Legislative Activity

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

The Dads Matter Act of 2025 aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes by increasing awareness and support for father engagement during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The bill mandates a national public awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of involved fathers, such as better prenatal attendance and reduced maternal depression. Furthermore, it requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance encouraging healthcare providers to educate and include fathers in maternal and infant care.

The LASSO Act establishes a pilot program to test the use of unmanned aerial systems (drones) for the humane gathering and management of wild free-roaming horses and burros. It allocates specific funding for grants to organizations with expertise in drone technology and equine welfare research. The resulting data will be reported to Congress and the public to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology.

The Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the online sale and trafficking of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine. This study will examine supply chains, financial transactions, current federal enforcement strategies, and the role of technology platforms in combating these illegal sales. The GAO is required to submit a full report detailing its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost federal support for organic agriculture. It establishes a new Initiative to coordinate and expand USDA organic research efforts while increasing funding for the existing Organic Research and Extension Initiative through 2030. The bill also creates dedicated funding for research focused on the transition to organic farming and mandates a comprehensive economic impact study of the organic sector.

The "If You See It, Squish It Act of 2025" mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to launch a national awareness campaign about the invasive spotted lanternfly. This campaign must include public service announcements encouraging the public to kill any lanternflies they encounter. The goal is to educate citizens on the threat this pest poses to local agriculture.

The Child Rescue Act establishes the United States Working Group on Children in Imminent Danger of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to study and recommend strategies for law enforcement to better find and rescue children at risk. This new group, overseen by the Attorney General, must assess the scale of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) distribution and its link to physical abuse. The Working Group is tasked with providing Congress with comprehensive recommendations on necessary resources, investigative priorities, and policy changes within one year.