Legislative Activity

The Yes in God's Backyard Act aims to increase the supply of affordable rental housing by providing technical assistance and competitive challenge grants. These resources are specifically directed toward faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments to help them overcome barriers to developing or preserving housing on their land. The bill defines affordable housing based on income limits and prioritizes assistance for projects serving extremely low-income or vulnerable populations.

This bill, the District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act, transfers primary command authority of the D.C. National Guard from the President of the United States to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. It updates outdated laws to officially name the Mayor as Commander-in-Chief, granting them authority over appointments, calling up the Guard, and disciplinary actions. The legislation also makes numerous technical amendments across federal military codes to ensure the Mayor is the recognized authority for the D.C. National Guard.

This joint resolution terminates the President's declared crime emergency in the District of Columbia from August 2025. Congress asserts that the emergency is unwarranted given declining crime rates and argues against diverting local Metropolitan Police Department resources for federal tasks. The resolution effectively ends the special conditions established by the Executive Order.

The District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act eliminates the President's long-standing authority to assume emergency control over the Metropolitan Police Department. This legislation amends the D.C. Home Rule Act by striking the section granting the President this power. The bill effectively returns full, non-contingent control of the D.C. police force to local D.C. authorities.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Attorney General to release all unclassified Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. This sweeping requirement covers investigations, travel logs, and communications, with limited exceptions primarily focused on protecting victim privacy and active cases. Any redactions must be publicly justified, and the Attorney General must report the details of the release and any withheld information to Congress.

The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act of 2025 establishes a five-year Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofits providing service dogs to eligible veterans. This program mandates that the VA provide lifetime veterinary insurance coverage for every service dog placed through the program. Grants will fund the provision of service dogs to veterans with disabilities such as PTSD, TBI, or severe mobility issues, with recipients strictly prohibited from charging veterans any fees.

The All Aboard Act of 2025 aims to significantly modernize and expand the nation's passenger and freight rail systems through massive federal investment. It establishes major grant programs focused on electrifying infrastructure, developing zero-emission locomotives, and improving high-performance rail service. Furthermore, the Act mandates strong labor protections and creates new training centers to ensure a skilled workforce is ready for the industry's technological transition.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding is specifically designated for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This appropriation is in addition to any existing funds allocated for this purpose.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Voting Rights Act by establishing new standards to challenge discriminatory voting practices and updating federal oversight criteria for states. It mandates greater transparency for all changes to voting rules and implements "practice-based preclearance" for certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill creates new federal criminal penalties for using force or threats to intimidate voters or election workers.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals a previous ban that prohibited Medicaid payments to certain healthcare entities. This legislation retroactively validates and ensures payment for essential healthcare services provided by these now-unbanned organizations during the period the prohibition was in effect.

The Pay Teachers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to significantly boost federal investment in public education across three main areas. Title I guarantees substantial, growing funding for disadvantaged students, rural schools, Impact Aid, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Title II mandates a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000, raises pay floors for support staff, and requires states to address pay inequities. Finally, Title III establishes mandatory, increasing appropriations for programs that recruit, train, and support new educators, especially through paid residencies and specialized disability services.

This bill seeks to protect the tenure of members serving on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). It mandates that current members may only be terminated for specific causes and requires the immediate reinstatement of all members who were serving on June 8, 2025. Furthermore, future vacancies on the committee must be filled using candidates recommended by the Comptroller General.

The Stop the Scammers Act establishes a new whistleblower incentive and protection program within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), allowing individuals to receive awards of 10% to 30% of collected penalties for providing original information leading to successful enforcement actions. Furthermore, the Act invalidates predispute arbitration agreements that attempt to waive these new whistleblower rights. Finally, this bill increases the annual funding cap for the CFPB, allowing it to receive up to 12 percent of the Federal Reserve's prior year earnings.

The Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act establishes a new federal funding stream to mandate that states set and meet minimum living wage standards for all school paraprofessionals and support staff. This legislation sets baseline minimum salaries and hourly wages, which increase with experience and are adjusted for inflation after 2030. States must apply for funding and create a four-year plan to ensure all local districts comply with these new pay requirements, using federal funds to supplement, not supplant, existing local education budgets.

The Community Investment and Prosperity Act amends federal banking laws to increase investment limits for national banks and Federal Reserve Banks. Specifically, this legislation raises the applicable investment threshold from 15% to 20%. This change is intended to promote public welfare through increased investment capacity.

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes a new, refundable tax credit for eligible first-time homebuyers, equal to 10% of the purchase price, up to a $15,000 maximum. This credit is subject to income and price phase-outs based on local area median figures. Claimants must meet specific age and residency requirements, and may be subject to a recapture provision if the home is sold within four years.