Legislation that affects our health: August 22, 2025 – October 9, 2025

Sincerest thanks to Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Michael Lawler (NY), and Gus Bilirakis (FL) for setting an example I wish more of your GOP friends would follow.

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Unlike other “reports” regarding proposed legislation, this one is only from the House of Representatives. Neither Sen. Fetterman nor Sen. McCormick sits on health-related committees.

Note that Pennsylvania Rep. John Joyce, who is an M.D., neither introduced nor cosponsored a single piece of legislation related to health during this six-week period.

H.R.5027 - Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act. To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem adulterated food containing certain color additives.

Introduced August 22, 2025 by Grace Meng (D-NY). No cosponsors.

The food dyes that would cause food to be deemed “adulterated” by the FDA are: Red No. 40, Red No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Citrus Red 2, Titanium Dioxide, and Any additive that is substantially similar to the additives specified [above].

A Republican talking point, but no action.

H.R.5032 - Nitazene Control Act. To amend the Controlled Substances Act to permanently schedule the class of benzimidazole-opioids known as nitazenes.

Introduced August 22, 2025 by Eugene Vindman (D-VA). Cosponsored by Michael Baumgartner (R-WA).

H.R.5039 - Wheelchair Right to Repair Act. To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide an exception for circumvention for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of a powered mobility assistance device, to require original equipment manufacturers of powered mobility assistance devices to make available certain documentation, diagnostic, and repair information to independent repair providers and consumers.

Introduced August 26, 2025 by Maxwell Frost (D-FL). Cosponsored by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).

This does not concern Medicare or Medicaid coverage of wheelchair repair. It requires that wheelchair manufacturers make it easier for wheelchair users to get their chairs repaired.

H.R.5052 - Train More Nurses Act. To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study and issue a report on grant programs to support the nursing workforce.

Introduced August 26, 2025 by Zachary Nunn (R-IA). Cosponsored by four Democrats and zero Republicans.

This isn’t even proposed legislation that significantly impacts the federal budget. It’s a study to find out what’s wrong and how to fix the shortage.

H.R.5074 - Protecting Young Minds Online Act. To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to direct the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and disseminate a strategy to address the effects of new technologies on children’s mental health.

Introduced August 29, 2025 by Bryan Steil (R-WI). Cosponsored by Becca Balint (D-VT) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

Specifically adds social media to list of ‘things’ to be studied that impact the mental health of young people.

H.Res.666 - Supporting the goals of Overdose Awareness Day and strengthening efforts to combat the opioid crisis in the United States.

Introduced August 29, 2025 by Lori Trahan (D-MA). Cosponsored by Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes Overdose Awareness Day in the United States;
(2) commits to advancing and passing bipartisan policies that reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and overdoses; and
(3) is dedicated to collaborating with States, localities, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, health care providers, patients, and families to support a comprehensive system that promotes prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery from opioid use disorder.

Maybe the dedication to “strengthening efforts to combat the opioid crisis in the United States” is only for the cameras?

H.Res.671 - Prioritizing mental health to the same degree as physical health to address the epidemics of suicide and drug overdose in the United States.

Introduced September 2, 2025 by Shri Thanedar (D-MI). Cosponsored by four Democrats and no Republicans.

This resolution stresses parity for mental health services.

Alert issued on September 3, 2025. September 9, 2025 meeting. 2:00PM(EDT) | 216 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine how the corruption of science has impacted public perception and policies regarding vaccines. Meeting Details – video only, no witness list or documents, much less transcript. It’s an almost four-hour hearing. If you have time and patience to watch and take notes, please comment here!

H.R.5104 - Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 (Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2025). To reduce the health risks of heat by establishing the National Integrated Heat Health Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Heat Health Information System Interagency Committee to improve extreme heat preparedness, planning, and response, requiring a study, and establishing financial assistance programs to address heat effects.

Introduced September 3, 2025 by Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). Cosponsored by nine Democrats and no Republicans.

Surprised that no one from Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, or Texas cosponsored. I guess Republicans assume they will always have air conditioning?

H.Res.675 - Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.”

Introduced September 3, 2025 by Troy Carter (D-LA). Cosponsored by Richard McCormick (R-GA), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

H.R.5123 - Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025. To authorize a national program to reduce the threat to human health posed by exposure to indoor air contaminants.

