Bill Cassidy

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

This bill allows, beginning in 2028, for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that are used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determines such coverage is appropriate. Coverage is limited to those under a certain age (age 68 in 2028, increased by one year every year thereafter) and to one test every 11 months.

Social Security Overpayment Relief Act

This bill prohibits the Social Security Administration from collecting overpayments made in error to Social Security or Supplemental Security Income recipients 10 or more years prior to the discovery of the error by the administration. This prohibition extends to the collection of funds directly from overpaid recipients and to the adjustment of future payments to those recipients.

This act authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend construction deadlines for hydropower projects that were issued a license before March 13, 2020. FERC is authorized, upon the request of the licensees, to extend the deadline for beginning construction on such projects an additional six years beyond the eight-year extension FERC is authorized to provide under current law. The extension must consist of no more than three consecutive two-year periods.

The act also provides that FERC may reinstate certain expired licenses for projects with construction deadlines extended under this act, effective as of the date they expire.

Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025

This bill modifies the waiver process under the Clean Air Act related to state emission control standards for new motor vehicles (or new motor vehicle engines).

Under current law, states are preempted from adopting or enforcing emission control standards for new motor vehicles (or new motor vehicle engines) unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a waiver authorizing a state to adopt such standards if certain requirements are met.

The bill provides that state standards that directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines are not eligible for waivers. The bill also prohibits the EPA from determining that any state standards amended after the bill's enactment are within the scope of an existing waiver.

Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to revoke waivers granted between January 1, 2022, and the date of enactment of this bill if the standards directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new motor vehicles with internal combustion engines.

Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2025 or the HELPER Act of 2025

This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a first-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment. Instead, the mortgage is subject to a one-time, up-front mortgage insurance premium.

Lulu’s Law

This act requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue an order explicitly permitting the transmission of wireless emergency alerts to mobile phones in the event of a shark attack.

(Under current regulations, authorized government authorities are permitted to send wireless emergency alerts regarding public safety emergencies, including severe weather, missing children, and other threats to life or property.)

Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act

This bill provides funds beginning in FY2026 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to survey retail and non-retail pharmacies (e.g., mail-order pharmacies) to determine average prices of covered outpatient drugs under Medicaid. Pharmacies that fail to participate in the surveys are subject to civil penalties.

The bill additionally provides funds for FY2026 for the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to study the results of the survey and report accordingly to Congress.

The bill also requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with pharmacy benefit managers under Medicaid.

Patients Before Middlemen Act

This bill establishes certain standards and reporting requirements for prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and pharmacies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage.

Specifically, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must develop reasonable and relevant standards for contracts between PDP sponsors and pharmacies. The CMS must seek input from interested stakeholders when developing these standards. PDP sponsors are subject to civil penalties for violating these standards; PBMs must reimburse PDP sponsors for civil penalties that result from their responsibilities.

The bill also requires the CMS to report periodically on essential retail pharmacies (i.e., pharmacies that serve as the only pharmacy within a certain radius) with respect to costs, contracts, and other specified information, particularly in relation to other types of pharmacies.

Additionally, PBMs may not receive any income other than flat, bona fide service fees. PBMs must turn over any excess amounts they receive to PDP sponsors; PDP sponsors must turn over these amounts to the CMS. In addition, PBMs must report to PDP sponsors and to the CMS an itemized list of prescription drugs that were dispensed during the previous year and related data about costs, claims, affiliated pharmacies, and other specified information. PDP sponsors may audit PBMs to ensure compliance with these requirements and must annually certify their compliance; PBMs are responsible for any associated civil penalties for violations.

The bill's changes generally apply beginning in 2028.

Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

This bill requires the authorized monument honoring Medal of Honor recipients to be located within the Reserve (the great cross-axis of the National Mall, which generally extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and from the White House to the Jefferson Memorial).

Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025

This bill generally prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls.

Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.) Under the bill, sex is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

Increasing American Jobs Through Greater United States Exports to Africa and Latin America Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to establish a comprehensive U.S. strategy and a standardized training plan to increase U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Specifically, the bill directs the President to establish and submit to Congress a comprehensive U.S. strategy for public and private investment, trade, and development in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The strategy shall focus on increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean by at least 200% in real dollar value within 10 years.

Additionally, the bill directs the President to develop a plan for standardized training of (1) U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service officers, and (2) economic officers of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The bill also directs the Department of Commerce to (1) designate a Special Africa Export Strategy Coordinator, and (2) designate a Special Latin America and the Caribbean Export Strategy Coordinator. These coordinators shall oversee the development and implementation of the strategy to increase U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Book Minimum Tax Repeal Act

This bill repeals the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) and makes related modifications to the general business tax credit.

Under current law, a 15% CAMT is imposed on a corporation with adjusted financial statement income (also known as book income) exceeding an average of $1 billion for a consecutive three-year period (or an average of $100 million for a U.S. corporation that is part of a foreign parent multinational group if the adjusted financial statement income of such group exceeds an average of $1 billion for a consecutive three-year period). Adjusted financial statement income generally is the net income or loss reported on the corporation’s applicable financial statement for a tax year, with adjustments for specific items.

The bill repeals the CAMT and modifies a related limit on the amount of general business tax credits allowed for a corporation.

Invest to Protect Act of 2025

This bill directs the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants to local and tribal governments that employ fewer than 175 law enforcement officers. Grant funds may be used for various activities, including to provide de-escalation training and improve recruitment and retention.

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025

This bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran whom the Department of Veterans Affairs has determined died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) regardless of how long the veteran had such disease prior to death. Under current law, such compensation is paid for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death.

Under the bill, such extension of increased compensation applies retroactively to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022.