Nikki Budzinski

The PREDICT Act prohibits federal officials and their family members from trading on prediction markets—bets tied to the occurrence or outcome of political events. The ban applies to Members of Congress, the President and Vice President, senior executive branch officials (GS-15 level and above), federal judges, and their spouses and dependent children, as well as anyone acting on their behalf in such transactions. Any covered individual who violates this restriction must pay a penalty equal to ten percent of the transaction's value and forfeit all profits, with the money going to the Treasury. The penalties cannot be paid using official allowances, campaign funds, or other government sources—only personal salary. Additionally, each ethics office must publicly report all fines assessed, including why they were imposed and their outcomes.

Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Grant Program Act of 2026This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to establish a grant program to provide farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers stabilization payments in the case of a natural disaster or other disaster. Specifically, AMS must provide funding to membership organizations or labor unions representing farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers for the payments.

The Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2026 adjusts the official boundary of Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri by updating the park's authorized acreage from 100 acres to 102.18 acres and replacing the outdated reference map from January 1992 with a new boundary map dated August 2023. The bill modifies the original 1954 law that established the park, making it technically accurate to current conditions and management needs. The legislation affects visitors, park operations, and potential future land management decisions at the national park. No specific federal funding or implementation timeline is mentioned in the bill text, as it primarily serves as a technical/legal update to clarify the park's official boundaries.

More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2026This bill provides for additional Medicare payments to health care practitioners who provide services in mental health professional shortage areas for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. The bill applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.

The Veteran DATA Act prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from entering into contracts that allow contractors to sell or profit from veterans' sensitive personal information. The legislation applies to all VA contracts that handle veterans' health records, Social Security numbers, and other personally identifiable information, both new contracts and existing ones not yet expired. Within one year of enactment, the VA Secretary must add protective clauses to all covered contracts explicitly forbidding the monetization or sale of veteran data, create guidance to help employees and contractors identify when covered information is being misused, and report to Congress on these compliance actions. This bill protects millions of veterans whose personal data could otherwise be sold to third parties for commercial purposes without their consent or knowledge.

This bill prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from entering contracts that allow companies to sell veterans' sensitive personal information, such as health records and identifying data. Within one year of the law's enactment, the VA Secretary must add protective language to all relevant contracts prohibiting contractors and their subcontractors from monetizing, selling, or misusing veterans' information and must issue guidance to department employees on how to monitor compliance. The Secretary must also submit a report to Congress within one year detailing the new contract language, compliance guidance, and any additional steps taken to protect veterans' data. The legislation applies to both new contracts and existing contracts that have not yet expired, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the department's operations.

This bill changes how Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated to better reflect the actual expenses of older Americans. Currently, Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which tracks spending patterns for working-age people. The bill requires the government to also calculate adjustments using the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E), which reflects what seniors actually spend money on, and directs the Social Security Administration to use whichever index produces the higher benefit increase. The changes apply to Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits, as well as supplemental security income. The bill requires the Department of Labor to publish the CPI-E monthly based on spending patterns of people age 62 and older, with the new calculation method taking effect for benefit adjustments on or after September 30, 2026.

H.R. 4159 requires the Secretary of Defense to establish regulations ensuring that optional combat boots worn by military personnel must be entirely made in America—including all materials and components—within 730 days of the law's enactment. The bill applies to all branches of the armed forces and covers boots that service members choose to wear as part of their required uniform, but not those issued directly by the Defense Department. The legislation includes two exemptions: the military can waive the requirement for boots designed for specific operational needs if American-made alternatives aren't available, and service members who need special boots for medical reasons are exempt from the requirement. This bill aims to support domestic manufacturing while balancing military readiness and individual health needs.

VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement ActThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer an annual mental health consultation to veterans who are receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis. Additionally, the VA must conduct outreach regarding the availability of such consultations and other mental health services unless a veteran opts out of outreach.The bill requires the VA to utilize specified methods in its outreach efforts and to provide annual reports for the four years following the enactment of the bill regarding the outreach methods used to inform veterans about mental health consultations and services.The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of this bill, including by reporting on the number of veterans who received mental health consultations and which outreach methods were most successful in reaching such veterans.The bill also extends certain higher loan fee rates through May 12, 2035, under the VA's home loan program. Such rates currently last through June 9, 2034.

Improving Veterans’ Experience Act of 2025This bill establishes the Veterans Experience Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the key customer experience initiatives of the VA relating to veterans’ and beneficiaries’ satisfaction with and usage of VA benefits and services.Additionally, the office mustrequire the heads of other organizations and offices within the VA to report regularly on customer experience metrics, action plans, and other customer experience improvement efforts;collect veteran-derived data to determine satisfaction and for use in policymaking;provide strategic guidance and strategies to VA entities for engaging with veterans and beneficiaries;assess and advise the VA on the accuracy and helpfulness of websites and customer-facing information of the VA; andassess and advise the VA on the status and opportunities for improvement of the customer service efforts of the VA.The requirements of this bill terminate on September 30, 2028.The Government Accountability Office must analyze and report on the methodology, effectiveness, and implementation of the VA’s approach to improving veteran and beneficiary customer experience and satisfaction.

Supporting Access to Falls Education and prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety initiatives for Veterans Act of 2025 or the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025This bill addresses certain mobility and aging care and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).First, the bill requires the establishment and operation of the Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for purposes of providing, evaluating, and improving VA health care services related to falls prevention.Among other duties, the office must oversee and support a national education campaign for veterans, their families, and health care providers that focuses on reducing falls and increases awareness of available benefits or services provided by the VA to reduce falls.The bill also expands membership of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities by including the VA.The VA must issue or update directives of the VHA for facilities and providers relating to safe patient handling and mobility policies.Additionally, the VA must determine the feasibility and advisability of implementing a pilot program to provide home improvements and structural alterations to prevent falls for veterans who are eligible for such services under VA laws.Finally, the bill requires the VA to ensure certain veterans receive a falls risk assessment from a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist.

New Producer Economic Security ActThis bill establishes the New Producer Economic Security Program within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide funding and grants to help new farmers, ranchers, and forest owners.Specifically, the FSA must make competitive grants to, enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide other capital support to eligible entities (e.g., state or local governments, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education). These entities must provide direct assistance to qualified farmers, ranchers, and forest owners (e.g., those who have not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 consecutive years or are economically disadvantaged). The bill specifically excludes from assistance any foreign-based or foreign-owned corporation.The direct assistance may include payments to qualified beneficiaries to acquire real property (including air rights and water rights), secure clear title on heirs' property, and improve or remediate land, water, and soil. Eligible entities may also use grants (1) to provide direct assistance to qualified beneficiaries in assessing, purchasing, acquiring, or retaining eligible land; (2) for activities designed to support farm establishment and long-term viability; and (3) to provide technical assistance.The FSA must establish a stakeholder committee, and in collaboration with the committee, develop a process for evaluating and selecting applications submitted by eligible entities. The stakeholder committee must include perspectives reflecting the complexity of the rural and urban U.S. agricultural landscapes and the wide variety of agricultural production models.

The Tools Tax Deduction Act would allow employees to deduct work-related expenses directly from their taxable income, rather than being subject to current limitations. The bill specifically covers construction tools, personal protective equipment, and other necessary workplace expenses for employees to perform their jobs. This change would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and would remove certain restrictions that currently limit how much employees can deduct for these types of work expenses. The legislation was introduced on March 18, 2025, by Representatives Budzinski and Garbarino and is pending review by the House Committee on Ways and Means. The bill contains no specified funding amounts or appropriations.