Introduced September 3, 2025 by Paul Tonko (D-NY). Cosponsored by five Democrats and two Republicans (Brian Fitzpatrick-PA and Jefferson Van Drew-NJ).

From the bill: The Administrator — defined as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency — shall carry out a program to support the assessment, reduction, and avoidance of exposure to indoor air contaminants to reduce risks to human health. Indoor air contaminants are defined as “any solid, liquid, semisolid, dissolved solid, biogenic agent, aerosol, or gaseous material, including combinations or mixtures of substances, in indoor air which may reasonably be anticipated to have an adverse effect on human health.” Specifically refers to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, and radon.

H.R.5139 - EPIPEN Act (Epinephrine’s Pharma Inflated Price Ends Now Act). To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish requirements with respect to cost sharing for epinephrine delivery systems under group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by Maxwell Frost (D-FL). Cosponsored by Doris Matsui (D-CA).

H.R.5158 - Fair Price Device Act. To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding the approval of combination products consisting of a generic drug and a device.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by Hillary Scholten (D-MI). Cosponsored by Celeste Maloy (R-UT).

A little technical, but it makes sense.

H.R.5160 - Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025. To reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by Christopher Smith (R-NJ). Cosponsored by three Democrats and two Republicans.

The National Bone Marrow Donor Registry (NBMDR) was a Reagan-era program entrusted to the Department of Health and Human Services – established in 1987, formally placed under HHS in 1990. In December 2005, Congress passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act (Stem Cell Act 2005), Public Law 109-129. The provisions were rewritten to establish and maintain the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (CWBYCTP), the successor to the NBMDR. (Source: Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the federal government.)

If you recall, the Stem Cell Act of 2005 was necessary because of Tea Party insistence that anything possibly connected to embryonic stem cells be excluded from existing law. There were two parts to the Stem Cell Act of 2005. George W. Bush vetoed the section that would have permitted existing embryonic stem cells to be used in research and transplantation.

Every five years, the Stem Cell Act has been reauthorized.

It’s now time to reauthorize for 2026-2030. I would bet good money that the House balks.

H.R.5162 - Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act. To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to States to increase awareness and education for colorectal cancer and improve early detection of colorectal cancer in young individuals.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by Haley Stevens (D-MI). Cosponsored by Tim Burchett (R-TN).

Not the same as H.R.5671 which would make colorectal screening free under Medicare. H.R.5162 is an awareness measure.

H.Res.680 - Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem, expressing support for the designation of September 8, 2025, as ‘‘988 Day’’ and the role of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Introduced September 8, 2025 by Wesley Bell (D-MO). Cosponsored by thirty-five Democrats and one Republican (Michael Lawler-NY).

Differs from H.Res.697 (below) by honoring and supporting the workers of 988 suicide and crisis lifelines. As with H.Res.697, why is this a “Democratic” resolution?

H.Res.683 - Supporting the designation of the week of September 8 through September 12, 2025, as “Malnutrition Awareness Week.”

Introduced September 9, 2025 by Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). Cosponsored by four Democrats and three Republicans.

Surprised that any Republicans cosponsored, so I will honor them: Brian Fitzpatrick-PA, Don Bacon-NE, and Michael Lawler-NY. The “whereas” section condemns the USA for the existence of malnutrition within our borders. The resolution supports social workers, nutritionists, SNAP, NIH, “community-based organizations, food banks, and faith-based organizations.”

H.R.5252 - HOPE Act (Having Overdose Protection Equipment Act). To amend the 21st Century Cares Act to clarify that certain grants for State and Tribal response to opioid use disorders may be used for certain activities related to public access opioid overdose reversal kits.

Introduced September 10, 2025 by Gabe Amo (D-RI). Cosponsored by three Democrats and one Republican.

H.R.5259 - Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act. To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from members of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

Introduced September 10, 2025 by Jim Costa (D-CA). Cosponsored by Beth Van Duyne (R-TX).

Primary focus of the bill (quoting the bill): The Secretary may collect registration fees from any member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for each transplant candidate such member places on the list described in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i). Such registration fees shall be collected and distributed only to support the operation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Such registration fees are authorized to remain available until expended.

