Legislative Activity

The Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act creates a new pathway for certain immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) history to apply for permanent residency within the U.S. This legislation also establishes strict confidentiality protections for applicants against immigration enforcement actions based on their application information. Furthermore, the bill mandates detailed reporting to Congress regarding the conditions in countries whose TPS designations are terminated. Finally, it ensures that eligibility for this new status does not preclude applicants from seeking other immigration benefits.

The POST Act of 2025 updates the "85/15 rule" for private, for-profit higher education institutions receiving federal student aid. This new requirement mandates that these schools must derive at least 15 percent of their total revenue from non-federal sources to maintain eligibility. Failure to meet this threshold results in an immediate two-year suspension from federal student aid programs. The Act also establishes strict guidelines for calculating qualifying revenue and requires annual reporting to Congress on institutional funding sources.

The Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax on covered financial trading transactions involving securities and derivatives. This transaction tax rate will gradually increase from 0.02 percent in 2026 to 0.1 percent by 2030. The responsibility for paying the tax falls on exchanges, brokers, or the involved parties, depending on how the trade is executed. The bill also includes specific rules for foreign corporations and provides detailed definitions and exceptions for what constitutes a taxable security or derivative.

This resolution officially designates July 16, 2025, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day" to highlight the severity of this aggressive brain cancer. It honors those affected by glioblastoma and supports ongoing efforts to improve patient outcomes. The bill specifically calls for increased public awareness, collaboration in research, and continued funding for better treatments and diagnostic tools.

The No War Against Iran Act prohibits the President from using U.S. military force in or against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress. This means no federal funds can be spent on such military action unless Congress formally declares war or passes a specific new law authorizing the use of force, in accordance with the War Powers Resolution. The bill maintains existing requirements for presidential reporting and consultation regarding military actions.

The Insurrection Act of 2025 completely rewrites the rules governing the President's authority to deploy the U.S. Armed Forces domestically, establishing military intervention as a strict last resort. It mandates specific, severe conditions—such as overwhelming insurrection or widespread denial of constitutional rights—and requires the President to issue a detailed proclamation and consult with Congress before deployment. Any initial deployment automatically expires after seven days unless Congress passes a resolution of approval.

This concurrent resolution urges the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. It formally acknowledges the historical and ongoing harm caused by centuries of systemic racism and discriminatory government policies against various groups. The proposed Commission would be tasked with recognizing this history, promoting racial healing, and working to eliminate persistent racial inequalities in the nation.

The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act establishes a temporary, simplified Medicaid pathway for survivors of federally declared disasters, effective January 1, 2027. This pathway provides two years of coverage with relaxed income verification rules, ensuring immediate access to necessary healthcare. The bill also mandates 100% federal funding for these services and supports state efforts to rapidly deploy medical assistance and home care teams following a disaster. Finally, it adjusts Medicare enrollment rules to prevent penalties for survivors delayed by the disaster period.

The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act extends 12-month continuous enrollment protections under Medicaid and CHIP to all eligible individuals, removing previous age restrictions. This ensures greater stability in health coverage by preventing premature disenrollment. These changes are scheduled to take effect starting in the first fiscal quarter after December 31, 2026.

The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act is a comprehensive bill designed to stabilize rural and safety-net hospitals providing maternity care through enhanced financial support, including minimum Medicaid payment rates and anchor payments. It also expands continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for new mothers for a full year postpartum and invests in the maternal health workforce by supporting emergency staffing and simplifying cross-state provider enrollment. Finally, the act mandates greater transparency by requiring hospitals to give advance public notice of obstetric unit closures and report more detailed operational data to Medicare.

The HCBS Relief Act of 2025 significantly increases federal Medicaid funding for states that commit to improving their Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs. This temporary boost requires states to use the extra funds to raise provider reimbursement rates, increase worker compensation, and expand access to services for eligible individuals. States must ensure this new federal money supplements, rather than replaces, existing state spending on HCBS.

The Protect IVF Act establishes a federal right to access fertility treatments, such as IVF, based on widely accepted medical standards. It prohibits states from enacting or enforcing rules that create unnecessary roadblocks or conflict with these established medical practices. The law empowers individuals, providers, and insurers to sue to strike down restrictive state laws that interfere with evidence-based fertility care. Ultimately, this Act ensures that decisions regarding fertility treatment remain between patients and their doctors, overriding conflicting state regulations.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 aims to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within our National Forests. This legislation mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture must adhere to the existing "Roadless Rule," prohibiting the construction of new roads, the reconstruction of old roads, and timber harvesting within these designated areas. The Act seeks to preserve critical watersheds, support wildlife, and maintain areas for traditional recreation without imposing new restrictions outside of these roadless zones.

The Court Legal Access and Student Support Act of 2025 (CLASS Act) prohibits institutions of higher education receiving federal aid from forcing students into mandatory arbitration or waiving their right to sue the school in court. This legislation exempts student enrollment agreements from federal arbitration requirements, ensuring students retain the ability to pursue legal claims against their institutions. These new provisions will take effect one year after the bill is enacted into law.

This Act mandates coordination between FinCEN and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure small businesses understand and comply with beneficial ownership reporting requirements established under the Corporate Transparency Act. The bill requires the agencies to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) detailing joint efforts like public outreach, language access, and scam prevention training. Furthermore, the agencies must submit regular joint reports detailing compliance efforts and the number of companies brought into compliance.

The Protecting Community Television Act revises the definition of a "franchise fee" under the Communications Act of 1934. This change modifies the language from "includes" to "means" and adds "other monetary assessment" to clarify what payments local governments can charge cable operators. Ultimately, this bill refines how franchise fees are calculated and assessed.

This bill, the Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act, prohibits employers from terminating or altering group health plan coverage for employees during a lawful strike or a lockout intended to gain leverage in collective bargaining. The Act establishes significant civil penalties, up to $\$150,000$ per violation, for employers who illegally cut off this coverage. Furthermore, it allows for individual directors and officers to be held personally liable for these violations.

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act aims to remove annual numerical caps on employment-based visas specifically for special immigrant juveniles. This change ensures that these vulnerable youths are no longer subject to the same yearly visa limitations as other categories. By updating relevant sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill prioritizes their access to available visas.

The Protecting Seniors' Data Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive security audit of the Social Security Administration's computer systems, specifically focusing on access points used by the DOGE Service and its personnel. The Comptroller General must report any identified security weaknesses or privacy violations to Congress within one year. Following the report, the SSA Commissioner is required to promptly fix all identified vulnerabilities and report on the completion of those fixes.

The No Place for LGBTQ Hate Act immediately repeals specific Executive Orders that targeted LGBTQI individuals, preventing any federal funds from being used to enforce them. This legislation specifically cancels orders known for mandating discrimination in areas like employment and healthcare. The bill also includes a provision to ensure it does not infringe upon the President's existing constitutional authority.