Legislative Activity

The Blue Envelope Awareness Act amends federal law to allow states and local governments to use Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds for "blue envelope programs." These programs assist individuals with speech, hearing, or developmental disabilities by providing them with a blue envelope to present disability documentation during traffic stops. The funding also supports necessary training for law enforcement officers on interacting effectively with these individuals.

The Protecting Patients from Rehab Fraud Act of 2025 mandates comprehensive reports from the Attorney General and the Comptroller General on fraud, illegal tactics, and patient abandonment within the drug addiction treatment industry. These reports will detail issues like insurance fraud, patient dumping, and facility misconduct. The goal is to provide Congress with necessary information and recommendations to crack down on these illegal practices and better protect vulnerable patients.

The China AI Threat Assessment Act mandates the Director of National Intelligence to produce a comprehensive National Intelligence Estimate on artificial intelligence systems developed by China. This report must analyze the risks these systems pose to U.S. national security and democratic institutions, including potential biases and uses for surveillance or foreign influence. The resulting assessment will inform U.S. strategy for monitoring and countering harmful Chinese AI technology.

This Act mandates enhanced southbound inspections at the Southern Border to interdict weapons, currency, and drugs being smuggled out of the U.S. It requires the deployment of new inspection technology and the hiring of 200 new Homeland Security Investigations agents focused on outbound smuggling. Furthermore, the bill establishes a minimum mandatory inspection rate of 10% for all southbound traffic by 2027 and requires regular reporting on inspection resources and seizure statistics.

The Transnational Fentanyl Prevention Act mandates the Director of the CIA to produce a comprehensive intelligence assessment of the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. This report must detail their structure, smuggling operations, chemical sourcing, and methods for undermining counternarcotics efforts. The assessment will be delivered to key congressional committees within 90 days of enactment.

The Scam Defense Strategy Act addresses the significant national security threat posed by transnational organized crime networks, often linked to the Chinese Communist Party, that conduct massive digital scams targeting Americans. This legislation establishes Congressional findings detailing the billions lost annually and the humanitarian crisis associated with these operations. Furthermore, it mandates that the U.S. Cyber Commander submit a report outlining necessary cyber defense actions to counter these foreign-backed criminal networks.

The Auto Reenroll Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA to mandate the automatic reenrollment of employees in certain retirement savings plans after they have opted out for a maximum of three years. This legislation requires participants who previously elected not to contribute to be automatically re-enrolled at the plan's default rate unless they actively choose to opt out again. The bill aims to increase retirement savings participation by resetting voluntary opt-out elections periodically.

The Linking Seniors to Needed Legal Services Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to help states better connect older adults with essential legal assistance. This funding supports evidence-based methods like medical-legal partnerships integrated into healthcare settings and expanded legal hotlines. The goal is to create real-time connections between health/social services and legal help for vulnerable seniors. States receiving grants must report on referrals and outcomes to ensure accountability.

The Tech Wellness for Young Men Act mandates a comprehensive national study on the mental, social, and developmental impacts of screen addiction among young men aged 12 to 25. This study will investigate the links between excessive screen use and issues like depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. The Department of Health and Human Services must report its findings, including identification of the most affected subgroups, to Congress within 18 months of enactment.

The Tech Wellness for Men Act mandates a comprehensive national study on the social, economic, and health impacts of screen addiction among adult men aged 25 to 64. This study will examine the links between excessive screen time and issues like depression, workforce participation, and social isolation. The findings, including relevant mental health resources, must be publicly published within 18 months of the Act's enactment.

The Emergency Savings Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to improve retirement savings flexibility by increasing the mandatory cash-out limit for retirement plans from \$2,500 to \$5,000. It also raises the annual contribution limit for Roth contributions to employer plans from \$2,500 to \$5,000. These changes are designed to enhance participant options regarding smaller vested balances and Roth savings.

The Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act establishes a new grant program to expand digital workplace skills training across the nation. This initiative aims to build digital competency for workers in high-demand industries and foster digitally resilient education and workforce systems. Funds will be distributed to states via formula grants, which must then be used to award subgrants to local entities, alongside direct competitive grants from the Department of Labor. The overall goal is to help individuals access better jobs by closing digital skill gaps.

The Cutting COSTS Act of 2025 establishes a program to fully reimburse small farms and beginning farmers/ranchers for the cost of completing a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) food safety audit. This initiative aims to improve market access for these producers by covering the expense of required third-party audits. The program will be funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation and will operate for five years, with required annual reporting to Congress.

The Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act streamlines the process for providing federal housing assistance in rural areas by exempting certain residential construction or modification projects on existing infill sites from full environmental review under NEPA. This aims to reduce administrative delays and costs associated with building affordable homes where infrastructure already exists. The Secretary of Agriculture must report to Congress in five years on the impact of this exemption.

The Main Street Home Builders Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support small businesses involved in building or managing build-to-rent multifamily housing. This program will provide loans through State development companies to help these small businesses construct or improve rental housing projects. The initiative includes specific requirements for lenders and ensures that funded projects result in the creation of new dwelling units.

The REAP Modernization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) by prioritizing climate benefits and expanding eligibility to producer and rural electric cooperatives. This bill increases maximum grant and loan amounts while requiring a streamlined application process and technical assistance for applicants. It also mandates a study on dual-use energy systems that combine renewable energy and agricultural production on the same land.

The Caring for Grieving Families Act of 2025 aims to ease the financial burden on families experiencing pregnancy loss. This legislation limits out-of-pocket costs for prenatal care when a pregnancy ends in miscarriage or stillbirth under certain health insurance plans. Specifically, it prevents insurers from charging excessive cost-sharing for prenatal services already received if the bundled payment for childbirth is not made.

The Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025 establishes a temporary pathway allowing certain financially vulnerable rural hospitals to qualify as Critical Access Hospitals, even if they do not meet the standard 35-mile rule, provided they meet specific criteria and state certification. The bill also mandates studies by MedPAC and the GAO to examine rural hospital payment systems and the effectiveness of these new designations. Finally, it adjusts bed limit requirements for Critical Access Hospitals located in U.S. territories.

The Total Force Family Education Act expands eligibility for Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools to dependents of certain reserve component members. This provision applies when the service member is on active duty orders for an accompanied permanent change of station. Eligible dependents will be automatically enrolled if space is available at the school located at the member's permanent installation.

The SCAM Act establishes a joint task force, led by the Department of Defense, to investigate and disrupt transnational cybercrime and scam networks, with a priority focus on those linked to the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific. This task force will coordinate across numerous federal agencies to protect Americans from significant financial losses due to these scams. Within one year, the task force must report findings and recommend policy options, including sanctions and cyber actions, to combat these threats. The legislation aims to address the national security and economic risks posed by these criminal operations.