Legislative Activity

The "HEADWAY Act" amends the Head Start Act to improve teacher qualifications in Early Head Start programs. It mandates that at least one teacher per classroom has a minimum credential, and other teachers are working towards a Child Development Associate credential. The act also requires Early Head Start agencies to provide mentorship and training opportunities for teachers. This aims to enhance the quality of care and education for infants and toddlers in these programs.

The Goldie's Act seeks to strengthen the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by mandating annual inspections, requiring humane treatment of suffering animals, and imposing significant penalties for violations. It ensures transparency through mandated sharing of violation records and sets firm guidelines for determining penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The Act also enables legal action to recover unpaid penalties and penalizes the disobedience of "cease and desist" orders.

The CAREERS Act amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand workforce training programs in rural areas. It broadens the definition of eligible institutions, emphasizes career pathway programs and industry partnerships, and prioritizes grants for these initiatives. The act supports various rural industries and requires reporting on program outcomes, with funding extended through 2030.

The "National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act" aims to support the National Law Enforcement Museum's programs for community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness through grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The act authorizes \$6,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for each of the first 7 fiscal years after the law is enacted. It requires annual progress reports to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of funds. The Act allows the Secretary to use funds to continue activities the National Law Enforcement Museum was already doing when this law was enacted.

The Disaster Reforestation Act modifies the rules for deducting casualty losses of uncut timber due to fire, storm, theft, or other casualties. Taxpayers can deduct losses based on the difference between the timber's appraised value before the loss and its salvage value, with specific appraisal and reforestation requirements. The definition of "other casualties" includes losses from wood-destroying insects or invasive species, or severe drought. It applies to timber held for sale in a trade or business that is not a passive activity for losses sustained in taxable years beginning after the enactment of this Act.

The "Health Care Affordability Act of 2025" expands eligibility for health insurance tax credits by removing the income cap, allowing more individuals and families to qualify for financial assistance. The bill adjusts the premium tax credit calculation, providing a sliding scale based on income to ensure affordability. These changes will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025" amends federal law to criminalize the act of "swatting," where false information is reported to trigger an emergency response. Those who commit swatting would face increased penalties, including fines and imprisonment, especially if serious bodily injury or death results. Additionally, individuals who engage in swatting would be liable for the costs incurred by emergency responders due to the false report.

The "Dairy Farm Resiliency Act" amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to improve the Dairy Margin Coverage program. It updates the production history calculation for dairy farms and increases the coverage levels for Tier I and Tier II. These changes aim to provide better support and stability for dairy farmers.

The Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act requires dairy manufacturers to report their production costs and product yield information. The Secretary will then publish a report every two years with the collected data, starting three years after the law's enactment. This aims to increase transparency in dairy processing costs.

The GLRI Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. The act allocates $500 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to support this initiative.

The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to study the use of electronic automated systems in hospitals for organ donation referrals. The study will assess the benefits, impacts, and best practices of these systems, and develop recommendations for promoting their nationwide use. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The "Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act" prohibits the U.S. from recognizing any Georgian government led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or his associates, and requires the U.S. to actively discourage other countries from recognizing such a government. It authorizes sanctions and measures to combat corruption and foreign influence in Georgia, while affirming recognition of the current Georgian President until free and fair elections can be held. The Act restricts U.S. officials and funds from actions implying recognition of an Ivanishvili regime, and can be revoked if Georgia restores its constitution and democratic processes.

The "HOV Lanes for Heroes Act" allows disabled veterans to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, even when driving alone, without being charged tolls. Eligibility is determined by the veteran's service-connected disability rating, as defined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Vehicles must have appropriate identification, such as a special license plate or transponder, as required by the public authority. This act amends Title 23 of the U.S. Code to include disabled veterans among those permitted to use HOV facilities.

The "SALT Fairness and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction limit for state and local taxes. For individuals, the deduction limit is $100,000, and for joint returns, the limit is $200,000 for taxable years after 2024.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the number of terms a member of Congress can serve. Representatives would be limited to 3 terms and Senators to 2 terms, with specific rules for partial terms. Terms served before the amendment's ratification would not be counted. The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years to be valid.

The Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 mandates an independent review of veteran suicides and certain other deaths by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This review will analyze various factors, including prescribed medications, diagnoses, and treatment approaches, to identify patterns and inform updated clinical practice guidelines within the VA. The goal is to improve veteran safety and well-being by addressing potential overmedication and enhancing suicide prevention efforts. A report on the review's findings will be submitted to Congress and made public.

The "Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025" expands the use of tax-advantaged health accounts, including HSAs, FSAs, HRAs and Archer MSAs, to cover medical expenses of parents. This allows individuals to use these funds for their parents' or their spouse's parents' medical care. These changes aim to provide financial relief to caregivers by allowing pre-tax dollars to be used for elder care. The provisions apply to expenses and contributions made after December 31, 2024.

The Election Day Act amends Title 5 of the United States Code to recognize "Election Day" as a federal holiday. This would add Election Day to the list of recognized holidays alongside Columbus Day.

The "Manatee Protection Act of 2025" designates the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, requiring its inclusion on the endangered species list. This action provides increased protections and conservation efforts for the manatee population.

The "High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2025" incentivizes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in high-rise residential buildings by classifying these retrofits as 15-year property for depreciation purposes under the Internal Revenue Code. This classification allows for an accelerated depreciation method, providing a tax benefit for property owners who invest in these life-saving systems. The bill defines specific criteria for qualifying sprinkler systems, ensuring they meet established safety standards and are installed in buildings that pose unique challenges for fire safety. These buildings must have been in service before the installation date and have an occupiable floor more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.