However, there’s another paragraph that is interesting, to say the least. This bill would add to the end of the Public Health Service Act the following paragraph: (P) consider establishing a dashboard to display the number of transplants performed, the types of transplants performed, the number and types of organs that entered the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network system and failed to be transplanted, and other appropriate statistics, which should be updated more frequently than annually.

If we were living in normal times, this bill would likely stand a chance.

H.Res.697 - Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September as “National Suicide Prevention Month” as well as September 10, 2025, as “World Suicide Prevention Day.”

Introduced September 10, 2025 by Shri Thanedar (D-MI). Cosponsored by fifty-two Democrats and two Republicans (Michael Lawler-NY and Brian Fitzpatrick-PA).

If suicide prevention is high on your list of priorities — either because of the pain of losing a loved one to suicide, or because you yourself have contemplated suiciding – please read this beautifully written resolution.

It should never have been referred to committee. Voice vote on the floor of the House would have been nice. (And why is this a Democratic resolution?)

H.R.5316 - Drug Shortage Compounding Patient Access Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure patients have access to certain shortage and urgent-use compounded medications.

Introduced September 11, 2025 by Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). Cosponsored by Earl Carter (R-GA) and Burgess Owens (R-UT).

H.R.5343 - Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure prompt coverage of breakthrough devices under the Medicare program.

Introduced September 15, 2025 by Blake Moore (R-UT). Cosponsored by five Democrats and four Republicans.

Way above my paygrade. Companies submitting devices to the FDA for approval would find it fascinating, I’m sure.

H.R.5353 - Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act. To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students.

Introduced September 15, 2025 by Donald Beyer (D-VA). Cosponsored by Mike Kelly (R-PA).

Interesting… Supports a pilot program that would do exactly what the bill says: “Support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students.”

H.R.5363 - Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025. To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out an initiative to develop, expand, and improve rural childcare.

Introduced September 15, 2025 by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). Cosponsored by Tracey Mann (R-KS), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and James Baird (R-IN).

Another bill that does what it proclaims in its long title. And childcare, not healthcare for children.

H.R.5370 - To provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Danny Davis (D-IL). Cosponsored by fifteen Democrats and zero Republicans.

Grants would target “allied health professions, health information technology, physicians assistants, nursing assistants, registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other professions considered part of a health care career pathway model.” The bill is well-written, with guidelines and regulations ensuring that the target group is qualified and motivated.

Grants would permit colleges and universities to provide the following: Cash stipends; reserve fund for financial assistance to project participants in emergency situations; tuition, and training materials such as books, software, uniforms, shoes, and hair nets, and personal protective equipment; in-kind resource donations such as interview clothing and conference attendance fees; assistance with accessing and completing high school equivalency or adult basic education courses as necessary to achieve success in the project and make progress toward career goals; assistance with programs and activities, including legal assistance, deemed necessary to address arrest or conviction records as an employment barrier; and, other support services as deemed necessary for family well-being, success in the project, and progress toward career goals.

H.R.5378 - Tribal Healthcare Careers Act. To provide a set-aside of funds for Indian populations under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). No cosponsors.

The bill would add two paragraphs to Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. The first would insert “15 percent of which for each fiscal year shall be reserved for grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.”

The second would add: (C) GUARANTEE OF GRANTS FOR INDIAN POPULATIONS.—The Secretary shall award at least 10 grants under this subsection to an eligible entity that is an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a Tribal College or University, to the extent there are a sufficient number of applications submitted by such an eligible entity that meet the requirements of subparagraph (B).

H.R.5381 - Opioid Treatment Providers Act. To make opioid treatment programs eligible for grants under section 2008 of the Social Security Act.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Thomas Suozzi (D-NY). No cosponsors.

The bill would strike “or a community-based organization” and inserting “a community-based organization, or an opioid treatment program … and other high quality comprehensive addiction care providers” and make them eligible for research grants.

H.R.5385 - Health Providers Training Act. To ensure that hospitals are considered an eligible entity when awarding health profession opportunity grants under section 2008 of the Social Security Act.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Steven Horsford (D-NV). No cosponsors.

Does not delete “community-based organizations” from grants in Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. Merely adds “or a hospital.”

H.R.5404 - Make America Healthy Again Act of 2025. To codify Executive Order 14212, relating to establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Michael Lawler (R-NY). No cosponsors!

