Melanie A. Stansbury

Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025

Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025 This bill takes three tracts of specified federal land (approximately 9.89 acres) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. (These three tracts of land were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School, which was an Indian boarding school until 1981.) The land is currently administered by the General Services Administration (GSA). Within 90 days of this bill's enactment, the GSA must (1) relocate all federal tenants on the land, and (2) transfer administrative jurisdiction over the land to the Department of the Interior. Within 90 days after the relocation of federal tenants and transfer of administrative jurisdiction, the bill requires (1) Interior to take the land into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos, and (2) the federal government to convey its ownership interests in buildings and other structures located within Tract 1 to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to own in fee. (Tract 1, which is approximately 3.57 acres, contains a warehouse that is 76,682 square feet.) The bill requires the land taken into trust to be used for the educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 Pueblos. Further, the land must remain subject to existing private and municipal encumbrances, rights-of-way, restrictions, easements of record, and utility service agreements. The bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.

SURS Extension Act

The proposal would extend a Medicare program that helps small medical practices, rural clinics, and those serving underserved communities avoid penalties for not meeting certain quality and cost-efficiency standards. This support program gives these smaller and rural healthcare providers more time and flexibility to comply with Medicare's payment rules compared to larger medical organizations. The extension would help ensure that doctors and clinics in less populated areas and those serving low-income patients can continue operating without facing financial penalties.

Public Health Nursing Act

This bill would likely establish or expand the role of public health nurses in the healthcare system, possibly by creating new funding, training programs, or requirements for states to employ nurses focused on disease prevention and community health. Public health nurses typically work on issues like disease outbreaks, maternal and child health, and health education in communities rather than in hospitals. The bill would affect healthcare workers, public health agencies, and communities that rely on preventive health services.

TALENTS Act

The proposal would make it easier for federal agencies to hire and fire employees based on job performance, reduce certain civil service protections, and give agency leaders more flexibility in managing their workforce. This would affect millions of federal workers across government agencies by potentially changing how they're hired, evaluated, and protected from dismissal. The changes aim to improve government efficiency by allowing agencies to remove underperforming employees more quickly, though it could reduce job security for federal workers.

CLAIM Act of 2025

The CLAIM Act would allow companies to stake claims on federal lands for mineral extraction and development. This legislation affects mining companies, environmental groups, and communities near federal lands by potentially expanding access to resources like metals and minerals on government-owned property. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2025

The bill would create a grant program to help communities, particularly rural and underserved areas, improve their internet and broadband access and digital infrastructure. These grants would support projects like expanding high-speed internet networks, upgrading communications technology, and building digital skills programs for residents who lack reliable connectivity. The program aims to bridge the digital divide so that people in less-connected communities can participate more fully in education, work, and economic opportunities.

SNAP BACK Act.

The bill would restore or increase federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. It affects millions of Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to purchase groceries, as well as state governments that administer the program. The proposal has been referred to multiple congressional committees for review and consideration.

IHS Provider Expansion Act

The proposal would expand the Indian Health Service's ability to hire and retain healthcare providers by increasing pay, improving working conditions, and streamlining hiring processes for doctors, nurses, and other medical staff serving Native American communities. This would help address critical shortages of healthcare workers on tribal lands and in rural areas where many Native Americans live. The measure aims to improve access to quality medical care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

Expressing the need for the Senate to provide advice and consent to ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

This concurrent resolution expresses that it is in the national interest for the Senate to provide its advice and consent for the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

America's Red Rock Wilderness Act

This bill would protect millions of acres of red rock landscapes in the American West—primarily in Utah—by designating them as official wilderness areas where commercial development, mining, and motorized vehicles would be prohibited. The protected lands would remain open for hiking, camping, and other outdoor recreation, while also preserving the region's natural ecosystems and geological features. The bill would affect energy companies, outdoor recreation businesses, and local communities that depend on or use these public lands.

WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act

This bill would give Native American tribes better access to federal water management programs and funding that were previously difficult for them to obtain. It aims to help tribes develop water infrastructure, manage water resources on their lands, and participate more directly in decisions about water projects that affect their communities. The changes would make it easier for tribes to apply for and receive grants and technical assistance from federal water agencies.