Legislative Activity

The PLAN for School Safety Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to create regional School Safety Development Centers. These centers will provide personalized, research-backed consultation and technical assistance to schools on developing and implementing comprehensive safety and mental health plans. The program prioritizes support for rural, Tribal, and low-resource communities, while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for firearm training.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 imposes sweeping economic penalties on the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. This legislation mandates severe, immediate sanctions against key Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities, including asset freezes and trade prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act dramatically increases import duties on Russian goods and requires the President to review and reimpose these measures until Russia negotiates a lasting peace with Ukraine.

The EASE Act of 2025 mandates that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) test a new model to improve access to specialty health services. This "Specialty Health Care Services Access Model" will utilize digital tools, like telehealth, to connect eligible Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries in rural or underserved areas with necessary specialty care. The model must be tested through a network of qualified, experienced, and primarily rural-based nonprofit providers.

The ABC Act mandates a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to significantly simplify application processes, forms, and communications for family caregivers. This effort requires federal agencies to streamline requirements, improve customer service, and enhance accessibility across their systems. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden on caregivers while ensuring clear and timely access to essential benefits. Agencies must report their findings and planned actions to Congress within two years of enactment.

The COMPLETE Care Act aims to improve mental healthcare access by providing Medicare incentives for primary care providers to integrate behavioral health services into their practices between 2027 and 2029. This legislation offers increased Medicare payments for specific integrated services during those years, ensuring these bonuses do not trigger cuts elsewhere in the Medicare budget. Additionally, the bill mandates technical assistance to help primary care offices successfully adopt these new integrated care models.

The Bus Parity and Clarity Act ensures fair and equal access for over-the-road buses, including scheduled and charter services, on federally regulated toll facilities and in HOV lanes. This legislation mandates that these buses receive the same rates and conditions as standard public transportation vehicles, especially in value pricing programs. Furthermore, the Federal Highway Administration must maintain a public database detailing these access terms.

The Trucker Bathroom Access Act ensures that commercial truck drivers are allowed to use restrooms at businesses where they are delivering or picking up goods. This legislation also mandates that operators of marine terminals provide adequate and safe restroom facilities for drayage truck drivers working on port property. The goal is to guarantee basic sanitation access for professional drivers during their work hours.

This Act establishes a comprehensive security partnership between the United States, Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus focused on counterterrorism and maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean. It mandates the creation of new joint training programs, formalizes interparliamentary and executive cooperation groups, and removes previous limitations on defense articles for Cyprus. The legislation also authorizes significant funding for security centers and training initiatives in Cyprus and Greece through fiscal year 2029.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act aims to encourage more veterinarians to serve in underserved rural areas by making participation in certain loan repayment or forgiveness programs more financially appealing. This bill amends the tax code to exclude amounts received through qualifying state or federal veterinary student loan repayment programs from being counted as taxable income. This tax benefit applies to amounts received for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 updates Medicare coverage to include diagnostic ultrasound tests. This legislation mandates that Medicare establish separate payments for the transportation and setup of portable ultrasound equipment, mirroring existing payments for portable X-ray services. These changes are set to take effect starting January 1, 2027.

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive 10-year Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The plan must address critical infrastructure needs, including new training facilities, updated housing, and essential utility overhauls, to support modern maritime education and national security requirements. Congress authorizes up to \$1.02 billion from the Maritime Security Trust Fund between fiscal years 2026 and 2035 to execute this modernization effort.

This bill mandates a comprehensive, independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction therapy provided to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) versus non-VA providers. The study will assess outcomes, treatment methods, coordination, and patient experience across various care settings. The final report will be submitted to Congress and made public to inform future quality improvements.

The TELL Act mandates that websites and mobile apps collecting user data and storing it in China must clearly disclose this storage location and whether the Chinese government or state-owned entities can access that information. Companies are prohibited from knowingly providing false disclosures regarding data storage or access. Violations of this Act will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as unfair or deceptive business practices.

The COST of Relocations Act mandates that Federal agencies conduct a detailed, OMB-guided cost-benefit analysis before executing any "covered relocation" of jobs. Agencies must submit this analysis to their Inspector General (OIG), who then reviews the methodology and findings before reporting directly to Congress. This process ensures transparency and rigorous economic justification for significant federal job moves.

The Farmers’ Market Expansion Act of 2025 amends the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to enhance purchasing options for seniors. This bill specifically updates the list of eligible foods under the program. The key change allows seniors to use their benefits to purchase tree nuts at participating farmers' markets.

The VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 mandates the addition of a disclaimer on standard mortgage applications, informing applicants who indicate military service that they may qualify for a VA Home Loan. This ensures veterans and service members are immediately directed to explore their VA loan eligibility when applying for a mortgage. The bill also requires the GAO to study the effectiveness of this new disclaimer requirement among lenders.

The DETERRENCE Act significantly increases federal penalties for serious crimes like kidnapping, murder-for-hire, stalking, and assaults against federal officials. These enhanced sentences are specifically triggered when the criminal activity is knowingly directed by or coordinated with a foreign government or its agents. The bill aims to deter foreign interference in domestic criminal acts by imposing much harsher punishments on those involved.

The CREATE AI Act of 2025 establishes the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) to democratize access to the high-powered computing and data necessary for advanced AI research. This resource will be managed by a non-governmental Operating Entity overseen by a new Steering Subcommittee. The goal is to broaden participation in AI development beyond large tech companies to maintain U.S. leadership and ensure AI benefits all Americans. Access will be prioritized for U.S.-affiliated researchers, educators, and students, with specific provisions for ethics, security, and privacy reviews.

This Act establishes the **Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act** to strengthen tourism cooperation between the United States and Taiwan through joint initiatives. It mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to engage with Taiwanese officials to ease travel and support industry partners. Furthermore, the bill requires a comprehensive report on the feasibility and impact of establishing U.S. preclearance facilities in Taiwan.

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.