At least Lawler has enough sense to know an executive order is not legislation!

H.R.5412 - Food Farmacy Act of 2025. To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to assist in the establishment and operation of healthy food pharmacies.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH). Cosponsored by Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) and Janelle Bynum (D-OR).

From the bill: Congress finds that the goal of healthy food pharmacies (also known as “food farmacies”) is to improve the health outcomes of their patrons by expanding access to nutritious foods and providing nutritional guidance. …
The Secretary may make a grant under this section with respect to a healthy food pharmacy if the healthy food pharmacy—
(A) offers a range of services to its patrons, including access to healthy foods and nutritional guidance from a qualified health care professional;
(B) is operated in a manner that prioritizes the provision of services to communities that are low income, rural, or facing food insecurity (as such terms may be defined by the Secretary);
(C) provides food and nutritional guidance free of charge to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and
(D) is operated in a manner that supports the ‘Food is Medicine’ initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services.

H.R.5417 - Health Access Innovation Act of 2025. To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to faith- or community-based organizations to address persistent health inequities and chronic disease challenges.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Nikema Williams (D-GA). Cosponsored by Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Timothy Kennedy (D-NY).

From the bill: To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall be a faith-or community-based organization that—
(1) has demonstrated an ability to address chronic health disparities and health conditions in communities disproportionately affected by such disparities and conditions; and
(2) is located in a medically underserved community or a designated health professional shortage area.

H.R.5428 - Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2025. To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to award grants to accredited public institutions of higher education.

Introduced September 17, 2025 by Tom Cole (R-OK). Cosponsored by Dina Titus (D-NV).

From the bill: The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall establish a grant program to award grants to accredited public institutions of higher education to carry out the activities described in subsection (d) for the purposes of—
(1) supporting education for medical students who are preparing to become physicians; and
(2) preparing and encouraging each such student trained by a grantee to serve in a Tribal, rural, or medically underserved community as a primary care physician after completing residency training.

H.R.5434 - 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025. To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to dedicate sufficient resources for the support of LGBTQ+ youth seeking help from the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline.

Introduced September 17, 2025 by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). Cosponsored by Michael Lawler (R-NY), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Seth Moulton (D-MA).

This is not a resolution, but proposed legislation! Would add the following to Section 520E of the Public Health Act:

… dedicating sufficient resources, including establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining specialized services (known as the Press 3 option or Integrated Voice Response (IVR)), for the support of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ+) seeking help from the suicide prevention hotline.

Would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate 9% of the subsection to that option.

H.R.5435 - Stop CMV Act of 2025. To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for congenital Cytomegalovirus screening of newborns.

Introduced September 17, 2025 by Michael Lawler (R-NY). Cosponsored by Greg Landsman (D-OH), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA).

From the bill: Each hospital or other health care entity caring for infants who are 21 days or less of age (as designated by the Secretary) may administer, or cause to have administered, to every such infant in its care a test for congenital Cytomegalovirus in accordance with this section.

H.Res.732 - Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2025, as “Rare Cancer Day” to highlight the challenges patients with rare cancers face and to raise awareness and support efforts to improve early diagnosis and treatment.

Introduced September 17, 2025 by Mike Kelly (R-PA). Cosponsored by Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI).

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports designating a “Rare Cancer Day”;
(2) recognizes the challenges of detecting rare cancer;
(3) understands that rare cancer is prevalent among cancer patients;
(4) acknowledges the devastating impact that rare cancer has on individuals;
(5) recognizes the low survival rate of individuals with rare cancer compared to more common cancers;
(6) supports increasing awareness of rare cancer symptoms to increase early detection and improve survival rates;
(7) encourages partnerships with the medical and scientific fields to improve the early diagnosis of rare cancers and to develop effective treatments to eradicate them; and
(8) supports the dedication of funding to explore cures and treatments for rare cancers.

Since my father died of a “rare cancer,” this resolution is near and dear to my heart.

H.R.5461 - Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2025. To extend funding for Special Diabetes Programs for Type I diabetes.

Introduced September 18, 2025 by Diana DeGette (D-CO). Cosponsored by Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).

This bill would simply extend the 1998 (!) Special Diabetes Funding Program through 2030.

