Legislative Activity

The National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025 seeks to strengthen advocacy for veterans by establishing an independent Office of the National Veterans Advocate within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which reports directly to the Secretary. This office will monitor Department processes, recommend improvements to Congress, manage veteran casework, and ensure adequate training and staffing of veteran advocates across the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The act mandates biannual reports to Congress and requires the office to maintain a public website and casework portal. Finally, the act authorizes \$25 million in appropriations annually from 2026 to 2030 to carry out these provisions.

The "Reduce Bureaucracy to Uplift Families Act" reduces the amount of funds states can use for administrative expenses related to family assistance programs, from 15% to 10%, allowing the additional funds to be used for case management. States that do not comply with these limitations will face penalties, including a reduction in grant funding. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2026.

The "Strengthen Wood Product Supply Chains Act of 2025" amends the Lacey Act to revise the process for handling merchandise detained for inspection. It requires the Secretary to issue a detention notice to the importer within 5 days of detaining merchandise, allow importers to move detained merchandise to a non-government controlled location, and release or seize the merchandise within 30 days of the initial detention. The bill also allows importers to request administrative review of a seizure and file a claim in a U.S. District Court if necessary.

The Baby Observation Act, or BOs Act, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on the use of home cardiorespiratory monitors for infants to prevent sudden unexpected infant death. The report will assess the effectiveness, performance, and accuracy of these monitors, as well as new care models and health care plan coverage criteria. It will also provide recommendations on insurance coverage for these monitors.

This bill permits the reliquidation of specific entries of K389 Hole-N-One golf cart tires, allowing for refunds of duties paid, with interest. This applies even if the usual time limit for reliquidation has expired. Reliquidation must occur within 90 days of the bill's enactment, using the original duty rate.

The Improper Payments Transparency Act requires the President's budget to include detailed information on improper payment amounts and rates for programs at executive agencies, including explanations for these payments and trends over the past three years. It also requires information on incomplete corrective actions and future steps to address improper payment issues.

The Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025 amends section 2306(h) of title 38, United States Code, concerning the provision of additional burial benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs when an urn or plaque is provided. It modifies the criteria for providing additional burial benefits, specifically concerning the furnishing of headstones or markers for eligible individuals. This amendment applies to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.

The "Studying NEPA's Impact on Projects Act" mandates the Council on Environmental Quality to produce an annual report detailing the effects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on various projects. This report will include data on legal actions, the length and cost of environmental impact statements and assessments, and the timelines for completing environmental reviews, broken down by project type and sector. The goal is to provide transparency and analysis of NEPA's impact, with the report and its underlying data being publicly accessible.

The "PROTECT Jewish Students and Faculty Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, requiring institutions to include a definition of antisemitism in their student and employee conduct resources. It mandates a statement prohibiting antisemitic conduct on campus, which may lead to expulsion for students or termination of employment for employees.

The "Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act" amends the tax code to include certain travel trailers and campers in the definition of "floor plan financing." This change, applicable for taxable years after 2024, allows businesses that finance these vehicles as inventory to deduct interest expenses, aligning their tax treatment with that of other vehicles.

The Sergeant Ted Grubbs Mental Healthcare for Disabled Veterans Act aims to improve access to mental healthcare for disabled veterans. Specifically, it mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care or services to veterans with a service-connected mental disorder rated at 50 percent or higher within five days of their request. This ensures timely access to crucial mental health support for veterans in need.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the total U.S. government debt to a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), starting at 130% and decreasing to a permanent limit of 120%. It allows Congress to exceed this limit with a supermajority vote and provides waivers for defense spending during declared wars or serious military conflicts. The President must submit a budget adhering to these debt limits, and Congress is tasked with enforcing the amendment through legislation. The amendment would take effect three fiscal years after ratification.