Legislative Activity

The Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025 aims to improve FEMA's disaster assistance programs by streamlining the application process through a unified system and universal application, expanding eligibility for housing assistance, and allowing direct assistance for home repairs. The act also focuses on better support for renters, hazard mitigation, and state-managed housing programs, while increasing transparency through online dashboards and required reports. Additionally, the bill addresses management costs, funding for online post-disaster guides, and sheltering for emergency response personnel. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct studies on improper disaster assistance, damage assessment procedures, and challenges faced by states and territories in securing assistance.

The Investing in Rural America Act of 2025 amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971, enabling Farm Credit System institutions to finance essential community facilities in rural areas, with a limit of 15% of their total outstanding loans. These institutions must offer participation in financing to other domestic lenders, especially community banks, and report these offers to the Farm Credit Administration. The Farm Credit Administration will then provide an annual report to Congress on these activities. This amendment aims to support rural development by leveraging the resources of the Farm Credit System.

The "Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025" amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend death benefits to retired law enforcement officers who die or are disabled from targeted attacks due to their service. The bill applies retroactively to pending matters before the Bureau of Justice Assistance, or those filed/accruing after the enactment date, with exceptions for actions against retired law enforcement officers that occurred on or after August 28, 2012.

The INFORM Act of 2025 mandates that the Postal Service must submit planned changes to postal services to the Postal Regulatory Commission for review. The Postal Service is also required to post notices in post offices regarding these changes, including details, timelines, and opportunities for public comment. These notices must be displayed for at least 30 days after the change is implemented.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 expands public safety officer benefits to include deaths and disabilities caused by exposure-related cancers, presuming that certain cancers diagnosed within 15 years of service are line-of-duty injuries if the officer served for at least 5 years. It defines "exposure-related cancer" and allows for updates to the list based on medical evidence, while also permitting individuals to petition for additions. The Act also clarifies "line of duty action" and applies retroactively to claims dating back to January 1, 2020, with a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments.

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" amends Medicare Part D to improve access to non-opioid pain management drugs by waiving deductibles and ensuring they are placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The Act also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, further easing access for patients. These changes aim to provide more accessible alternatives for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.

The United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 seeks to bolster the defense relationship between the United States and Israel through joint initiatives and increased cooperation. It establishes programs to counter unmanned systems, extend anti-tunnel and counter-UAS cooperation, and promote collaboration in emerging technologies like AI and cybersecurity. The act also mandates the establishment of a Defense Innovation Unit office in Israel and assesses integrated air and missile defense in the U.S. Central Command region. Finally, it explores Israel's potential inclusion in the national technology and industrial base.

The "Combating Illicit Xylazine Act" aims to combat the illegal use of xylazine by adding it to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would allow for increased regulation and tracking of the substance. The bill includes exemptions and delayed effective dates for certain requirements to ease the transition for legitimate users, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. It also directs the Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines for xylazine-related offenses and mandates reports to Congress on the prevalence and impact of illicit xylazine use. Finally, it will include xylazine in Arcos tracking.

The "SHIELD Act of 2025" aims to protect individuals from the non-consensual distribution of intimate visual depictions, establishing federal offenses and penalties for those who knowingly distribute such images with reckless disregard for the depicted individual's lack of consent, or distribute depictions of nude minors. It defines key terms, sets forth specific offenses, and outlines penalties including fines and imprisonment, while also providing exceptions for law enforcement activities, good-faith distributions, and protecting communications service providers from liability under certain conditions. The act also addresses threats related to the distribution of intimate images and establishes extraterritorial jurisdiction in certain cases.

The Oral Health Products Inclusion Act allows health savings accounts (HSAs) and Archer MSAs to include over-the-counter oral healthcare products like toothbrushes and water flossers as qualified medical expenses. It also permits health flexible spending arrangements and health reimbursement arrangements to cover these expenses. This applies to expenses incurred after the Act's enactment.

The "Doctors in our Borders Act" aims to increase the availability of medical care in underserved areas by raising the number of Conrad 30 waivers from 30 to 100 per state. These waivers allow international medical graduates to remain in the United States after completing their residency, provided they work in underserved communities. This expansion seeks to bring more doctors to areas with limited access to healthcare.

The "Freight RAILCAR Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit for modernizing freight railcars, encouraging investments in newer, more efficient railcars. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 10% of their freight railcar fleet modernization expenses, with a limit of 1,000 qualified freight railcars per year. The credit applies to railcars that increase capacity, improve fuel efficiency, or meet updated performance standards, and is available for three years after the Act's enactment. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the credit's usage and impact on railcar modernization and scrapping.

The "Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act" directs the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to conduct annual assessments on how terrorist organizations use foreign cloud-based messaging apps to threaten the United States. These assessments will analyze terrorist recruitment and radicalization, examine the use of online payment features to support terrorist financing, and provide recommendations to counter these threats. The goal of the act is to evaluate and address the national security risks associated with terrorist groups using these applications, while also ensuring compliance with legal, privacy, and civil rights protections.

The "Freedom First Lend Lease Act" empowers the President to lend or lease defense articles to Ukraine and Eastern European countries impacted by Russia's invasion, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, temporarily waiving certain restrictions related to foreign assistance and arms export control for Ukraine. The bill requires expedited procedures for the delivery of defense articles and stipulates that standard laws regarding return, reimbursement, and repayment will apply. Presidential authority can only be delegated to Senate-confirmed officials.

The "Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2025" aims to boost the number of physicians practicing in rural areas by establishing a new payment system to support medical resident training in those locations. This includes an "elective rural sustainability per resident payment" to hospitals training residents in rural areas and adjusts graduate medical education funding to further support rural training programs. The Act ensures that hospitals training residents in rural areas receive additional financial support, without being subject to existing program limitations, to cover the costs of training. It also includes provisions to maintain budget neutrality within Medicare's medical education spending.

The Space Infrastructure Act designates space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to define its scope and identify coordinating bodies. This act amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to formally include space-related assets as critical infrastructure. It also mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on the implementation of these changes.

The Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include alpha-gal, a sugar found in non-catarrhine primate mammals and red algae, as a major food allergen. This will require food labels to clearly identify the presence of alpha-gal. The amendment will take effect 18 months after the enactment of this Act, with an exception for mammal-derived ingredients where alpha-gal is below a detectable limit as determined by the Secretary.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2025 initiates a 20-year demonstration project aimed at helping blind Americans receiving Social Security disability benefits return to work. For the first 10 years, eligibility for benefits will be determined without considering substantial gainful activity, and benefits will be reduced based on earnings above a set amount, incentivizing employment without immediate loss of support. The project waives certain benefit requirements to facilitate successful employment, with participants having the option to opt out after the initial 10-year period. This act aims to support blind individuals in their transition back to the workforce while maintaining a safety net.

The SAFE Act amends the Social Security Act to include physical and occupational therapy benefits in Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams starting in 2026 for individuals determined to have fallen in the previous year. It mandates that these individuals receive falls risk assessments, fall prevention services, and outpatient therapy services. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress on falls experienced by individuals aged 65 and older.

The "Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, changing the calculation and wage limitations based on employee categories and hours worked. It increases wage limitations for qualified veterans and revises rules for summer youth employees and long-term family assistance recipients. Additionally, the act removes the age limit for qualified supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits recipients, with these changes taking effect for individuals starting work after December 31, 2024.