ML18 - September 18, 2025. The SPEAKER presented a memorial of the Legislature of the State of Nevada, relative to Senate Joint Resolution No. 10, Urging Congress to take certain actions relating to therapeutic use of certain psychedelic compounds; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

As with executive communications and presidential messages, text of Speaker Johnson’s “memorial” is not available.

H.R.5536 - HEADACHE Act (Headache Education, Access, Diagnosis, and Care Health Equity Act). To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a National Headache Disorders Initiative, to establish an Advisory Council on Headache Disorders Research, Care, and Services.

Introduced September 19, 2025 by Lori Trahan (D-MA). Cosponsored by nine Democrats and one Republican (Brian Fitzpatrick-PA). Does what it says.

H.Res.752 - Expressing support for the designation of September 19, 2025, as “Black Autism Acceptance and Awareness Day.”

Introduced September 19, 2025 by Michael Lawler (R-NY). No cosponsors.

H.Res.754 - Recognizing the psychological impact of immigration enforcement overreach on individuals, their families, and their community.

Introduced September 19, 2025 by Delia Ramirez (D-IL). Cosponsored by nine Democrats and not one damn Republican.

If ICE violence bothers you, read Ms. Ramirez’s resolution. She’s good.

H.Res.755 - Expressing support for the goals and ideas of “National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month” and “World Hydrocephalus Day.”

Introduced September 19, 2025 by Christopher Smith (R-NJ). Cosponsored by Lloyd Doggett (D-TX).

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) support the goals and ideas of “National Hydrocephalus Month” and “World Hydrocephalus Day”; and
(2) continue to support research to prevent, detect, and treat hydrocephalus.

H.R.5582 - Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency.

Introduced September 26, 2025 by John James (R-MI). Cosponsored by Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), and Donald Davis (D-NC).

Very long and detailed bill. Not just for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Medicaid, but for all billing. This is a plain language, full disclosure, full transparency bill.

H.R.5609 - Stop RFK’s BS Act (Stop RFK’s Bad Science Act). To direct the National Institutes of Health to reinstate funding to recipients of grants or other awards.

Introduced September 26, 2025 by Haley Stevens (D-MI). Cosponsored by Ted Lieu (D-CA).

Hands down the best title for a bill since Elizabeth Warren’s CANADA Act. Kudos!

Does what it says. Any grants or research suspended after January 21, 2025 shall be reinstated. Period.

H.Con.Res.52 - Supporting the designation of the week of September 22 through September 28, 2025, as “National Falls Prevention Awareness Week” to raise awareness, and encourage the prevention, of falls among older adults.

Introduced September 26, 2025 by Lois Frankel (D-FL). Cosponsored by twenty-six Democrats and three Republicans (Gus Bilirakis-FL, Carol Miller-WV, and Michael Lawler-NY).

From the resolution: … the total direct medical cost of non-fatal older adult falls is approximately $80,000,000,000 annually, including approximately $53,300,000,000 paid by Medicare, approximately $3,500,000,000 paid by Medicaid, and approximately $23,200,000,000 paid by private and out-of-pocket payors.

Why is this a Democratic bill? With thanks to Bilirakis, Miller, and Lawler, our Republican colleagues.

H.Con.Res.53 - Expressing support for the recognition of September 26, 2025, as “World Contraception Day” and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding global and domestic access to contraception.

Introduced September 26, 2025 by Nydia Velázquez (D-NY). Cosponsored by three Democrats and no Republicans.

H.R.5621 - Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025. To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Rural Health Clinic Services and Federally Qualified Health Center Services to include physical therapy services.

Introduced September 30, 2025 by Diana DeGette (D-CO). Cosponsored by Morgan Griffith (R-VA).

Missed this one on the Medicare post, but it’s worth including here.

Requirements: 1) Degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, or an appropriate degree from a graduate program of behavioral and mental health; 2) be certified as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; and 3) have a doctoral or master’s degree in physical therapy.

These individuals would be eligible for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

H.R.5629 - To provide that the final rule of the Department of Health and Human Services titled “Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder”, except for the portion of the final rule relating to accreditation of opioid treatment programs, shall have no force or effect.

Introduced September 30, 2025 by Erin Houchin (R-IN). No cosponsors.

