August Pfluger

Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025

This bill modifies criminal penalties for an offense involving the theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, or from their business premises.

Specifically, the bill does the following:

• increases from 10 to 20 years the maximum prison term, and

• creates a 3- or 5-year mandatory minimum prison term for an offense that occurs during the commission of a burglary or robbery.

An attempt to commit an offense is subject to the same penalties as a substantive offense.

Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025

This bill prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a safety standard requiring certain employers to create a heat injury and illness prevention plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplaces.

Specifically, OSHA is prohibited from finalizing the proposed rule titled Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, which was published on August 30, 2024, or any substantially similar standard. The proposed standard generally applies to employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction. Employers must develop plans in accordance with the specified standards to address employee exposures to heat indexes at or above 80 degrees (initial heat trigger) or 90 degrees (high heat trigger) Fahrenheit.

As background, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 generally requires employers to provide their employees with a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees. OSHA conducts workplace inspections and cites employers that fail to satisfy these requirements. Currently, OSHA does not have specific heat exposure standards; however, OSHA has historically used its general authority to cite employers for violations involving excessive heat, including through a National Emphasis Program that focuses on indoor and outdoor heat exposure in industries that have the highest risks.

Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026

This bill provides for an additional payment for clinical psychologists under Medicare who provide services in designated health professional shortage areas. It also allows clinical psychologists to provide behavioral health services (in accordance with state law) for purposes of hospitalization services, home health services, and other services under Medicare.

Medicaid RAC Improvement Act of 2026

This bill establishes additional requirements for and expands the scope of Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). RACs identify improper Medicaid payments to providers, collect overpayments, and reimburse underpayments.

Current law requires state Medicaid programs to establish a RAC program; however, states may apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an exception. The bill prohibits the CMS from granting exceptions after December 31, 2028. The CMS must inform states that have an approved RAC exception that the exception will not be renewed after this date, and it must also inform these states of the current expiration date of their excepted status.

The bill also expands the scope of RACs to include a review of payments to Medicaid managed care organizations, prepaid inpatient health plans, and prepaid ambulatory health plans. In addition, the bill expands the period of review for RACs to include the four-year period prior to the fiscal year at issue.

Finally, the bill establishes reporting requirements relating to the effectiveness of RACs, including annual reports with state-specific data on collected overpayments. The CMS must also conduct a study and establish a related demonstration program to increase the number of states with a RAC program.

Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2025

This bill prohibits a state or any political subdivision of a state from imposing or collecting an excise tax on the sale of a firearm, ammunition, or any part or component of a firearm or ammunition by a manufacture or dealer.

Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act

This bill limits membership eligibility for the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (commonly known as the Daughters of the American Revolution, or DAR) to biological women. (Under the bill, biological women are human females who naturally have, had, will have, or would have—if not for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption—a female reproductive system.)

Members must also satisfy any genealogical and membership qualifications the organization establishes, as under current law.

As background, DAR's federal charter provides that its purposes include perpetuating the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence.