Timothy M. Kennedy

Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025

Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and conduct an exercise to enhance collective domestic preparedness for and response to a terrorist attack during an extreme cold weather event (e.g., an event caused by a polar vortex when Arctic air expands southward). The scenario in the exercise must involve a terrorist attack causing cascading effects on critical infrastructure (i.e., systems and assets of vital importance to national security, public health, or safety) and must address how public and private entities can coordinate to mitigate such effects and bolster community resilience. Within 60 days after completion of the exercise, DHS must submit to Congress an after-action report including the initial findings of the exercise, plans for incorporating lessons learned into future operations, and any proposed legislative changes.

DHS Release Transparency Act

The Department of Homeland Security would be required to publicly report information about individuals it releases from custody, including their names, charges, and reasons for release. This would give Congress and the public more transparency into DHS decisions about who is released and under what circumstances. The bill affects immigration enforcement practices and how the government communicates about border security and detention decisions.

VA Coaching into Care Act

The Department of Veterans Affairs would create a test program offering mental health and counseling services to the friends and family members of veterans, recognizing that loved ones often struggle with the stress of supporting someone with military service-related challenges. This pilot program would help identify whether providing this support improves outcomes for both veterans and their support networks. The program would run for a limited time to evaluate its effectiveness before deciding whether to expand it more broadly.

To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to link together applications of family members throughout the NEXUS application process, and for other purposes.

The proposal would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to connect family members' applications together when they apply for NEXUS, a trusted traveler program that speeds up border crossings for pre-approved travelers. This change would make it easier for families to apply together and potentially streamline the approval process by linking their applications. The measure affects families who want to join the NEXUS program to experience faster processing at U.S. borders and airports.

Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026

The legislation would restrict how railroads can operate locomotives controlled remotely rather than by an on-site engineer, likely requiring a trained operator to be physically present on trains for safety reasons. This would affect railroad companies and their operations, while potentially protecting railroad workers and public safety by ensuring human oversight of train movements. The proposal is currently under review by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act

This bill would protect Department of Veterans Affairs employees from political retaliation and ensure stable funding for VA operations and staffing. It likely aims to prevent the VA from losing experienced workers due to sudden budget cuts or disciplinary actions based on political pressure, which could disrupt healthcare and benefits services for veterans. The measure would help maintain consistent VA services by protecting the workforce that processes claims, provides medical care, and assists veterans with their benefits.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1200 William Street, Room 200, in Buffalo, New York, as the William J. Donovan Post Office Building.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1200 William Street, Room 200, in Buffalo, New York, as the "William J. Donovan Post Office Building".

VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026

This bill would make it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire and keep police officers by offering them better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The goal is to address staffing shortages at VA facilities by making police jobs there more competitive with other law enforcement positions. This would affect both the VA officers who work at veterans' hospitals and clinics and the veterans who rely on those facilities for security and services.

Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act

This bill would establish new safety requirements and protections for airline passengers and flight crew members, likely addressing issues like unruly passenger behavior, crew working conditions, or emergency procedures. The legislation would apply to commercial airlines and affect millions of Americans who fly regularly as well as the flight attendants and pilots who work on those planes. The bill is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to determine whether it should move forward for a vote.

DHS Grants Accountability Act

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to provide better tracking and reporting on how it spends grant money given to states and local governments for transportation and infrastructure projects. The goal is to make sure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and to give Congress and the public clearer information about where the money goes and what results it produces.

Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act

This bill likely aims to address student loan burdens for highly educated professionals like doctors, lawyers, and engineers by creating new repayment options or forgiveness programs tailored to their circumstances. The measure would affect borrowers with advanced degrees who carry substantial education debt, potentially offering relief through income-based repayment plans or loan forgiveness after a certain period of service. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Education and Workforce to determine its specific provisions and feasibility.

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program and disburse obligated funds under such program, and for other purposes.

