Legislative Activity

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The RESEARCHER Act establishes new federal guidelines to address the financial instability faced by graduate and postdoctoral researchers supported by federal funding. It mandates agencies to improve stipends, healthcare access, and support for housing and family care for these essential researchers. Furthermore, the bill requires comprehensive data collection and studies by the National Academies and GAO to assess and report on the effectiveness of these new financial support measures.

The **Protecting America’s Workers Act** significantly expands OSHA coverage to include public employees, strengthens whistleblower protections by lowering the burden of proof for workers and increasing remedies for retaliation, and mandates stricter reporting, increased penalties, and greater transparency for workplace safety violations. The bill also tightens federal oversight of state-run safety plans and enhances NIOSH's role in hazard evaluation and safety training.

This resolution supports designating the week of April 28 through May 2, 2025, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role of over one million school-based professionals, such as counselors, social workers, and nurses, in supporting student learning and well-being. The bill commends these staff for providing essential prevention and intervention services that create safe and supportive learning environments. Ultimately, it encourages policymakers to recognize and promote the importance of these personnel for improving overall educational outcomes.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 establishes "Ocean Innovation Clusters" across the U.S. to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy." This legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce to designate at least seven regional clusters led by non-profits to enhance collaboration between industry, academia, and local governments. The Act authorizes a competitive grant program, up to $10 million per award, to help these clusters operate and create physical collaboration centers. Ultimately, the goal is to drive economic opportunity, workforce development, and climate resilience in ocean-related sectors.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 declares extreme settler violence and displacement in the West Bank a threat to U.S. national security interests. This Act mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals responsible for undermining peace and stability in the region. The Treasury Department must report to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions every 90 days.

This resolution expresses strong support for honoring Earth Day and recognizes its historical importance in launching the modern environmental movement. It highlights ongoing challenges like climate change while celebrating recent landmark investments in clean energy and infrastructure. Ultimately, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and encourages all Americans to take sustained action to protect the environment for future generations.

The Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025 permanently prohibits the issuance of new oil and gas leases, or the extension of existing ones, for mineral exploration and production in designated Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. This measure establishes an ironclad ban on offshore drilling in these specific Arctic waters.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that all Executive agencies and military departments must adhere strictly to federal job classification standards when hiring personnel. If an agency cannot meet its required staffing levels under these new rules, the agency head must promptly notify relevant Congressional committees within seven days with a detailed explanation. This legislation aims to standardize and enforce federal employment structures across key government bodies.

The Vote at Home Act of 2025 aims to expand access to federal elections by mandating that states mail ballots to all registered voters two weeks before election day and provide free return postage. It also modernizes voter registration by requiring motor vehicle departments to streamline registration forms and automatically register eligible citizens who provide proof of citizenship when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. These provisions are intended to increase voter turnout, reduce in-person lines, and lower administrative costs.

The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 establishes an Advisory Council, led by HHS, to assess the needs of gun violence victims and service providers. This Council will survey stakeholders, review existing support programs, and identify best practices for medical, financial, and mental health assistance. Its primary function is to compile and widely distribute a comprehensive list of available federal, state, and nonprofit resources to ensure victims can easily access necessary aid.

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2025 increases federal support for child care nutrition programs. This bill mandates an additional 10 cents in reimbursement for every meal or snack served through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It also streamlines the calculation methods for payments made to family and group day care homes participating in the program.

The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act) permanently prohibits new oil and gas leasing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. This legislation ensures these specific ocean regions are protected from future exploration and development.

This resolution expresses strong support for library staff and the essential, expanded community services libraries provide, from social support to digital access. It calls for funding commensurate with these vital roles and defends the right of all citizens to freely access information. Furthermore, the bill supports the civil rights and union voice of library workers against threats and censorship.

The SERVICE Act mandates that federal agencies must undergo a thorough review process before implementing significant workforce reductions. Agencies planning to cut staff by more than 5% must first submit a detailed report to the GAO analyzing the financial and mission impacts of the proposed layoffs. The GAO then reviews this report to ensure the analysis is complete and credible before the agency can proceed with the cuts after a mandatory waiting period.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This legislation specifically bans the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any new leases or permissions for drilling activities in designated planning areas. The goal is to secure long-term protection for these vital West Coast marine environments.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act grants states the authority to allow qualified conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This allows states to partner with accredited, conservation-focused groups to enhance forest protection efforts. The bill establishes clear criteria for these organizations and outlines conditions under which easement rights would revert to the state if management responsibilities are not met.