The Protect Postal Performance Act restricts the U.S. Postal Service's ability to close or consolidate post offices and mail processing facilities. For post offices, the bill requires the Postal Service to hold a public hearing during the existing 60-day notice period, publish a summary of public comments online within 7 days, and wait an additional 180 days before proceeding with closure. The bill also prohibits closing any post office that is the only one within 15 miles or serves a population of 15,000 or more. For mail processing and distribution centers, the bill requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to review proposed changes and issue an advisory opinion within 120 business days, blocks closures in regions failing to meet on-time delivery standards (93% for two-day mail, 90.3% for three-to-five-day mail), and prevents certain service reduction efforts unless approved by the Commission. Additionally, the bill prohibits federal funds from being used for a broad postal facility review program and requires the Postal Service to seek commission approval before reducing mail pickup or delivery frequency at any post office.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity ActThis bill expands eligibility for and modifies administration of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. The scholarship allows individuals who are entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance and are pursuing eligible degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or health care to receive up to nine additional months of benefits (capped at $30,000).The bill eliminates the requirement that an individual must have less than 180 days of remaining educational assistance entitlement (or no entitlement remaining) to be eligible for the scholarship.Additionally, the bill reduces by 25% the number of credits an individual must have completed in order to be eligible for the scholarship.In situations where there are insufficient funds available in a fiscal year, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to give priority to individuals who have used the most months of their educational assistance entitlement and those who are using their entitlement to pursue a program of post-secondary education in specified fields (e.g., engineering).The bill specifies that individuals who receive the scholarship benefit may only use the benefit after they have used all of their educational assistance entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Rural Wellness ActThis bill prioritizes behavioral and mental health treatment services under certain rural development grant and loan programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 the set-asides and prioritizations for substance use disorder treatment services under the Department of Agriculture's (1) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, (2) Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, and (3) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.Under the community facilities program, the bill prioritizes direct loans and grants for the development of behavioral and mental health services facilities, including facilities that provide treatment services. Further, loans and grants provided under the program may be used to develop facilities and systems to provide telehealth services for behavioral and mental health treatment.Under the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, the bill prioritizes grants for behavioral and mental health education and treatment.Under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, the bill includes a 17% set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services (currently a 20% set-aside).

The LEAP Act creates a new tax credit for employers who hire workers participating in registered apprenticeship programs. Employers can claim $1,500 per apprentice employee per year, but only for the first two years of each worker's apprenticeship and only for apprentices beyond 80 percent of their average apprentice workforce from the prior three years. The bill applies to workers in officially recognized apprenticeable occupations designated by the Department of Labor, with a special restriction for construction companies (NAICS code 23), which can only claim the credit for pre-apprenticeship graduates who participated in formal pre-apprenticeship programs. The credit takes effect for apprenticeships beginning after the bill's enactment and becomes part of the general business tax credit system. The legislation also includes an unrelated provision directing federal agencies to develop a strategy within 90 days to reduce government printing costs over ten years while maintaining essential printed documents for populations with limited internet access.

Presidential Legacy ActThis bill redesignates the federal holiday of Washington's Birthday as Presidents' Day.

This bill modifies provisions related to market exclusivity for a generic drug. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awards 180 days of exclusivity on the market to a first applicant to file a qualifying application for market approval of a generic drug. Generally, this exclusivity period begins upon a first applicant's commercial marketing of the drug.The bill authorizes the FDA to approve a subsequent generic drug application prior to a first applicant's first date of commercial marketing if (1) the subsequent application is ready for full approval, (2) the applicant certifies that there are no conditions that would prevent commercial marketing of the drug within 75 days of approval and that the applicant intends to do so, (3) a first applicant's application has been pending for at least 33 months, (4) the approval of a first applicant's application is not precluded by patent infringement claims asserted against that first applicant, and (5) no first applicant's application has been effectively approved on the date that all such conditions are met.If an applicant fails to begin commercially marketing their drug within 75 days of approval via the aforementioned process, the applicant's approval is deemed tentative and the applicant is no longer eligible for subsequent approvals, unless the applicant certifies that the failure was due to unforeseen issues that have since been resolved.