aims to close loopholes related to complex, indirect foreign ownership structures.

The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025 aims to establish stricter federal standards for prior authorization decisions made by Medicare contractors and private Medicare plans. This bill mandates that coverage denials must be based on clear, evidence-based clinical criteria developed with input from practicing physicians. Furthermore, it requires plans to post their authorization rules online, provide advance notice of changes, and publicly report approval and denial statistics. Finally, all final denials of care must be reviewed and issued by a qualified, board-certified physician.

The Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025 (PHIT Act) aims to improve public health by incentivizing healthier lifestyles, particularly to combat obesity. This bill allows taxpayers to treat certain qualified sports and fitness expenses, such as gym memberships and instruction fees, as deductible medical expenses. Deductions are capped annually at \$1,000 per individual or \$2,000 for joint filers.