Don’t worry. Ms. Houchin is not bucking an executive communication from Bobby. She wants to nullify a Biden-era executive communication.

H.R.5630 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to require additional information in State plans for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services block grants.

Introduced September 30, 2025 by Erin Houchin (R-IN). No cosponsors.

H.Res.784 - Recognizing the value of coffee to the United States and expressing support for September 29, 2025, to be designated as “National Coffee Day.”

Introduced September 30, 2025 by Jill Tokuda (D-HI). Cosponsored by seven very smart people: William Timmons (R-SC), Ed Case (D-HI), Resident Commissioner Pablo Jose Hernández (D-PR), Derek Tran (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).

I chuckled at these two “whereas” statements:

Whereas the bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus provides a forum for Members of the House of Representatives to uplift coffee’s positive impact on the United States economy, advance health research into the benefits of coffee for consumers, and strengthen the resilience of the global coffee supply chain, including United States and global coffee farmers and distributors;

Whereas, on June 12, 2025, Members of the Congressional Coffee Caucus sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Trade Representative affirming the value of coffee to the United States economy and urging the removal of tariffs on imported coffee to protect American jobs, support trade partnerships, and ensure stable access for consumers…

H.R.5684 - To provide for the coverage of medical food and vitamins and individual amino acids for digestive and inherited metabolic disorders under Federal health programs, to ensure State and Federal protection for existing coverage.

Introduced October 4, 2025 by James McGovern (D-MA). Cosponsored by John Rutherford (R-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

H.Con.Res.55 - Designating September 2025 as “Gynecologic Cancers Awareness Month.”

Introduced October 7, 2025 by Debbie Dingell (D-MI). Cosponsored by Don Bacon (R-NE).

Alert dated October 7, 2025. June 7, 2023 transcript. “Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Assessing CDC’s Failures in Fulfilling Its Mission.” PDF version of transcript. Report is 134 pages long. I wish I had more time to read this document.

H.R.5706 - To establish a grant program to assist eligible entities in developing or expanding behavioral health crisis response programs that do not rely primarily on law enforcement.

Introduced October 8, 2025 by Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ). Cosponsored by nine Democrats and no Republicans.

If you perchance follow Advocates for Mental Health of MI Youth on Facebook or LinkedIn, you will know why this is important.

H.R.5725 - To direct the Attorney General to establish a grant to support communities transitioning to health-centered responses for mental health-related emergencies.

Introduced October 8, 2025 by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). Cosponsored by ten Democrats and no Republicans.

Text is not yet available, which was disappointing. I wanted to know the definition of “health-centered responses” as relates to mental health. If you are a mental or behavioral health advocate or service provider, you may want to follow this legislation to see where it takes you.

H. Rept. 119-322 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to Reauthorize the TeleHealth Network and TeleHealth Resource Centers Grant Programs. Ref. H.R.3419. PDF version of report.

While I am happy the House Energy and Commerce Committee held this meeting and recommended reauthorization of the TeleHealth Network and TeleHealth Resource Centers Grant Programs, I am a little apprehensive about their failure to reauthorize telehealth coverage under Medicare programs!

H. Rept. 119-331 – Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025. Ref. H.R.3302. PDF version of report.

I am grateful that the House Energy and Commerce Committee held this meeting and recommended reauthorization of Head Start programs. After all, that’s a George H.W. Bush initiative that has been reauthorized continuously since 2000. They had to hold a meeting and issue a nine-page report to do so?

H.Res.792 - Declaring a need for increased investments in youth mental health, recognizing May 31, 2026, as “Youth Mental Health Day”, recognizing September 9, 2026, annually as “Youth Suicide Prevention Day.”

Introduced October 8, 2025 by Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ). Cosponsored by eleven Democrats and no Republicans.

H.Res.796 - Expressing support for the designation of October 9 through October 16, 2025, as “National Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Awareness Week” and a commitment to raise awareness of dyspraxia/DCD in the United States.

Introduced October 8, 2025 by Michael Lawler (R-NY). Cosponsored by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

In case you are wondering why this is important, dyspraxia is “a neurodevelopmental condition that does not affect cognition, but affects fine and gross motor skills such as balance, coordination, and manual dexterity” and it affects approximately 5-6% of the population. I knew nothing about it until I read this resolution. Thank you. Please persist despite low interest.

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