Joaquin Castro

Stop the Wait Act of 2025

This bill phases out the initial waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eliminates the waiting period for certain disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare.

Under current law, individuals generally must wait five months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits. The bill would gradually reduce this waiting period before eliminating it entirely in the year 2030.

Further, the bill would eliminate the 24-month waiting period for certain disabled workers and other individuals to become eligible for Medicare. Under current law, individuals under the age of 65 may generally enroll in Medicare after they have been eligible for SSDI or Social Security child’s, widow’s, or widower’s benefits by reason of disability for 24 months. The bill would eliminate this waiting period for individuals for whom the annual cost of certain medical insurance would exceed a specified percentage of their household income (i.e., those who cannot afford minimum essential coverage). Medicare eligibility for these individuals must be available retroactively to the first month that an individual qualified for SSDI or Social Security child’s, widow’s, or widower’s benefits by reason of disability.

This resolution recognizes that Tamil Americans enhance the rich diversity of the United States and supports the designation of Tamil Language and Heritage Month.

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

This bill establishes that a foreign nongovernmental organization shall not be disqualified from receiving certain U.S. international development assistance solely because the organization provides medical services (including counseling and referral services) using non-U.S. government funds if the medical services do not violate the laws of the country in which they are being provided. Such foreign organizations shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy or lobbying activities other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations receiving such assistance.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

Neighbors Not Enemies Act

This bill repeals provisions authorizing the President to apprehend and remove from the United States the citizens of a particular nation, if the United States has declared war against that nation or that nation has threatened an invasion against the United States.

Assuring Medicare’s Promise Act of 2025

This bill increases the net investment tax for certain taxpayers and appropriates revenue from the net investment tax to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (which finances Medicare Part A). The bill also requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to issue additional guidance on the net investment tax.

The bill requires individuals with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeding $400,000 ($500,000 for joint filers and $250,000 for married individuals filing separately), estates, and trusts to pay a tax of 3.8% on the greater of their specified net income or net investment income, subject to limitations. (Under current law, individuals with a MAGI exceeding $200,000 [or $250,000 for joint filers], estates, and trusts pay a 3.8% tax on net investment income.)

The bill defines specified net income by expanding the definition of net investment income to

• include gross income from any trade or business (unless subject to employment taxes), including interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents;

• include net gain from the disposition of business property;

• eliminate the exclusion of income from the investment of working capital; and

• eliminate the exception related to certain active partnership or S corporation interests.

The bill also

• expands the net investment tax definition of a trade or business,

• disallows net operating losses in calculating net investment income,

• includes certain foreign-sourced income in net investment income, and

• requires the IRS to issue guidance on the treatment of certain corporate distributions for purposes of the net investment tax.

Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-eligible Residents Now Act or the COVER Now Act

This bill establishes a demonstration program to allow local governments to provide health benefits to the Medicaid expansion population in states that have not expanded Medicaid.

Under the program, local governments may provide coverage for individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (i.e., the Medicaid expansion population) for a maximum of 10 years, or until their respective states expand Medicaid. The bill provides a 100% federal matching rate for the first three years of program participation.

The bill prohibits states from taking certain actions against participating localities, such as withholding funding, increasing taxes, or restricting provider participation. States that violate these requirements are subject to certain funding penalties.

This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center.

Sanction Russian Nuclear Safety Violators Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who endanger the integrity or safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine or who undermine Ukrainian operational control of the power plant. The bill provides certain exceptions to such sanctions (1) to comply with international obligations, (2) to provide humanitarian assistance, or (3) for those seeking to reestablish Ukrainian operational control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution

This resolution authorizes proxy voting in the House of Representatives for a Member who has given birth or whose spouse has given birth and pregnant Members who are unable to travel safely or have a serious medical condition.

Under the resolution, a qualifying Member may designate a proxy to cast a vote in a committee, the Committee of the Whole, or on the House floor; however, proxies will not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. The proxy designation is valid for up to 12 weeks.

To designate a proxy for House and Committee of the Whole votes, the Member must submit a signed and dated letter to the Clerk stating the Member’s qualifying circumstances and the name and state of the Member who has agreed to be designated as proxy. A Member who has designated a proxy according to these requirements may also designate a proxy for committee votes. To designate a proxy for committee votes, the Member must provide the committee chair and ranking minority member with a signed and dated letter specifying another member of the committee to cast a proxy vote.

The resolution further provides that a Member may revoke the proxy authorization by (1) casting the Member’s own vote; (2) recording the Member’s own presence in the House or in the Committee of the Whole; or (3) in a committee, by submitting a signed letter to the chair and ranking minority member.

Amputation Reduction and Compassion Act of 2025 or the ARC Act of 2025

This bill provides for coverage of peripheral artery disease screening tests without cost-sharing under Medicare and Medicaid for certain at-risk individuals. It also requires the development of certain educational programs, a payment model, and Medicare quality measures to reduce amputations relating to such disease.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 107 North Hoyne Avenue in Fritch, Texas, as the "Chief Zeb Smith Post Office".

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States.

The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits.

The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives.

The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.

The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.