Legislative Activity

The Disaster Reforestation Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax relief for timber owners whose uncut timber is destroyed by natural disasters, pests, or disease. It allows owners to deduct the appraised value of lost timber—including pre-merchantable stands—provided they commit to reforesting the land within five years. This measure supports active timber businesses by ensuring tax deductions more accurately reflect the economic loss caused by casualty events.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to health insurance by removing the 400% federal poverty level income cap for premium tax credits. It also introduces a new sliding-scale contribution formula to ensure that insurance costs remain affordable for households across all income levels. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 strengthens federal law to combat "swatting" by increasing criminal penalties for those who knowingly report false information to trigger emergency responses. The bill also establishes civil liability, requiring perpetrators to reimburse public safety agencies and organizations for the costs incurred during these emergency deployments.

The CAREERS Act expands and extends rural workforce training programs to better align education with local economic needs. By broadening eligibility for training providers and supporting diverse industry sectors, the bill aims to address rural workforce challenges like youth migration and aging populations. Additionally, it introduces enhanced reporting requirements to ensure programs effectively improve employment and earnings outcomes for rural participants through 2030.

The Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act prohibits the United States from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Georgian government led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or his proxies due to ongoing corruption and foreign influence. The bill mandates the use of sanctions to counter the regime's alignment with Russia, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party while officially recognizing the pre-election leadership as the country's legitimate authority. This policy remains in effect until Georgia restores its constitutional order through free and fair, internationally certified elections.

The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of electronic automated referral systems for organ donation. This study will evaluate how these systems can streamline the identification of potential donors, improve efficiency, and increase donation volumes. Ultimately, the report will provide recommendations and a roadmap for the nationwide adoption of these automated technologies.

The Dairy Farm Resiliency Act strengthens support for dairy producers by modernizing how production history is calculated to better reflect current operations. Additionally, the bill expands access to lower premium rates by increasing the production threshold for Tier I coverage. These updates aim to provide dairy farmers with more effective and relevant financial protection.

The HOV Lanes for Heroes Act authorizes public highway authorities to grant disabled veterans access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle. Under this legislation, qualifying veterans may use these lanes toll-free, provided they meet specific identification and disability rating requirements set by local authorities.

The SALT Fairness and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act proposes increasing the federal deduction limit for state and local taxes (SALT). The bill raises the current $10,000 cap to $100,000 for most individuals and $200,000 for married couples filing jointly, effective for tax years beginning after 2024.

The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025 mandates that the VA provide comprehensive infertility treatments and fertility preservation services to enrolled veterans and their chosen partners. This legislation expands access to assisted reproductive technology, including IVF and gamete storage, regardless of marital status. It also provides coverage for partner travel expenses and establishes clear guidelines for consent and implementation.

The Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive GAO study to evaluate the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of menopause-related care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Following this assessment, the VA is required to develop a strategic plan to implement improvements and address gaps in care. This legislation aims to ensure veterans receive high-quality, informed support throughout all stages of menopause.

The Dental Care for Veterans Act aims to improve veterans' access to dental care by integrating it more closely with other medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill removes specific limitations and updates existing code to allow the Secretary to provide comprehensive dental care, including dentures and appliances. The implementation of these expanded benefits will be phased in over four years, prioritizing veterans based on existing eligibility criteria. Additionally, the bill makes necessary clerical updates to reflect these changes in the U.S. Code.

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 "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 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 "Rural 340B Access Act of 2025" expands the 340B drug discount program to include rural emergency hospitals. To qualify, these hospitals must be owned/operated by a government entity or a non-profit with governmental powers, or have a contract to provide healthcare to low-income individuals ineligible for Medicare/Medicaid. This expansion aims to improve access to affordable medications in rural communities.

The CLEAN Elections Act requires states to use independent, nonpartisan commissions for Congressional redistricting. States must use similar commissions for state legislative districts to access federal election administration funds. A commission is considered nonpartisan and independent if the number of members from the state's two largest political parties is equal and none of its members are elected officials.

The Election Day Act designates Election Day as a federal legal public holiday. This change aims to increase voter participation by ensuring more citizens have the time and opportunity to cast their ballots.

The High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2025 encourages fire safety upgrades by allowing building owners to accelerate tax depreciation for automatic sprinkler system retrofits. This incentive applies to residential high-rise buildings over 75 feet tall that install systems meeting current National Fire Protection Association standards. By classifying these retrofits as 15-year property, the bill aims to reduce the financial burden of improving fire protection in older structures.