Edward Markey

Family Vaccine Protection Act

This bill provides statutory authority for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and establishes related requirements. The bill also conditions the removal of a vaccine from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) on supportive scientific evidence.

The ACIP provides advice and recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the use of vaccines and immunization strategies in the United States. Currently, the ACIP is governed by a charter. The bill establishes statutory requirements for the ACIP’s membership, procedures, and responsibilities for providing guidance and recommendations on the use of vaccines, including newly authorized vaccines and vaccines in response to public health emergencies.

Also, currently, the CDC reviews and decides whether to adopt the ACIP’s recommendations. The bill requires (1) the CDC to adopt any ACIP recommendation unless the CDC determines it is not supported by a preponderance of the best available scientific evidence, and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the CDC, as applicable, to publish the scientific basis and notify Congress of any action they take that is contrary to an ACIP recommendation.

The VICP is a no-fault compensation program allowing individuals to seek federal funds for injuries allegedly caused by covered vaccines. Currently, HHS may modify via rulemaking the table of vaccines covered under the VICP. The bill requires any removal of a vaccine from the table to be supported by a preponderance of the best available scientific evidence regarding the vaccine’s safety or efficacy.

Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025

This bill authorizes certain targeted clinical trials involving combinations of drugs to treat pediatric cancer, and renews the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority to award priority review vouchers (PRVs) to sponsors of new products for rare pediatric diseases.

Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs used in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved and that (1) have been determined to be part of the standard of care for treating a pediatric cancer, or (2) have been approved to treat an adult cancer and are directed at molecular targets for pediatric cancer.

The FDA must issue guidance on the implementation of these provisions and report to Congress on its efforts to ensure implementation. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the effectiveness of the bill's changes with respect to the development of pediatric cancer drugs.

The bill also renews the FDA’s authority to issue PRVs to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2030. This is known as the Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program. The program expired in December 2024.

GAO must report on the effectiveness of the Rare Pediatric Disease PRV program, including to what extent PRVs were successful in promoting drug development and expediting patient access to drugs for the treatment or prevention of rare pediatric diseases.

Background Check Expansion Act

This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals).

Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.

The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses.

This resolution recognizes November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight.

As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting and notifications for the exception.

The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception.

Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

The bill also requires

• the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA,

• the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and

• the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025

This bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations to carry out Head Start programs without interruption during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).

The Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. The programs seek to promote school readiness through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services.

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to continue projects and activities under the programs that were funded in FY2025. The appropriations are available until the earliest of

• the enactment into law of legislation that provides appropriations (including continuing appropriations) for Head Start,

• the enactment into law of legislation that provides regular or continuing appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services without an appropriation for Head Start, or

• September 30, 2026.

This bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.

This joint resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted.

The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.