Healthcare

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority with respect to research on rare pediatric diseases, including by permitting the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to satisfy pediatric study requirements and by reauthorizing programs that support pediatric research.  Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved, provided certain conditions are met; permits the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to comply with pediatric study requirements, if such sponsors demonstrated a lack of due diligence in satisfying the requirement; renews the FDA’s authority to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2029; and reauthorizes through FY2027 certain funding for the National Institutes of Health to support priority pediatric research.  The bill also provides statutory authority for the FDA’s interpretation of the orphan drug exclusivity period. The bill specifies, consistent with FDA regulations, that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drugs) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. (In Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra , a court rejected the FDA’s interpretation and held that orphan drug exclusivity extends to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.)

HR 120, the No Mandates Act, bans federal agencies and entities receiving certain federal funds from requiring individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccine. It prohibits agencies from issuing any rules mandating the vaccine and forbids requiring vaccination for access to federal property, services, or congressional grounds. Entities receiving funds from specific COVID-19 relief packages (like the CARES Act or American Rescue Plan) cannot require vaccination as a condition for providing services, and must return all federal funds if they violate this rule. The bill directly affects federal agencies, government contractors, and organizations like hospitals or businesses that received pandemic relief funds.

HR 5372, the DEMO Act, creates federal grants to fund 3-year demonstration projects helping low-income individuals (under 138% of the federal poverty level) with arrest or conviction records enter health professions careers. The bill requires participating states to have policies allowing health credentials despite records and mandates projects to provide legal assistance, job training, and post-employment support. Grants require applicants to demonstrate partnerships with organizations experienced in supporting people with criminal records and to target high-demand, well-paying health jobs. The legislation appropriates $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and mandates evaluations to measure outcomes like credential attainment and job placement.

Farmers First Act of 2025 This bill extends through FY2030 and revises the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). This Department of Agriculture program provides competitive grants to states, Indian tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations to provide stress assistance programs (i.e., professional agricultural behavioral health counseling, helplines, and resources) to individuals engaged in farming, ranching, and agriculture-related occupations. The bill specifies that the grant funding for farm telephone helplines and websites may also be used for crisis lines. Further, FRSAN grant recipients may establish referral relationships with providers, including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, health centers, rural health clinics, and critical access hospitals.

Freedom from Mandates Act This bill nullifies certain executive orders regarding COVID-19 safety and prohibits the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) from taking specified actions with respect to vaccination against COVID-19. Specifically, the bill nullifies Executive Order 14042 (relating to ensuring adequate COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors) and Executive Order 14043 (requiring COVID-19 vaccination for federal employees). Labor may not issue any rule requiring employers to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID-19 or requiring testing of employees who are unvaccinated. HHS may not (1) require a health care provider, as a condition of participation in the Medicare or Medicaid program, to mandate vaccination of employees against COVID-19 or require testing of employees who are unvaccinated; or (2) otherwise penalize such a provider for failure to mandate such vaccination or require such testing.

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-certified health care providers when conducting physical examinations for service members separating from the military if a medical condition potentially qualifying them for VA disability benefits is identified. It mandates that any disability eligibility determination made during this required examination becomes binding for the VA, directly affecting separating service members by streamlining their initial disability rating process. Additionally, the bill creates a joint DOD-VA recordkeeping system to share medical and personnel records between the two agencies. These provisions aim to reduce delays and duplicate paperwork for service members transitioning to VA benefits.

HR 2398, the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, amends federal tax law to exempt certain student loan repayment or forgiveness assistance from income tax for veterinarians working in rural areas. It specifically expands existing tax exclusions to include programs under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 3151a) and similar state-level programs designed to increase rural veterinary access. This change directly affects veterinarians participating in qualifying loan repayment or forgiveness programs in states prioritizing rural veterinary services. The policy change modifies IRS tax treatment to reduce the financial burden on veterinarians serving underserved rural communities.

S 1628, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, eliminates work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill directly affects approximately 6.1 million people currently subject to SNAP work requirements, including many Black and Hispanic individuals, families with children, and people with health barriers that prevent compliance. It amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by removing subsection (o) that enforced work requirements and making related administrative adjustments. This change aims to prevent benefit reductions or terminations for vulnerable households during the pandemic, addressing findings that work requirements disproportionately impact communities of color and those facing health or homelessness challenges. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

HR 1320, the Modern Worker Security Act, changes how federal law determines if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. It prohibits considering whether a worker has access to "portable benefits" (like health insurance, retirement savings, or paid leave that they can keep after leaving a job) when making this classification. This directly affects workers who might currently be misclassified as independent contractors, denying them employee benefits. The key mechanism is removing portable benefits from the employee status determination process, aiming to ensure workers who perform regular work for an employer qualify for standard employee protections.

HR 87, the "Protecting Our Children from the CDC Act," requires the CDC to publicly post all clinical safety and effectiveness data for any COVID-19 vaccine before it can be added to the official child and adolescent immunization schedule. It automatically removes all currently listed COVID-19 vaccines from that schedule upon the bill's enactment. The bill mandates that all posted data must be de-identified to protect privacy. This applies specifically to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) schedule and affects how future CDC vaccine recommendations for children are made. The law does not alter the CDC's authority to later reinstate a vaccine if the required data is posted.