Legislative Activity

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The ASSIST Act of 2025 clarifies that medically necessary automobile adaptations for veterans are officially covered under Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services. This ensures essential vehicle modifications for safe driving and mobility are recognized as part of veteran medical benefits. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act mandates annual, experience-based sensitivity training for all VA staff handling Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims. This legislation also strengthens the VA's duty to assist claimants by requiring them to actively help gather service personnel and medical records. Furthermore, the bill directs the VA Secretary to report on training requirements for contracted health professionals to prevent re-traumatization during examinations.

The CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025 expands and extends a pilot program allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept donated facilities and related improvements. This expansion broadens acceptable donations to include minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects. Furthermore, the bill extends the operational deadline for this valuable pilot program from 2026 to 2031.

The Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits life insurance companies from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or canceling policies solely because an individual is a living kidney donor. This federal law ensures that living donors are not penalized financially for their altruistic act, unless unrelated health risks are present. Individuals harmed by discrimination under this Act have the right to sue in federal court.

The Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to protect and restore private and Tribal forest lands through conservation easements. This program offers two types of easements—Forest Land and Forest Reserve—with federal cost-share assistance available to eligible entities and landowners, prioritizing working forests and species recovery. The Act also allocates $100 million annually for this new program from 2026 through 2030 while simultaneously repealing the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program, ensuring existing contracts remain honored. Finally, Congress stipulates that the costs associated with implementing this Act must be offset by savings or new revenue.

The Bipartisan American Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2025 establishes two new federal tax incentives aimed at boosting housing accessibility. It creates a refundable First-Time Homebuyer Credit of up to $50,000 for down payments, subject to income phase-outs and a five-year recapture rule. Additionally, the bill introduces a Starter Home Construction Credit for builders, offering up to a 30% credit on construction costs for small, affordable homes. Both provisions require a reduction in the property's tax basis by the amount of the credit claimed.

The Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Defense prioritize competition, security, and interoperability when procuring Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing services. It establishes strict rules to prevent vendors from using government data to improve their commercial AI products without explicit authorization. Furthermore, the bill requires annual reporting to Congress on market competition, innovation barriers, and the use of any granted security exemptions.

The Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a Federal Cyber Workforce Development Institute to centralize and standardize cybersecurity training for federal employees. Led by the National Cyber Director, this Institute will develop modular, hands-on training aligned with the NICE framework for current and incoming cyber staff, including HR personnel. The resulting plan must detail curriculum, delivery methods, and necessary resources, though the Act itself does not authorize new appropriations.

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act reinstates and removes limitations on the federal income tax deduction for personal casualty losses resulting from unexpected events like fires or floods. This legislation also extends the deadline for taxpayers to file claims for refunds related to these casualty loss deductions for past tax years. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

The AGRITOURISM Act establishes a new Office of Agritourism within the Department of Agriculture, led by a dedicated Director. This office is tasked with promoting and supporting farm-based tourism activities across the nation. The goal is to boost rural economies by helping agricultural businesses diversify through educational, recreational, and direct-sale opportunities.

The Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act aims to reassert Congress's exclusive constitutional authority over federal spending by clarifying that the President cannot unilaterally withhold appropriated funds. It strengthens the Comptroller General's oversight role and establishes new legal avenues for private citizens and governments to sue for damages if funds are improperly impounded. Furthermore, the bill tightens the definition of budgetary "contingencies" and ensures that judicial review of these spending disputes remains robust.

The Strong Communities Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program allowing the Attorney General to fund specialized law enforcement training for local officers and recruits. Recipients of this funding must commit to serving in their local community for at least four years following their training. The Act also mandates annual transparency reports to Congress detailing grant recipients, training plans, and the retention rates of officers who complete the funded programs.

This bill establishes a new Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program under the Food Security Act of 1985 to combat the damage caused by wild pigs. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to study the damage, develop control and repair plans, and provide financial assistance to affected farmers, with federal cost-sharing capped at 75%. The program will be jointly managed by the NRCS and APHIS, utilizing university expertise and allocating $150 million over five fiscal years for implementation.

The Words Matter Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive update across all federal laws, replacing the outdated terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities." This change is strictly a linguistic update intended to align federal statutes with current, respectful terminology. The Act explicitly states that this language revision does not alter eligibility for benefits, rights, or responsibilities under any existing federal program. Agencies are required to update their regulations to reflect this new terminology while maintaining a record of the previous language used.

The AI Whistleblower Protection Act establishes clear definitions for AI-related security vulnerabilities and violations within the technology sector. This bill creates robust anti-retaliation protections for employees who report concerns about these issues to government officials, Congress, or internally. Individuals who face punishment for whistleblowing can file complaints with the Secretary of Labor or sue in federal court, with significant remedies available upon winning their case. Crucially, these protections cannot be waived by any employment contract or agreement.

The STOP Screwworms Act mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile New World screwworm flies in high-risk areas to combat infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture must build these modular facilities within 180 days of enactment and provide annual public reports on the threat and control efforts. The bill authorizes up to $300 million to fund these necessary actions.

The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025 clarifies that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all websites and applications used by covered entities to be accessible to people with disabilities. This legislation directs federal agencies to establish and regularly update specific digital accessibility standards for businesses, government entities, and employers. Ultimately, the Act aims to eliminate online discrimination by providing clear rules, technical assistance, and enforcement mechanisms, including the right for individuals to sue directly for non-compliance.

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 aims to standardize and nationalize racehorse health, medication control, and racetrack safety across state lines. It achieves this by establishing a new governing body, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), tasked with creating science-based rules and maintaining a national safety database. The bill also mandates specialized scientific committees to develop breed-specific medication standards and establishes strict disciplinary processes for rule violations. Overall, this legislation centralizes oversight to improve industry-wide safety and integrity.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House that President Trump must comply with the Foreign Emoluments Clause regarding a reported gift of a jumbo jet from Qatar. It calls on the President to immediately submit all plans for accepting this significant gift to Congress. The bill emphasizes that the Constitution requires Congressional consent before the President can accept valuable items from foreign governments.