Legislative Activity

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2025 establishes a \$100,000 cap on the total educational assistance the VA will pay for flight training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill at public colleges and universities. This maximum benefit amount will automatically increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index to keep pace with inflation. This new limitation applies only to veterans beginning flight training programs on or after August 1, 2026.

The Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act of 2025 directs NASA and NOAA to expand civilian space cooperation with Taiwan. This legislation mandates the initiation of discussions to collaborate on non-military space activities, including satellite programs and weather monitoring. The relevant agencies must report annually to Congress for five years on the progress and scope of this partnership.

The Combatting Fentanyl Poisonings Act of 2025 establishes several new grant programs managed by the Attorney General to address the fentanyl crisis. These grants will fund local law enforcement efforts to stop social media drug sales, support non-profit organizations in running public awareness campaigns, and equip officers to safely handle fentanyl exposure. The Act specifically allocates funds for enforcement, education, and officer protection related to the dangers of fentanyl.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to significantly increase healthcare price transparency across the board. It mandates that hospitals, clinical diagnostic laboratories, and ambulatory surgical centers must publicly post detailed, consumer-friendly pricing information, including negotiated rates and cash prices. Furthermore, the bill strengthens requirements for health plans to provide real-time cost-sharing estimates and mandates itemized Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and itemized bills to consumers after receiving care. Finally, it increases fiduciary oversight by requiring group health plans to gain greater access to claims and payment data from their service providers.

The LIFT AI Act aims to prepare K-12 educators and students for an AI-literate future by fostering national understanding of Artificial Intelligence. It authorizes the National Science Foundation Director to award grants for developing K-12 AI literacy curricula, teacher training, and responsible use guidelines. The goal is to ensure students gain the necessary skills to critically use, understand, and contribute to the evolving world of AI technology.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

The Revitalizing Rural Communities Act of 2025 extends and increases funding for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. This legislation boosts the annual allocation for the program from \$10 million to \$12 million. The increased funding is set to continue for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support rural economic growth.

The It’s About Time Act changes the federal government's fiscal year to align with the calendar year, running from January 1st to December 31st, effective January 1, 2027. This legislation mandates the President to submit a budget for the transition period of October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. It also directs the OMB to establish rules for agency transitions and updates existing appropriation laws to reflect the new year-end date.

The TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Defense provide TRICARE beneficiaries with proactive, multi-stage electronic notifications before coverage transition requirements take effect. This ensures beneficiaries are clearly informed about necessary actions, such as re-enrollment due to age limits. The Act also requires a public awareness campaign and annual reporting to Congress on the effectiveness of these notification efforts.

The Flight Refund Fairness Act establishes clear, strict deadlines for ticket agents to issue refunds to consumers after a flight cancellation or significant delay. Specifically, ticket agents must now return the refund money to the customer within seven days of receiving the funds from the airline. This legislation replaces vague "promptly" requirements with a concrete timeline to ensure passengers receive their money back faster.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities initiated after February 20, 2025, against designated terrorist groups or drug trafficking organizations without prior Congressional authorization. It asserts Congress's constitutional power to declare war and finds recent military strikes against vessels lacked proper justification. The bill allows for continued use of forces for self-defense or authorized counternarcotics support, but explicitly states drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack.

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to expand eligibility for additional federal subsidies for water infrastructure projects. It specifically allows these funds to support investments in new technologies and processes that promote water efficiency, energy efficiency, and stormwater runoff reduction. The goal is to encourage the development of cost-effective and sustainable water infrastructure.

The Portal for Appraisal Licensing Act of 2025 establishes a centralized, cloud-based system managed by the Appraisal Subcommittee for appraiser credentialing and AMC registration. This portal will streamline license submissions, fee payments, and access to required FBI background checks for state regulators. While the system centralizes data and tracking via unique IDs, states retain final authority over licensing decisions. The Subcommittee will establish an advisory committee and charge reasonable user fees to fund the portal's development and maintenance.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve federal support for state-level stillbirth research and data collection. It authorizes grants for states to enhance surveillance, track risk factors, and build local capacity for analyzing stillbirth data, provided the information remains de-identified. Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of standardized guidelines and educational materials regarding stillbirth awareness and risk factors, developed in consultation with experts and bereaved families.

This Act addresses the unjust detention of U.S. nationals and their family members by the People's Republic of China. It mandates the development of a diplomatic action plan by the Secretary of State to secure releases and hold accountable Chinese officials responsible for these detentions. Furthermore, the bill calls for increased reporting to Congress and outlines specific policy actions to condemn China's use of detention and exit bans as leverage.

The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act establishes a high-level Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to develop and execute a comprehensive U.S. strategy against transnational criminal organizations running massive online scams, often utilizing victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This strategy must focus on disrupting these operations, sanctioning responsible parties, and providing support for rescued victims. The bill authorizes $30 million over two years to fund these efforts and requires annual reporting to Congress on progress and impact.

This House Resolution strongly condemns all forms of political violence and threats against elected officials and public figures, regardless of political affiliation. It affirms that disagreements must be resolved through peaceful and democratic means, not intimidation or force. The resolution urges law enforcement to prosecute those who commit or encourage such violence. Finally, it calls on all leaders to cease using dehumanizing rhetoric and promote civil discourse.