Legislative Activity

The Vote at Home Act of 2025 aims to expand access to voting in federal elections by promoting vote-by-mail and automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle authorities. It prohibits states from imposing unnecessary conditions on vote-by-mail eligibility, requires states to mail ballots to registered voters before federal elections, and ensures accessible ballots for individuals with disabilities. The act also streamlines voter registration processes when applying for or updating a driver's license, while implementing safeguards to protect voter information and election integrity. Finally, the bill ensures that blank and completed ballots for federal elections will be carried expeditiously and free of postage.

This resolution expresses support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide, recognizing their role in connecting communities with information, resources, and social services. It emphasizes the need for adequate funding to support libraries and protect the rights of library workers. The resolution also reaffirms the public's right to access information and the importance of libraries as vital infrastructure for the future.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that each Executive agency and military department meet certain employment levels. If an agency or department cannot meet these requirements, the head of the agency or department must submit a noncompliance notice to relevant committees in Congress, explaining the reasons for not meeting the requirements.

The "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025" prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing or extending leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration and development in the Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to prevent any further drilling in the Arctic region.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to protect coastal economies and marine environments by preventing offshore drilling in these specified regions.

This bill urges the U.S. to prioritize a world free of nuclear weapons and lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war. It calls for negotiations with other nuclear-armed countries to halt the buildup of nuclear arsenals, reduce/eliminate them, and pursue verifiable arms control agreements. The bill also advocates for policies such as renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons, ending the "hair-trigger" alert posture, and maintaining the global moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to protect communities and workers affected by nuclear weapons through remediation, health monitoring, and economic transition planning.

This bill requests the President and Secretary of Education to provide the House of Representatives with all documents and communications relating to the closure of the Department of Education, workforce reductions, and the impact of downsizing on the department's ability to enforce federal education laws. The request includes all records pertaining to the Secretary of Education's March 3, 2025, communication to staff, "Our Department's Final Mission," and any presidential executive order directing the department's closure. All documents must be submitted to the House within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The "Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act" amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, enabling the Secretary to authorize states to approve qualified organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements for the Forest Legacy Program. It sets specific criteria for qualified organizations, ensuring they can effectively manage and enforce forestland interests. The bill also outlines conditions for the termination and reversion of conservation easement rights and defines "qualified organization" with specific requirements, including accreditation and adherence to conservation purposes.

The Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act aims to improve special districts' access to federal financial assistance. It mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide guidance on how federal agencies should recognize special districts as local government units. Federal agencies will then be required to update their policies to align with this guidance. Finally, the OMB Director must report to Congress on how well agencies have implemented the new guidance.

The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands programs aimed at protecting and restoring coastal and estuarine areas. It prioritizes projects that enhance ecological function, mitigate climate change impacts, and benefit underserved communities. The act also directs the establishment of new National Estuarine Research Reserves and promotes research and monitoring of climate change impacts on these vital ecosystems. Finally, it increases funding authorizations for coastal and estuarine conservation efforts.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The PEER Support Act aims to address behavioral health workforce shortages by formally recognizing and supporting peer support specialists – individuals with lived experience in recovery who assist others facing mental health or substance use challenges. It mandates the creation of a specific job category for peer support specialists in the Standard Occupational Classification system and establishes an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to promote their training, integration, and professional development. Additionally, the Act requires a report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer support specialists, with recommendations to reduce barriers to certification.

The ELON MUSK Act prohibits special Government employees from holding or benefiting from federal contracts or agreements. Any existing federal contracts held by these employees must be terminated upon the law's enactment. This aims to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure ethical conduct within the government.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The "Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act" aims to improve school safety and student outcomes by eliminating federal funding for law enforcement officers in schools and instead investing in mental health services, trauma-informed support, and positive behavioral interventions. This bill prioritizes support for marginalized students and seeks to create more welcoming and inclusive school environments through community engagement and evidence-based practices. The Act establishes a grant program to help local educational agencies transition away from relying on police in schools and towards comprehensive support systems. It also requires transparency and accountability through public reporting on the use of funds and student discipline data.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow HBCU grants to be used for strengthening arts and cultural programs, including financial aid, outreach, support services, art collection preservation, and paid apprenticeships. It allows HBCUs to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these activities. The bill aims to address underfunding in HBCU arts programs and promote diversity in the arts.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' view that paraprofessionals and education support staff are critical to schools and deserve fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions that allow them to thrive professionally and personally. It advocates for livable wages, affordable healthcare, paid leave, professional development, safe working environments, and a voice in school policies for these essential employees. The resolution also encourages employers to engage in good faith negotiations and refrain from actions that undermine workers' rights during labor disputes. This resolution does not override any existing collective bargaining agreements that provide more favorable terms for paraprofessionals and education support staff.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.