Legislative Activity

The Critical Minerals Investment Tax Modernization Act of 2025 updates tax incentives for domestic mineral production. Specifically, this bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the percentage depletion rate to 22% for the mining of rare earths and scandium. This change aims to encourage investment in the extraction of these strategically important materials.

The Biochar Research Network Act of 2025 establishes a National Biochar Research Network, managed by the USDA, to study the real-world effectiveness of biochar across various soils and climates. This network will focus on quantifying carbon sequestration, improving crop production, and developing science-backed guidance for sustainable biochar use. The goal is to provide farmers and land managers with the data needed to boost profits while enhancing soil health and climate resilience.

This Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, aims to accelerate housing development by modernizing and simplifying the environmental review process managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It reclassifies numerous routine housing and rehabilitation activities for faster processing under NEPA, including assistance programs and infill projects. The Secretary of HUD must annually report on the resulting administrative cost savings and increased speed over five years.

This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 through fiscal year 2030, authorizing $56 million annually for FY 2026-2030. It makes administrative updates by replacing "Council" with "Committee" throughout the Act and clarifies the system's scope to include operational oceanography measurements. Furthermore, it mandates that federal agencies develop rules to ensure data sharing between regional offices and federally funded projects with local coastal observing systems.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025 expands existing federal whistleblower safeguards to cover nearly all contracts, grants, and agreements funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This ensures that individuals reporting wrongdoing on HUD-funded projects receive standard federal whistleblower protections. These protections apply retroactively to existing agreements.

The Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act establishes the Healthy H2O Program to provide grants for improving drinking water quality in rural areas. These grants help eligible households and small facilities address contamination from issues like lead or PFAS by covering the costs of certified water treatment systems, installation, and testing. The program prioritizes private well owners and requires annual reporting on contamination trends and program effectiveness.

The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act significantly increases financial penalties for group health plans and insurance issuers that violate balance billing protections. It establishes steep fines, including up to $\$10,000$ per affected individual for serious non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill imposes severe penalties, including triple the disputed amount plus interest, for failing to make required payments promptly after an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) determination. Finally, it mandates more frequent and detailed transparency reporting on enforcement actions and violations.

The ROTOR Act mandates a comprehensive study to investigate cancer prevalence and mortality rates among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel. This research, conducted by the Defense Health Agency in partnership with the NIH and NCI, will first compare cancer rates in these service members against the general population. If elevated rates are found, a second phase will seek to identify potential toxic exposures or environmental factors linked to helicopter operations that may be causing the increased risk.

The Saving Vet Halls Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides funding to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) specifically for repairing facilities and upgrading technology. Grants are capped at $\$75,000$ or the total project cost (whichever is higher), and organizations receiving funds are ineligible to reapply for five years. The legislation authorizes $\$10$ million to support these essential improvements for VSOs.

The GIVE MILK Act aims to address low dairy consumption among Americans, particularly children, by emphasizing milk's essential role in providing key nutrients like calcium and Vitamin D. This legislation specifically grants participants in the WIC program the direct choice of selecting their preferred type of milk—including whole, low-fat, reduced-fat, or nonfat—when receiving benefits. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to update regulations to implement this new participant choice.

The Orphanage Trafficking Prevention and Protection Act addresses the severe vulnerability of children in residential care facilities to human trafficking. This bill amends federal law to explicitly define the exploitation of orphaned, abandoned, or institutionalized children as a "severe form of trafficking in persons." This change aims to strengthen legal accountability for traffickers and enhance protections for these at-risk youth.

The SPARC Act establishes a new federal loan repayment program to incentivize specialty medical providers to practice in underserved rural communities. This program offers to repay up to $250,000 of eligible education loans in exchange for a six-year service commitment in a designated rural shortage area. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will administer the program through HRSA, prioritizing loan repayment for both physicians and non-physician specialists.

The Charting My Path for Future Success Act mandates the immediate restart and re-award of a contract for the "Charting My Path for Future Success Project." This project focuses on training high school teachers to help students with disabilities develop clear post-secondary goals and create actionable success plans. The legislation ensures the project maintains its established scope of supporting 1,600 students across numerous schools and protects the newly awarded contract from cancellation without Congressional approval.

The Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying a veteran's claim for benefits solely because the veteran failed to appear for a scheduled medical examination. This ensures that missing one required exam appointment will not automatically result in the outright rejection of the entire benefits application. The VA must still process the claim using other available evidence.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act aims to grant qualified Tribal law enforcement officers the authority to enforce federal law within their jurisdiction under specific federal contracts or compacts. This requires Tribal officers and their departments to meet rigorous federal training and procedural standards comparable to those of Bureau of Justice Services employees. When acting under this authority, these Tribal officers will receive the same legal protections and benefits as federal law enforcement officers. The bill also mandates the Department of Justice to improve coordination and accountability for public safety efforts on tribal lands.

The Partner with Korea Act establishes a new reciprocal temporary work visa category specifically for South Korean nationals seeking employment in specialty occupations within the United States. This program is subject to an annual cap of 15,000 principal applicants. The legislation updates immigration procedures to incorporate this dedicated visa stream, contingent upon employer attestations approved by the Secretary of Labor.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes a new, refundable tax credit for eligible first-time homebuyers, equal to 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $15,000. This credit is subject to income and home price phase-outs based on local median figures. Homebuyers may elect to transfer this credit directly to their mortgage lender at closing in exchange for immediate cash. The bill also includes recapture provisions requiring repayment if the home is sold within four years.

The Infertility Treatment Affordability Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax credit equal to 50% of qualified expenses paid for infertility treatments. This credit is subject to annual limits and income phase-outs, with up to $\$5,000$ being potentially refundable. The Act aims to reduce the financial burden of fertility care for eligible individuals and families.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums solely because an individual is a living organ donor. This legislation ensures that living donors are not financially penalized for their altruistic act. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to update educational materials to accurately reflect the insurance protections afforded to living donors.