Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act This bill permanently allows services relating to cardiac rehabilitation programs, intensive cardiac rehabilitation programs, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs to be furnished via telehealth at a beneficiary's home under Medicare.
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from treating pregnancy as an illness when approving or regulating abortion drugs. It specifically bans using this framework for approvals under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or for risk management strategies. The bill also nullifies existing approvals of abortion drugs (like mifepristone) that relied on treating pregnancy as an illness. This directly affects how the FDA regulates abortion medications, changing the basis for their safety and efficacy evaluations.
The Second Chance for Moms Act (HR 796) requires a new warning label on mifepristone - a medication used for medical abortions - stating that natural progesterone may counteract its effects and increase fetal survival, with a hotline reference for further information. It also mandates a federal 24/7 hotline providing support and referrals exclusively to healthcare providers offering "abortion pill reversal" services. This bill directly affects patients prescribed mifepristone and healthcare providers who dispense the medication, as the label must appear on packaging and the hotline must be established. The warning label would take effect six months after enactment, and the hotline would operate under the Public Health Service Act.
HR 797, the Ultrasounds Save Lives Act of 2025, requires abortion providers to perform an ultrasound before an abortion (except in medical emergencies) and share the results with the patient. It mandates a specific informed consent form detailing the fetus's gestational age, medical risks, developmental stage (including heartbeat and organ development), and provider penalties for non-compliance. Violations trigger civil penalties of $100,000-$250,000 per incident, plus private lawsuits allowing patients to seek triple the abortion cost in damages. The law applies to licensed medical providers and those legally authorized to perform abortions, with exceptions only when ultrasound poses a direct risk to the patient's life or major bodily function.
This bill prohibits federal funds from being used to cover gender transition procedures for individuals under 18, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies (at higher-than-normal doses), and surgeries like hysterectomies or mastectomies. It defines "sex" biologically as male or female and exempts certain medical treatments, such as puberty suppression for precocious puberty or care for genetic disorders of sex development. The policy directly affects minors receiving federally funded healthcare (e.g., Medicaid), restricting coverage for most gender-affirming care. Key mechanisms include funding restrictions and specific medical exceptions, though it does not ban private insurance or out-of-pocket payments.
HR 808, the "Fairness for the Trades Act," would allow individuals using 529 college savings accounts to cover certain trade-related business expenses as qualified higher education costs. Specifically, it expands the definition of "qualified expenses" to include tools and equipment (like hand tools or specialized machinery) used in designated skilled trades, such as construction, plumbing, electrical work, and maintenance, as listed by specific industry codes. This change directly affects people saving for trade careers through 529 plans, enabling them to use account funds for equipment purchases instead of just tuition or books. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new funding but modifies existing 529 account rules to support trade training costs.
This bill requires abortion providers to give patients a consent form outlining disposal options for fetal remains (taking the remains or transferring them to interment/cremation services). Providers must arrange interment or cremation within 7 days if patients release remains, and face civil penalties up to $50,000 or criminal charges for noncompliance. It mandates annual reporting by providers on abortion procedures, gestational age, and disposal methods, with the Secretary submitting a separate report to Congress. The bill directly affects abortion providers and patients receiving abortion care, adding handling and reporting requirements for fetal remains without changing abortion access or medical procedures.
HR 801, the Charitable Act, creates a new tax deduction for individuals who do not itemize deductions on their federal tax returns. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for charitable contributions in 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects non-itemizing individual taxpayers by providing a limited, direct deduction for charitable giving without requiring them to itemize. The deduction is capped at 1/3 of the standard deduction amount for those tax years, effective for returns filed in 2027 and 2028.
HR 778, the Safeguarding American Workers’ Benefits Act, modifies Social Security Number (SSN) requirements for claiming the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It requires taxpayers to provide SSNs issued to U.S. citizens or under specific legal provisions (as defined in the bill) before the tax return deadline, replacing previous allowances for certain alternative numbers. This directly affects individuals filing taxes who seek these credits, as they must now use only eligible SSNs to qualify. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill does not alter the credit amounts but tightens verification rules for eligibility.
HR 799, the Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2025, requires healthcare providers to notify a minor's parents (or legal guardian) in writing before performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor under 18, with a 96-hour waiting period after notification. Parents may then seek a federal court injunction to halt the procedure, which would remain in effect until the court rules. The bill includes a medical emergency exception allowing abortions without notification if a physician certifies a life-threatening condition for the minor. This law directly affects minors under 18 seeking abortions, their parents/guardians, and healthcare providers performing such procedures in facilities receiving federal funds or operating across state lines.
SRES 39 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating January 1-February 1, 2025, as "National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month" to raise public awareness about human trafficking and modern slavery. It does not create new laws or policies but urges federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, along with community organizations, to hold awareness events during this period. The resolution references historical dates (January 1, anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation; February 1, National Freedom Day) to connect the observance with the fight against slavery. It indirectly affects the public by promoting education and collaboration to combat trafficking, though it has no binding legal effect.
This bill requires abortion providers to obtain patient consent for disposal of fetal tissue after an abortion, offering options to take the tissue or have the provider arrange interment or cremation within 7 days. It mandates providers to document consent, report annual abortion statistics and disposal methods to the Health Secretary, and face penalties including up to $50,000 fines or 5 years in prison for violations. The law directly affects abortion providers (clinics and doctors) and patients undergoing abortions, with no change to abortion access itself. Key provisions include standardized consent forms, disposal requirements aligned with state laws for human remains, and annual federal reporting on abortion procedures and tissue disposal.
