Legislative Activity

The Patient Debt Relief Act establishes new standards for hospitals participating in Medicare regarding financial assistance and medical debt collection practices, including limits on liens and wage garnishment. It also creates a grant program for eligible nonprofits to purchase and eliminate the medical debt of low-income individuals. These provisions aim to protect patients from aggressive debt collection and provide avenues for debt relief.

The Feed Our Veterans Act permanently exempts all veterans from the work requirements associated with receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation ensures that veterans have consistent access to food assistance without meeting specific employment criteria.

The Waste Heat to Wattage Act of 2026 officially recognizes "waste energy recovery" as a source of renewable energy. This legislation defines waste energy recovery as capturing otherwise lost heat or pressure from commercial, residential, or industrial processes. The recovered energy must then be used as the sole input to generate electricity.

The Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive one-year study by the Comptroller General on the use of drones and counter-drone technology by all levels of government. This report must analyze current agency deployment, sourcing of equipment, and operational policies. Crucially, it will provide recommendations for updating legal authorities and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities for UAS technology.

The Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025 establishes a pathway to conditional lawful permanent residency for certain undocumented immigrants present in the U.S. as of January 1, 2024, who have worked in designated "covered professions." Eligible individuals receive immediate work authorization and must maintain continuous employment in these essential fields for two years to automatically transition to full permanent resident status. The bill outlines specific eligibility criteria, including continuous presence and work history, while imposing restrictions based on criminal history.

The Keep Mobile Homes Affordable Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to investigate potential price gouging and market manipulation in manufactured home community lot rentals. HUD must report its findings and propose a long-term strategy to address unfair pricing, paying special attention to the impact on seniors and underserved communities. Furthermore, the bill mandates monitoring large institutional purchases of manufactured homes and pad sites to trigger investigations into excessive buying and related price increases since 2015.

This Act establishes the Energy Workers Health Improvement and Compensation Fund, financed by mandatory contributions from oil companies based on executive salaries. The fund will reimburse eligible energy workers and their families for specific medical expenses related to occupational health issues. Furthermore, the legislation creates a Commission to study and recommend improvements for the health outcomes of oil and gas workers.

The No More Narcos Act establishes an informational campaign and a national strategy to protect middle and high school students near the U.S.-Mexico border from recruitment by transnational criminal organizations. This legislation directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement these protective measures. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the use of the Department of Justice's Assets Forfeiture Fund to finance these anti-recruitment and awareness efforts.

The Stop COYOTES Act increases mandatory prison sentences for certain felonies committed near schools and parks, and imposes harsher penalties for fentanyl trafficking based on increased monetary thresholds. Additionally, the bill mandates increased information sharing between Homeland Security agencies and border law enforcement regarding trafficking and smuggling, with required reporting to Congress.

The Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025 establishes a formal recognition of New Mexico communities affected by the 1945 atomic bomb test. This legislation mandates the creation and placement of three memorial plaques honoring the Downwinders. These plaques will be installed at publicly accessible locations within the White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park.

The TRICARE Travel Improvement Act lowers the distance requirement for military families to receive reimbursement for travel expenses when seeking specialty medical care. This bill mandates that the Department of Defense must now cover travel costs if a specialist is more than 50 miles away, down from the previous 100-mile threshold. This updated reimbursement rule specifically applies to military retirees and their dependents.

The Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop a comprehensive national strategy to boost job creation and economic competitiveness in U.S. border communities. This strategy must focus on key sectors like logistics, trade, and manufacturing, while also aiming to lower import/export costs. The resulting plan, detailing necessary policy changes and workforce development initiatives, must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The Humane Accountability Act mandates increased transparency and reporting from immigration agencies regarding the detention and removal of noncitizens. It requires detailed, regular reports to Congress concerning detainee incidents, including abuse, deaths, and complaints. Furthermore, the bill establishes a notification process for using non-traditional detention sites and seeks recommendations to improve oversight and due process protections.

The Expanding Regional Airports Act establishes the Regional Airport Expansion Program to provide federal grants to eligible general aviation or nonprimary commercial service airports serving communities of at least 75,000 people. These funds are designated for projects that increase airport capacity, such as expanding passenger areas, lengthening runways, or upgrading infrastructure. The program mandates the distribution of between three and ten grants annually, supported by an authorized appropriation of $50 million each fiscal year.

This bill officially designates significant portions of the Gila River System in New Mexico as protected Wild and Scenic Rivers, classifying segments as wild, scenic, or recreational. The designation withdraws federal lands from entry, mining, and mineral leasing within the protected boundaries while explicitly preserving existing water rights and private property uses. Additionally, the Act adjusts the boundaries of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila National Forest by transferring approximately 440 acres from the Forest Service to the National Park Service.

The Tax Relief from Tariffs and High Costs Act establishes a new, refundable tax credit for individual taxpayers for the 2025 tax year. This credit equals 10% of the taxpayer's federal income tax liability, but only applies to those with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $100,000 or less. If the credit exceeds the amount owed, the taxpayer will receive the difference as a refund.

The Honor and Hire Veterans Act of 2025 significantly boosts the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for employers hiring qualified veterans. This legislation increases the credit percentage for veterans to 50% of qualified first-year wages and raises the maximum wage cap used in the calculation. These changes aim to incentivize businesses to prioritize the employment of veterans.

The Boost the Middle Class Act aims to increase financial support for working families by significantly raising the income thresholds for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This legislation increases both the amounts needed to qualify for the credit and the income levels at which the credit begins to phase out. These changes, which also update future inflation adjustments, will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act mandates that the Department of Agriculture immediately honor all existing written agreements and pay any outstanding debts owed under those contracts. This legislation strictly prohibits the cancellation of signed farmer contracts unless the farmer has breached the terms. Furthermore, the Act requires a 60-day advance written notice to Congress before closing any local Farm Service Agency, NRCS, or Rural Development offices.

The Healthy Foods for Native Seniors Act establishes a demonstration project allowing select Tribal organizations to manage their own food purchasing for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). This pilot program requires Tribes to purchase U.S.-grown food that meets or exceeds standard nutritional guidelines. The bill authorizes funding for the project and for the administrative costs necessary to oversee these new self-determination contracts.