Ad astra per aspera
To the stars through difficulties
34th state to join the Union on January 29, 1861
Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
The bill directs a large federal investment to expand and modernize VA medical facilities in St. Louis—delivering greater local capacity, improved operations, and construction jobs—but it requires a sizeable upfront taxpayer cost and carries risks of overruns and reduced funding flexibility for other VA priorities.
Criminal History Access Act of 2026
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
The bill strengthens oversight, enforcement, and explicit limits on U.S.-person queries while preserving Congressional control and blocking a Fed-issued public CBDC — trading enhanced procedural safeguards and protection of cash privacy for an extended lifespan of Section 702 authorities and potential operational, security, and legal frictions.
Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
The amendment aims to reduce ambiguity by clarifying recreational drone rules for regulators and users, but it risks creating new restrictions for hobbyists and imposing administrative costs to implement the changes.
Honoring the life of Hays, Kansas police sergeant Scott Heimann.
Honoring the life of Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic.
The resolution offers symbolic national recognition of Officer Simoncic's sacrifice and spotlights community volunteer programs to encourage local support for youth, providing condolence and civic encouragement without creating policy changes or fiscal impacts.
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025
The bill expands acceptable milk and fortified nondairy options and strengthens allergy-safety training in schools—improving access and safety for many students—while creating modest new costs, administrative requirements, and a possible increase in saturated-fat availability.
Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act
The bill expands VA telehealth and mail‑order pharmacy access for veterans in the Freely Associated States and preserves pension protections for two more months—improving care and near‑term benefits for veterans while imposing modest additional costs and implementation/logistical risks for the VA and taxpayers.
ARCA Act of 2025
The bill centralizes and professionalizes VA acquisition with stronger independent oversight and transparency—likely improving long‑term program reliability and reducing overruns—but raises short‑term costs, risks procurement delays and service disruptions during transition, concentrates decision authority that can reduce local flexibility, and may narrow contractor and manager pools.
Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025
The bill raises and protects VA benefit payments for veterans and their survivors by tying them to the Social Security COLA—preserving purchasing power—but increases federal spending and creates operational and timing risks by depending on SSA determinations and hard publication deadlines.
