Legislative Activity

The Bicycle Commuter Act of 2025 reinstates and expands tax-free fringe benefits for employers who support employees using bicycles or scooters for commuting. This legislation broadens the definition of qualified commuting property to include e-bikes and scooters, allowing for employer reimbursements or direct provision of these benefits. However, the monthly exclusion amount for these bicycle benefits is capped at 30 percent of the standard transit benefit limit.

This resolution calls for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the severe crisis facing civilians in Gaza, highlighting widespread hunger and the collapse of essential services due to blocked aid. It urges the Administration to immediately use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of hostages, lift the blockade on aid, and work toward a lasting end to the fighting.

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 aims to combat rising food insecurity by eliminating the work requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This legislation recognizes the critical role SNAP plays in supporting vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. By removing bureaucratic barriers, the Act intends to ensure consistent access to vital food assistance. All provisions of the Act will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study approximately 22 miles of the Nulhegan River and 18 miles of Paul Stream in Vermont for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study must be completed within three years of funding being made available. Upon completion, a report detailing the findings must be submitted to Congress.

The Advancing GETs Act of 2025 aims to modernize the electric grid by incentivizing the adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) through a shared savings program managed by FERC. The bill also mandates comprehensive annual reporting on transmission congestion costs to improve transparency and decision-making. Furthermore, it directs the Department of Energy to create a public guide and technical assistance hub to support the deployment of these new technologies.

The LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 expands exemptions under the Federal Meat Inspection Act for small-scale, personal meat processing. This allows individuals who partially own livestock to process the resulting meat for their household, guests, or employees without federal inspection. The bill requires owners to maintain strict control and identification of the meat, even when using agents for slaughtering or transport, to prevent it from entering commercial channels.

The SHARE Act of 2025 establishes new rules for how states can share and use criminal history records when processing professional licenses across state lines through interstate compacts. It mandates that the FBI must provide relevant criminal history information to state licensing authorities for these multi-state checks. Crucially, the receiving state authority is strictly limited to using this data solely for the licensing decision and cannot share the detailed records with any other entity, though they may confirm the check's completion.

The Deliver for Democracy Act ties the Postal Service's ability to raise periodical rates to meeting specific on-time delivery performance targets for magazines and newspapers. It mandates annual public reporting by the Postmaster General on newspaper delivery performance, requiring input from relevant industry groups. Finally, the bill directs the GAO to study and report on alternative pricing strategies for periodicals that currently cost the USPS more to handle than they generate in postage.

The Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act aims to ensure pharmacies receive accurate payments under Medicaid by requiring government surveys to establish transparent national drug acquisition cost benchmarks. It also prohibits abusive "spread pricing" by requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pass through ingredient costs plus dispensing fees directly to pharmacies. This legislation mandates greater transparency in PBM contracts and establishes penalties for non-compliant pharmacies refusing to participate in cost surveys.

The Farm Ownership Improvement Act establishes a temporary, five-year pilot program for direct farm ownership loans to help farmers and ranchers secure financing. This program allows the Secretary of Agriculture to use flexible financial assessment methods when evaluating a borrower's ability to repay. The Secretary must track the program's success and report annually to Congress with a recommendation on making the program permanent.

This Act aims to immediately restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support refugees across the region. It repeals previous legislative bans on UNRWA funding and directs the Secretary of State to resume payments promptly. The bill mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing UNRWA's progress in implementing accountability reforms recommended by the Independent Review Group.

This resolution reaffirms the principle that no country should forcibly take territory from another, supporting Ukraine and its allies. It echoes President Reagan's call to stand with democracies against aggression. The resolution asserts that a country's borders and government should not be threatened or attacked by another country.

The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act removes Section 230 immunity for large social media platforms that intentionally or knowingly host false information regarding election administration logistics. This legislation establishes a strict timeline for platforms to review and remove such objectively false content upon receiving a complete complaint. Failure to comply with these removal requirements subjects platforms to significant financial penalties enforceable by the Attorney General, State officials, or affected candidates. The Act specifically excludes content attacking political candidates or parties from this definition.

The DRIVE Act of 2025 ensures that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a mileage reimbursement rate for beneficiary travel that is at least equal to the federal rate provided to government employees. It also mandates that the VA process and pay these mileage allowances within 90 days of receiving a complete and accurate claim. This bill aims to reduce the financial burden on veterans when traveling to receive medical care.

This bill amends existing regulations to include Czechia in the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 nonimmigrant traders, under the condition that the Czech government provides similar trade benefits to U.S. citizens. This change would allow Czech citizens to enter the U.S. for trade purposes if U.S. citizens are afforded the same opportunities in Czechia.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025 expands the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont. It authorizes the acquisition of land within the updated boundaries for park inclusion and allows for the continuation of Vermont's agricultural and forestry practices on acquired lands. This act also establishes the National Park Service Stewardship Institute within the park to promote conservation and stewardship through various programs and partnerships.

This resolution formally congratulates the University of Vermont men's soccer team, the "Catamounts," on winning their first-ever NCAA Division I national championship in 2024. It recognizes the team's historic comeback victory and commemorates the dedication of the players, coaching staff, and support personnel throughout their remarkable season.

The WEATHER Act of 2025 establishes a new, streamlined federal index insurance policy designed to protect agricultural producers from income losses caused by extreme weather events. This initiative mandates the development of accessible, data-driven coverage available nationwide, with a specific focus on reducing paperwork and supporting small-scale and underserved farmers. The bill also requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and stakeholder consultations to ensure the program effectively addresses modern climate-related agricultural threats.

The Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act expands the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program by officially designating maple syrup as an eligible food item. This change allows program participants to use their benefits to purchase maple syrup directly from local farmers and producers.

The Supporting All Producers (SAP) Act extends the Acer Access and Development Program through 2030, ensuring continued support for the maple syrup industry. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture consult with industry stakeholders to better align grant funding with research and education priorities.