Steve Womack

The Budgeting for a Better America Act makes several changes to how Congress manages the federal budget, primarily shifting toward a two-year budgeting cycle beginning in 2027. The bill allows Congress to revise budget targets mid-cycle if economic or fiscal conditions change, requires the President to submit updated budget information to Congress each December starting in 2028, and establishes a process for a fiscal commission to propose recommendations with full transparency about which proposals are included or excluded. The legislation also expands the House Budget Committee's leadership to include the chairs and ranking members of the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations committees, giving these influential lawmakers a formal role in budget deliberations. Overall, the bill aims to give Congress more flexibility and current information when making spending decisions while ensuring major fiscal policy makers have a seat at the budget table.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027This bill provides FY2027 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies.The bill provides appropriations to DOT forthe Office of the Secretary,the Federal Aviation Administration,the Federal Highway Administration,the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,the Federal Railroad Administration,the Federal Transit Administration,the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation,the Maritime Administration,the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, andthe Office of Inspector General.The bill provides appropriations to HUD forManagement and Administration,Public and Indian Housing,Community Planning and Development,Housing Programs,the Federal Housing Administration,the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae),Policy Development and Research,Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity,the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, andthe Office of Inspector General.The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, includingthe Access Board,the Federal Maritime Commission,the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General,the National Transportation Safety Board,the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the Surface Transportation Board, andthe U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies.The bill provides appropriations to DOT forthe Office of the Secretary,the Federal Aviation Administration,the Federal Highway Administration,the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,the Federal Railroad Administration,the Federal Transit Administration,the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation,the Maritime Administration,the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, andthe Office of Inspector General.The bill provides appropriations to HUD forManagement and Administration,Public and Indian Housing,Community Planning and Development,Housing Programs,the Federal Housing Administration,the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae),Policy Development and Research,Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity,the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes,the Information Technology Fund, andthe Office of Inspector General.The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, includingthe Access Board,the Federal Maritime Commission,the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General,the National Transportation Safety Board,the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, andthe Surface Transportation Board.Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

H.J.Res. 101 proposes a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress the power to ban the physical desecration of the American flag. Currently, the Supreme Court has ruled that burning or otherwise destroying a flag is protected free speech under the First Amendment, but this amendment would allow Congress to make such acts illegal. To become part of the Constitution, the amendment would need to pass both chambers of Congress by a two-thirds majority and then be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years. The resolution affects all Americans by potentially restricting a form of political protest, and no funding is required as this is a constitutional proposal rather than a spending measure. The joint resolution was introduced in June 2025 with bipartisan sponsorship.

Duty Drawback Clarification ActThis bill revises Chapter 22 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a uniform rate of duty for all whiskies.

The Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act addresses health risks from contaminated poppy seeds by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish safety limits for morphine, codeine, and other alkaloid compounds in poppy seeds sold in the United States. The bill stems from documented cases including at least 19 confirmed deaths from morphine overdose linked to contaminated poppy seeds, as well as instances where pregnant women and military personnel tested positive for opiates after consuming poppy seed products. Under this legislation, poppy seeds exceeding the contamination thresholds will be considered unsafe and prohibited from interstate commerce, with the Secretary required to propose regulations within one year and finalize them within two years of enactment. The bill clarifies that contaminated poppy seeds remain subject to controlled substance laws despite poppy seeds themselves being legal agricultural products.

Tipped Employee Protection ActThis bill modifies the definition of a tipped employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to exclude consideration of an employee's duties when determining if the employee is a tipped employee. Under current law, tipped employees may be paid less than the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 an hour), but the total of their cash wage and tips must be at least equal to the federal minimum wage. Under the FLSA, a tipped employee is currently a worker who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips.The bill broadens the definition of tipped employee to include any worker who receives tips and other cash wages for a work period at a rate that is at least the federal minimum wage, without regard to the duties of the employee. Under the bill, the work period is a work period that is determined by the employer.

This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.

Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025This bill permanently authorizes certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals to use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances that are prescription drugs to patients who are eligible for VA health care, regardless of whether the health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination. The health care professional must be (1) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted license or certification; (2) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (3) delivering, distributing, or dispensing the substance for a legitimate medical purpose.

BNA Fairness ActThis bill excludes from gross income (for federal income tax purposes) the basic needs allowance received by eligible members of the Armed Forces.Under current law, members of the Armed Forces may be eligible to receive the basic needs allowance (additional monthly payment) if (1) they have completed initial training, (2) they have at least one dependent, and (3) their total household income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level (based on the location and number of individuals in the household). Further, under current law, certain qualified military benefits may be excluded from gross income. However, the basic needs allowance is not included within the definition of qualified military benefits and must be included in gross income for federal tax purposes.Under the bill, the definition of qualified military benefits that may be excluded from gross income is expanded to include the basic needs allowance.

Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 or the PURR Act of 2025This bill establishes the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as the sole regulatory authority over pet food for dogs and cats. It also provides certain flexibilities for pet food manufacturers with respect to the types of ingredients they may use and the associated labeling and marketing requirements.The bill specifies that, with exceptions for certain existing oversight activities, no state or local government may establish, implement, or enforce any authority or requirement relating to pet food marketing or labeling and instead provides for oversight by the CVM.The bill requires the CVM to review and act on pet food ingredient submissions within 90 days. Additionally, the bill provides a presumption that pet food ingredients are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) if they are recognized as acceptable per the Association of American Feed Control Officials and the CVM does not find otherwise. Manufacturers may voluntarily notify the CVM of ingredients that are considered GRAS but that have not yet been specifically recognized as such.The bill also allows manufacturers to state, without prior approval, that their products (1) sometimes, but not always, have certain ingredients (e.g., flavors); (2) have certain health benefits (e.g., tartar control); or (3) are human grade or natural, if certain conditions are met.