Legislative Activity

The Commissary Healthy Options and servicemember Welfare (CHOW) Act establishes a pilot program to provide monthly coupons to junior enlisted members for purchasing food at military commissaries. This test program will run for one year at two selected installations to assess its effectiveness in promoting access to healthy, affordable food options. Following the pilot, the Secretary of Defense must report to Congress on usage, member feedback, and the program's impact on food security and dining facility use.

The Catastrophic Specialty Hospital Act of 2025 establishes a new designation for hospitals specializing in long-term care for severe injuries like spinal cord or acquired brain injuries. This designation exempts qualifying hospitals from standard Medicare payment rules, implementing a new payment structure tailored to their specialized services. Hospitals must meet strict criteria regarding patient volume, continuum of care, and research commitment to receive and maintain this three-year designation.

This Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act, enhances protections for servicemembers and recent veterans against abusive debt collection tactics. It specifically prohibits debt collectors from threatening adverse military actions, such as rank reduction or security clearance revocation, to coerce payment. Furthermore, the bill mandates a GAO study to assess the law's impact on military readiness and national security.

The Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a public database containing detailed historical and ongoing real estate appraisal data from federal mortgage entities to promote transparency and combat bias. It also grants consumers the right to request a reconsideration of value or a second appraisal if they believe their home's valuation was unsupported, flawed, or discriminatory. Lenders must follow specific procedures for handling these consumer challenges and ordering new appraisals when necessary.

The HEADWAY Act updates the qualification requirements for teachers in Early Head Start programs serving infants and toddlers. It mandates that every classroom must have at least one fully qualified teacher, while requiring all other direct-service teachers to actively pursue a minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Agencies must also assign mentors to guide these teachers through their credentialing process.

The Dads Matter Act of 2025 aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by promoting the active inclusion and engagement of fathers throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The bill mandates a national awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of paternal involvement and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on encouraging providers to educate and support new fathers. Finally, the Government Accountability Office will study and report on the effectiveness of these measures within six years of enactment.

The Advancing Student Services In Schools Today (ASSIST) Act aims to boost federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools by increasing the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to 90 percent for these specific expenditures. Additionally, the bill establishes a new grant program to increase the number of qualified behavioral health providers working in schools and school-based health centers. Eligible entities can apply for funding to hire culturally sensitive providers to address student needs, with strict reporting requirements on provider numbers and service effectiveness.

The BARK Act of 2025 aims to encourage the donation of pet food and supplies by providing liability protection to good-faith donors. This protection shields individuals and organizations from civil or criminal lawsuits regarding the condition of donated items intended for qualified animals. However, these shields are voided in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the donor or recipient.

The Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act ensures that when the IRS extends tax filing deadlines due to a declared disaster, that same extension automatically applies to the time limit for claiming related tax credits or refunds. Furthermore, this law adjusts the timeline for the IRS to issue collection notices, basing it on the disaster-postponed payment deadlines. This provides taxpayers with consistent relief following major emergencies.

The BAH Restoration Act aims to ensure military service members receive adequate housing support by directly tying the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to the actual cost of finding suitable housing in their specific duty location. This change mandates that the allowance calculation must accurately reflect the service member's pay grade and dependency status. The goal is to make the housing allowance a true reflection of local rental market rates.

The Rent Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal refundable tax credit for renters whose housing costs exceed 30% of their gross income. This credit is designed to provide financial assistance to households spending a disproportionate amount on rent. Furthermore, the Act creates a mechanism allowing eligible taxpayers to receive advance monthly payments of this credit before filing their annual tax return. These provisions apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Stop Predatory Investing Act targets large-scale single-family rental property owners who own 50 or more homes. This legislation disallows these "disqualified owners" from deducting interest paid on loans for these rental properties and bans them from claiming standard depreciation deductions. Exceptions allow for interest and depreciation deductions only if the property is sold to an individual owner-occupant or a qualified affordable housing nonprofit.

The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 establishes a \$100 billion federal grant program to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-generation and first-time homebuyers who meet specific income limits. Funds will be distributed to states and eligible entities to help qualified buyers purchase primary residences using eligible mortgage loans. Recipients must complete mandatory housing counseling, and assistance generally must be repaid proportionally if the home is vacated within five years.

The "Capping Prescription Costs Act of 2025" aims to lower prescription drug costs by setting annual cost-sharing limits. Starting in 2026, individual out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000, and family expenses at $4,000 under qualified health plans. These limits will be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index. The act also ensures that group health plans adhere to cost-sharing limits set by the Affordable Care Act.

This resolution honors the remarkable life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, recognizing his extensive public service, humanitarian efforts, and courageous advocacy. It celebrates his achievements as a Georgia State Senator, Governor, and President, including his role in the Camp David Accords and the establishment of the Department of Education. The resolution further acknowledges Carter's impactful post-presidency work through The Carter Center and his dedication to human rights and global peace. It also expresses sympathy to the Carter family on their loss.