Legislative Activity

The Helping Our Heroes Act allows volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel to claim a charitable deduction for the value of their services. This deduction is set at \$20 per hour, up to 300 hours annually. The provision also permits taxpayers who do not itemize deductions to claim this specific charitable contribution.

This bill, the Servicemember Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act, updates the Fair Credit Reporting Act to clarify and standardize the term used for service members eligible for credit monitoring services. It replaces the outdated term "active duty military consumer" with the broader and more accurate term "uniformed services member consumer." This ensures consistent protection and access to credit monitoring for all eligible members of the uniformed services.

The Public Access to Defibrillation in Transportation Facilities Act of 2025 aims to increase the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public transportation settings. The bill expands federal grant programs to allow funds to be used for purchasing AEDs and developing emergency response plans at these facilities. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue recommendations and guidelines for AED deployment and emergency planning at interstate transportation facilities. This legislation seeks to improve response times to sudden cardiac arrest in areas frequented by the public.

The RESTRAIN Act prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive testing of nuclear weapons or any other nuclear explosion, effective in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. This legislation specifically bans the use of authorized funds for such testing. However, the Act explicitly allows for the continuation of subcritical nuclear tests.

The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to regulate equipment used in illicit drug manufacturing. This legislation requires manufacturers and distributors of tableting and encapsulating machines, and their critical parts, to apply permanent serial numbers to these items. The bill also prohibits the removal or alteration of these required serial numbers.

The REPO for Ukrainians Implementation Act of 2025 formally recognizes international calls to repurpose frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine. This bill grants the President authority to transfer non-confiscated Russian assets into the Ukraine Support Fund, where they must be invested in U.S. government debt. Furthermore, the Secretary of State is mandated to obligate at least $250 million from the fund to Ukraine every quarter. The Act also requires the President to report on the location of these Russian assets globally and directs diplomatic efforts to encourage allies to contribute quarterly.

The 21st Century Dyslexia Act formally recognizes dyslexia under federal education law by updating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) definition of specific learning disabilities. This legislation provides a clear definition of dyslexia, emphasizing unexpected reading difficulty due to phonological processing challenges. Furthermore, the Act ensures equitable access to necessary accommodations and services for all eligible children, specifically addressing disparities for low-income and English language learner students.

The BLOOD Centers Act establishes an expedited approval process through the FDA for licensed blood centers seeking to add new apheresis collection devices at existing locations. This fast-track system mandates a 30-day decision window for supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) supplements, ensuring quicker deployment of new equipment. The goal is to streamline operations for established blood centers that meet high safety and quality standards.

The Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025 establishes U.S. policy to prioritize defense cooperation and security assistance for key NATO allies bordering Russia and Belarus. This legislation designates specific frontline nations as "Eastern Flank Strategic Defense Partners" based on geographic location and commitment to defense spending. The Act mandates that these partners receive priority access to U.S. military financing, equipment transfers, and pre-positioned war reserve stocks to enhance regional deterrence. Finally, the Secretaries of Defense and State must brief Congress on the implementation of these priorities within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

The Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act establishes a new Medicare Part B payment system for advanced skin substitute products starting in 2026, basing initial payments on 2023 utilization data and subsequent annual updates tied to the Consumer Price Index. The bill also enhances program integrity by identifying high-volume providers for increased scrutiny, including prepayment reviews and mandatory prior authorization requirements starting in 2027. Furthermore, it mandates the creation of a single, consolidated billing code for all skin substitute products by 2026.

This bill aims to establish and support the commercial-scale offshore aquaculture industry through several key actions. It creates a centralized Office of Aquaculture to coordinate regulatory and scientific efforts and mandates demonstration projects to assess the viability and safety of ocean farming. Furthermore, the legislation invests in workforce development, establishes university Centers of Excellence, and provides grants to preserve vital working waterfronts.

This bill, the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act, establishes a streamlined process for converting inactive offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines into artificial reefs. It defines key terms and outlines steps for applicants to seek approval to leave these structures in place, provided they meet environmental and safety criteria. The legislation also facilitates the transfer of long-term liability for these new reefs to participating state agencies. This process temporarily halts government removal orders while applications are under review.

The WIC Benefits Protection Act mandates that all states must operate the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This legislation also guarantees permanent, mandatory funding for WIC starting in fiscal year 2026, ensuring the program has the necessary resources annually. Furthermore, it clarifies eligibility language within the program's governing statute.

The Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act addresses the widespread issue of inaccurate penicillin allergy labels, which often lead to poorer patient outcomes. This bill mandates that Medicare cover and require physicians to perform a formal penicillin allergy verification and evaluation for seniors during their initial and annual wellness visits. The goal is to correctly identify patients who can safely take penicillin, improving care and promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship.

The Fair Access to Swift and Timely Justice Act, or FAST Justice Act, allows federal employees or job applicants to file a civil lawsuit in federal district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) fails to issue a decision on their appeal within 120 days. This provision provides an alternative remedy when the MSPB's review process causes undue delay. Filing a lawsuit pauses the MSPB appeal, but the original appeal rights remain intact if the lawsuit is dismissed.

This resolution strongly condemns the brutal October 7th attacks by Hamas, demanding the immediate and unconditional surrender of the terrorist group and the release of all hostages, including Americans. It reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense while urging international action against Hamas and condemning the global surge in antisemitism. The measure serves as a formal statement of U.S. policy and support following the attacks.

The Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act of 2025 modifies the effective date for scheduled adjustments to the liability cap for passenger rail services. Specifically, any liability cap change set to occur during calendar year 2026 will be delayed. The new cap amount will only take effect 90 days after the required public notice of the adjustment is officially issued.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal appropriations lapse to make tax-favored withdrawals of up to \$30,000 from their retirement plans without incurring early withdrawal penalties. These distributions can be repaid within three years and the taxable income can be spread over three years. This relief specifically targets furloughed federal contractors, grantee employees, and certain D.C. government workers impacted by shutdowns lasting two weeks or more.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to $30,000 during a qualifying shutdown. Additionally, it allows affected employees greater access to TSP hardship withdrawals and loans, and prevents missed TSP loan payments due to a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to create and issue guidance for banks and lenders on how to support customers and businesses affected by a government shutdown. This guidance must encourage flexible loan adjustments and prevent unfair negative credit reporting for those experiencing income loss due to the lapse in funding. Regulators must also issue rapid alerts when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.