Legislative Activity

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the national understanding and prevention of stillbirths. It authorizes federal grants to help states enhance stillbirth surveillance, data collection, and analysis, ensuring all collected data remains de-identified. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of clear federal guidelines for standardized data collection and the development of public educational materials regarding stillbirth risk factors.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 ties federal justice grant eligibility to responsible firearm purchasing practices. Organizations receiving Edward Byrne Grants must agree not to deal with licensed dealers who have a high number of firearms traced back to them shortly after retail sale. Furthermore, the bill mandates the ATF to regularly share tracing information with state and local law enforcement and publicly list these "covered licensed dealers."

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to increase transparency, accountability, and oversight across the Executive Branch. It strengthens restrictions on presidential pardon power, closes loopholes in emoluments clauses, and enhances Congress's ability to enforce subpoenas. Furthermore, the Act bolsters whistleblower protections, tightens ethics rules for acting officials and appointees, and mandates public disclosure of presidential tax returns.

The VA Extenders Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill focused on extending numerous existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities for one additional year, primarily through September 30, 2026. These extensions cover critical areas including healthcare services, mental health support, educational benefits protections, and housing assistance for homeless and disabled veterans. Additionally, the bill modifies the VA's Partial Claim Program to increase borrower accountability while mandating greater transparency through required GAO reporting.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The Billionaires Income Tax Act fundamentally changes how the wealthiest Americans are taxed by requiring them to pay taxes annually on the unrealized gains of their investment assets, eliminating indefinite tax deferral. It also removes several existing tax deferral mechanisms and imposes stricter tax consequences on these "applicable taxpayers" regarding investment income, expatriation, and deferred compensation. In essence, the bill aims to ensure that the ultra-wealthy pay taxes yearly on their growing wealth rather than waiting until assets are sold.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, or military status. This expansion broadens protections to cover lawful income sources, including housing vouchers and various benefits, alongside military service. The Act ensures these new protected classes are covered across all aspects of the housing transaction, from advertising to rental agreements.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of September 14 through 20, 2025, as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. It highlights the urgent need to improve basic reading, math, and digital skills for millions of U.S. adults to boost the economy and improve individual well-being. The bill encourages communities and organizations to support vital adult education and family literacy programs.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month to highlight ongoing threats to ballot access and encourage civic engagement. It urges Congress to pass legislation strengthening voting protections, like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Furthermore, the resolution encourages educational outreach to inform citizens about registration and the history of voting rights in America.

This resolution officially designates September 25, 2025, as "National Lobster Day." It recognizes the lobster's significant historical, economic, and cultural importance to the United States, highlighting the industry's long-standing commitment to sustainability. The measure encourages Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities celebrating this iconic seafood.

This resolution expresses support for designating November 16, 2025, as "National Warrior Call Day" to combat isolation and suicide among service members and veterans. It encourages all Americans to reach out and connect with those who have served to strengthen vital support structures. The day aims to foster peer-to-peer connection as a critical step in addressing the mental health challenges faced by our military community.

The Same Day Registration Act mandates that all states allow eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration at the polling place on Election Day for any federal election. This ensures that individuals can register and cast their ballot simultaneously, provided the state does not already have a no-registration requirement. States must ensure registration forms are available at all polling locations, with full compliance generally required starting with the November 2026 general election.

The Head Start for America's Children Act aims to strengthen early childhood education by explicitly including infants and toddlers in growth goals and emphasizing mental health support. The bill significantly increases funding authorizations, updates numerous definitions to promote inclusivity (especially for Native American and Native Hawaiian communities), and establishes new requirements for staff compensation and professional development. Furthermore, it creates several new pilot programs focused on extending operating hours, fostering partnerships with higher education, and enabling community-wide eligibility in high-poverty areas.

The Register America to Vote Act of 2025 aims to modernize and secure voter registration nationwide by establishing automatic registration systems. This includes automatically registering citizens when they turn 18 and implementing opt-out registration through state motor vehicle agencies. The Act provides federal funding to states to upgrade technology and mandates new national security and privacy standards for handling voter data.

The FAMILY Act establishes the Family and Medical Insurance Leave program, creating a new office within the Social Security Administration to manage paid benefits for qualified caregiving and serious health conditions. This law outlines eligibility requirements, a tiered formula for calculating monthly benefit payments, and protections against employer retaliation for taking leave. The Act also provides funding mechanisms for states that already have similar paid leave programs in place.

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 immediately bans the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This comprehensive ban includes specific definitions for commercial asbestos and outlines limited exceptions for existing installed materials and disposal. The bill provides a temporary exemption for chlor-alkali plants until 2030 and allows for narrowly defined, time-limited national security exemptions granted by the President.

The Equal Employment for All Act of 2025 significantly amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit employers from using credit checks when making most hiring or firing decisions, even with applicant consent. This new restriction only allows credit checks for jobs requiring national security clearance or when specifically mandated by another law. The Act ensures that applicants cannot be penalized simply for refusing to authorize a credit check unless one of these narrow exceptions applies.

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to report on the status of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia following the 2022 invasion. If the Secretary cannot certify the safe return and reintegration of these children within 60 days, the Russian Federation must automatically be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Rescinding this designation would require Russia to meet strict conditions, including the full return and reintegration of all abducted children.

The Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2025 establishes a national cap of 36% on the total annual interest and fees for most consumer credit products. This legislation aims to eliminate predatory lending practices by ensuring all associated charges are included in the calculation of this maximum rate. Furthermore, the bill mandates clearer disclosure of credit costs for open-end plans, like credit cards, using a standardized "FAIR" format. Violations of this new federal rate cap carry severe civil and criminal penalties for creditors.