Legislative Activity

The Saving NOAA’s Workforce Act establishes a moratorium on job reductions and layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This freeze prevents NOAA from initiating or carrying out involuntary reductions in force until Congress passes the full-year funding bill for fiscal year 2026. Career employees are protected from layoffs during this period unless termination is due to specific causes such as misconduct or poor performance.

The Saving DOE’s Workforce Act institutes a moratorium, freezing all non-cause-based layoffs at the Department of Energy (DOE) until Congress enacts the full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This measure protects most career federal employees at the DOE from staff reductions during this period. Exceptions for removal are strictly limited to documented misconduct or poor performance.

The PARA-EMT Act of 2025 addresses the critical national shortage of EMTs and paramedics by establishing a pilot grant program to help agencies hire, train, and support their emergency medical workforce. It also creates a federal grant program to assist states in streamlining the transition of veterans with military medical training into civilian EMS roles. Finally, the bill mandates a comprehensive study to quantify the current and projected workforce shortage and recommend solutions, including potential visa considerations.

The Saving NIST’s Workforce Act places an immediate moratorium on layoffs and reductions in force (RIF) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This freeze will remain in effect until Congress passes the full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2026. During this period, NIST is prohibited from involuntarily separating most career employees except for documented misconduct or poor performance.

The Saving NSF’s Workforce Act imposes a temporary moratorium on layoffs and reductions in force at the National Science Foundation (NSF). This freeze will remain in effect until Congress enacts the full-year funding bill for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill allows the NSF to proceed with involuntary separations only for specific reasons, such as misconduct or poor performance.

The Air America Act of 2025 recognizes the sacrifices of former Air America employees who served the U.S. Government between 1950 and 1976. This Act authorizes a one-time monetary award, up to $40,000 plus potential additional amounts, for qualifying service members or their survivors. The CIA Director is responsible for administering these payments, which are capped at a total of $60 million, and establishing the application procedures. Decisions made by the Director regarding these awards are final and not subject to judicial review.

The Saving NASA’s Workforce Act establishes a temporary moratorium on layoffs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This freeze prevents the agency from conducting any reduction in force until Congress passes the full Fiscal Year 2026 budget. However, the bill allows NASA to terminate employees for specific reasons such as misconduct or poor performance.

The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 aims to align the practice standards for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with those of the Defense Health Agency, recognizing them as licensed independent practitioners. The bill also establishes new certification and minimum direct patient care requirements for all anesthesia providers in the VA system. Finally, it mandates an annual public report from the GAO comparing the cost-effectiveness of different anesthesia delivery models within the VHA.

This bill expresses support for designating March 14, 2025, as "National Pi Day" to recognize the importance of Pi and promote mathematics and science education in the United States. It encourages schools and educators to celebrate the day with engaging activities. The bill also acknowledges the importance of the National Science Foundation's math and science education programs.

The HELPER Act of 2025 establishes a new FHA mortgage insurance program to assist first responders, educators, and law enforcement officers in purchasing homes. This program offers eligible first-time homebuyers 100% financing with no down payment required. Instead of monthly premiums, borrowers pay an upfront FHA insurance premium at closing.

The Major Richard Star Act ensures that military retirees with combat-related disabilities can receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation concurrently without reduction. This law removes previous restrictions that caused military retirement pay to be offset by VA disability payments for these specific cases. The changes take effect on the first day of the month following the Act's enactment.

The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act transitions TSA personnel to standard federal employment rules under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set date no later than December 31, 2025. This mandates the freezing of current personnel policies during the transition while protecting current employee pay and benefits. The bill also requires extensive reviews by the Comptroller General on hiring, diversity, and workplace safety, and mandates consultation with employee representatives regarding labor relations. Finally, it ensures that screening agents retain collective bargaining rights and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to address the significant retirement savings gap disproportionately affecting women by strengthening spousal protections in defined contribution plans like 401(k)s. The bill mandates spousal consent for certain distributions and beneficiary changes to safeguard retirement assets during divorce or death. Furthermore, it establishes grant programs to boost financial literacy for women and provide direct assistance for low-income women and survivors of domestic violence to secure court-ordered retirement benefits.

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act aims to improve support for individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. This bill eliminates the standard waiting period for receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits and waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage. These changes ensure immediate access to crucial financial and healthcare support upon diagnosis.

This resolution recognizes and honors teachers who have achieved or maintained National Board Certification as of March 2025, acknowledging their positive impact on student learning and potential lifetime earnings. It encourages the growth of new National Board Certified Teachers by urging educators, administrators, school districts, and States to provide candidates with incentives and support.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act amends federal student loan regulations to provide a specific deferment for medical and dental residents. This allows borrowers currently serving in an internship or residency program to pause principal payments and prevent interest accrual on their student loans during that training period.

The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase housing affordability and address historical inequities. It achieves this by incentivizing local zoning reform, dramatically increasing funding for housing infrastructure, and restricting the sale of foreclosed properties to speculative investors. Furthermore, the Act establishes new assistance programs for first-time, first-generation homebuyers and overhauls the Community Reinvestment Act to mandate equitable bank lending. Finally, the bill includes significant reforms to the federal estate and gift tax structure, alongside measures to strengthen fair housing protections and increase accessibility in federally-assisted housing.

The Stop Comstock Act aims to modernize and streamline federal statutes concerning obscene materials. It revises several sections of federal law, including those related to crimes, transportation, and importation, by removing outdated or redundant language like "indecent" or "immoral." This legislative cleanup focuses the legal definitions to center specifically on "obscene materials."

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This change allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring qualified military spouses. A qualified military spouse is defined as someone certified as being married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

This bill, the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act, directs the striking of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the American Red Cross volunteers who served in the Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program during the Vietnam War. These volunteers, known as "Donut Dollies," provided crucial morale support to troops on the front lines. The original medal will be presented on behalf of Congress and ultimately housed at the Smithsonian Institution, with provisions made for selling bronze duplicates.