Abraham Hamadeh

BOP Direct-Hire Authority Act

This bill provides direct-hire authority to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for the purpose of appointing qualified candidates to any competitive service positions that are unfilled. Direct-hire authority is an expedited hiring authority that allows federal agencies to fill positions for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need.

The direct-hire authority provided by this bill expires on the date that 96% of the total number of competitive service positions at BOP facilities are filled.

FEMA for America First Act of 2025

This bill restricts the eligibility of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) for federal disaster assistance benefits by eliminating eligibility for individuals with certain immigration statuses.

Under current law, a non-U.S. national must have one of several specific immigration statuses (e.g., lawful permanent resident, parolee, or refugee) to be eligible for federal disaster assistance provided to individuals (e.g., the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individuals and Households Program or disaster unemployment assistance).

The bill narrows the immigration statuses eligible for disaster assistance to individuals by making non-U.S. nationals ineligible for such assistance if they are

• a parolee (i.e., paroled into the United States temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit),

• an asylee that has not sought adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, or

• a refugee that has not sought adjustment to lawful permanent resident status.

9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025

This bill modifies the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), including by updating the formula for determining the program’s annual funding amounts and authorizing mental health providers to provide certain evaluations under the program.

The WTCHP is a federal health care program (terminating in FY2090) providing responders and survivors with monitoring and treatment of certified medical conditions related to the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. Under current law, the program’s annual federal funding is determined based on the amount specifically appropriated in the previous fiscal year, adjusted for inflation.

The bill establishes a new federal funding formula for FY2026-FY2090 that is generally based on annual changes in the number of enrollees. The bill also increases the amounts the program may spend annually on medical research and activities relating to data collection. The bill requires the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which administers the program, to submit a report to Congress on the program’s projected budgetary needs and expenditures.

In addition, the bill authorizes licensed mental health providers to perform initial health evaluations with respect to mental health conditions for purposes of determining eligibility under the WTCHP. NIOSH must issue regulations specifying the categories of mental health providers that may perform these activities.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 765 West Old Route 66 in Ash Fork, Arizona, as the "Fayrene Hume Post Office".

Guarding Readiness Resources Act

This bill modifies the treatment of funds received by the National Guard Bureau as a reimbursement from a state or other U.S. territory (e.g., Guam) for the use of military property.

Specifically, the funds must be credited to (1) the appropriation, fund, or account used in incurring the obligation; or (2) an appropriation, fund, or account currently available for the purposes of which the expenditures were made. Further, the funds may only be used by the Department of Defense for the repair, maintenance, replacement, or other similar functions related directly to assets used by National Guard units while operating under state active duty status.

Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025

This bill permits an individual to transport a knife between two places (e.g., states) where knife possession, carry, or transport is legal. The knife must be transported in compliance with the bill's accessibility and secure storage requirements, unless it is an emergency knife or tool designed to cut seat belts.

An individual who is transporting a knife in compliance with this bill may not be arrested or detained for a knife violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to comply with the accessibility or secure storage requirements. An individual may assert compliance with this bill as a claim or defense in any civil or criminal proceeding.