The federal government would be required to properly manage and distribute grant money for a Next Generation Warning System program through FEMA, which helps communities develop better emergency alert systems to warn people about disasters and other threats. This ensures that funds already promised for these warning systems actually get distributed to states and local governments that need them. The bill affects emergency management agencies, local governments, and communities that rely on timely disaster warnings.

Veterans Healthcare Equality Act of 2025

This bill would likely expand or improve healthcare benefits and services available to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The specific changes would address gaps or inequalities in how different groups of veterans receive medical care, mental health services, or other health-related benefits. Veterans and their families would be the primary beneficiaries of any expanded or more equitable healthcare access this legislation provides.

Honoring Our Heroes Act of 2025

Honoring Our Heroes Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and implement a two-year pilot program to furnish, when requested, an appropriate headstone or burial marker to commemorate covered veterans. Covered veterans are veterans who died on or before November 1, 1990, and were released or discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable. Currently, these benefits are only available to eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990. The bill requires the VA to update the National Cemetery Administration website with respect to the requirements for eligibility for a headstone or burial marker.

Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act of 2025

The legislation would strengthen security measures and enforcement procedures at U.S. ports of entry, including airports, seaports, and land borders. It would affect border patrol agents, customs officials, and travelers entering the country by potentially increasing inspections, technology requirements, or staffing at these checkpoints. The bill is currently being reviewed by a congressional subcommittee focused on border security.

McCarran-Walter Technical Corrections Act

The legislation would fix technical errors and outdated language in existing immigration laws to clarify how they work and ensure they're applied consistently. These corrections would affect immigration officials who enforce the laws, immigrants applying for visas or citizenship, and employers who hire foreign workers by removing confusing or contradictory provisions that currently exist in the legal code.

Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act.

Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to conduct outreach on Medicare coverage of occupational therapy services to treat substance use or mental health disorders.

Gold Star Family Education Parity Act

This bill would ensure that families of military members who died in service receive the same education benefits as families of disabled veterans, removing current gaps in financial support for college and training programs. Gold Star families—those who have lost a loved one in military service—would gain access to education assistance that helps them pursue degrees and career training without the same financial burden. The change aims to recognize and support the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

The legislation would restrict who can legally possess body armor by creating new criminal penalties for civilians wearing protective vests, with exceptions for law enforcement, military, and security personnel. The law would affect everyday people, potentially including construction workers, journalists, and others who might wear protective gear, by making it illegal for them to own or wear body armor in most circumstances. This represents a significant change to current federal law, which generally allows civilians to purchase and wear body armor.

TSA Commuting Fairness Act

TSA Commuting Fairness Act This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to submit to Congress a study on the feasibility of treating as on-duty hours the time TSA employees working at airport locations spend traveling between regular duty locations, airport parking lots, and bus and transit stops.

SNOW Act of 2025

Support Neighborhoods Offset Winter Damage Act of 2025 or the SNOW Act of 2025 This bill authorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funding for winter storm hazard mitigation and requires FEMA rulemaking to expand assistance for winter storms. It also increases the federal cost share for various FEMA grants, for any hazard type, in rural or disadvantaged areas. The bill specifically authorizes the use of grant funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program to reduce the risk of future damage in areas affected by winter storms, such as by acquiring snow removal equipment. Also, under current FEMA policy, in determining eligibility and recommending a presidential major disaster declaration for a snowstorm, FEMA’s considerations include whether data shows record (or near record) snowfall and whether estimated statewide costs meet applicable thresholds. The bill requires FEMA to create regulations waiving these eligibility requirements for a major disaster declaration for a snowstorm in certain circumstances. FEMA must also create regulations to provide certain assistance for winter storms, including for debris removal and specified infrastructure, as well as individual and emergency assistance when the state determines the storm exceeds state and local capacity. In addition, for any hazard type, the bill requires FEMA to increase the federal cost share from 75% to 90% for certain assistance provided in rural or disadvantaged areas. It also authorizes an increased HMGP federal cost share amount from 75% to 90% for assistance in rural or disadvantaged areas.