Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating October 2025 as National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month to highlight the significant academic challenges faced by students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). It emphasizes that SLDs are the most common disability category under IDEA, yet these students show alarmingly low proficiency rates in reading and math. The bill urges early screening and calls on educational agencies to ensure these students receive the required specialized instruction and support to achieve success.

The Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act establishes the Marine Energy Acceleration Fund to boost power generation from ocean waves, tides, and currents. This legislation directs significant funding toward demonstration projects that connect to local power grids and supports research and development to improve technology efficiency and lower costs. Furthermore, the bill mandates efforts to assess promising energy sites, streamline the permitting process, and develop a skilled workforce for the emerging marine energy industry.

The Stop the Trump Electricity Price Hikes Act immediately reinstates financial assistance awards previously canceled by the Department of Energy (DOE). This action specifically reverses cancellations based on the May 15, 2025 Secretarial Memorandum. The bill ensures these awards continue as if they had never been terminated.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Wildfire Recovery Act ensures the federal government covers at least 75% of eligible fire management assistance costs for newly appropriated funds. It also mandates new rulemaking to establish clear standards for increasing federal disaster cost-sharing based on measurable financial impact. Finally, the bill updates FEMA policy to allow state, local, and Tribal governments to seek reimbursement for pre-staging their own equipment before a disaster is officially declared.

This resolution formally reaffirms the foundational American principle of the separation of church and state, citing historical context and key figures. It strongly opposes the rise of extreme right-wing Christian nationalism as a threat to religious diversity and democracy. The measure also commemorates the 65th anniversary of President Kennedy's address on this separation and the 150th anniversary of a speech by President Grant. Ultimately, this is a statement recognizing core values rather than enacting new law.

The Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a national framework to guarantee universal access to high-quality, regulated child care and early learning programs for every young child. It mandates federal standards for quality, ensures child care staff receive pay comparable to K-12 employees, and requires local coordination with school systems. Furthermore, the bill protects existing state funding levels and caps family fees based on income.

This resolution officially recognizes the significant economic and cultural importance of coffee to the United States, highlighting its role in supporting millions of jobs and contributing billions to the economy. It expresses strong support for designating September 29, 2025, as "National Coffee Day." The measure also acknowledges the complex global supply chain and domestic growers essential for meeting American demand.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

The Emergency Responder Protection Act establishes a 1,000-foot protected zone around emergency response locations, severely restricting immigration enforcement activities near disaster sites and aid centers. Immigration officers generally cannot conduct enforcement actions within this zone unless facing exigent circumstances, such as imminent risk of death or violence. The bill mandates strict operational rules, annual training for officers, and detailed reporting requirements to the DHS Inspector General and Congress regarding any enforcement actions taken near these protected areas. Violations of this rule may result in the termination of removal proceedings and the inadmissibility of evidence gathered.

This resolution officially expresses support for National Public Lands Day, recognizing the vast spiritual, cultural, and economic value of America's public lands. It encourages all citizens to visit these lands on the designated fee-free day. The measure highlights the significant acreage managed by various federal agencies that support recreation and the national economy.

The National Guard Proper Use Act prohibits active duty military personnel and National Guard members serving under Title 32 orders from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of immigration laws. This measure restricts the use of the Armed Forces for domestic immigration enforcement, aligning with existing statutes that govern such deployments.

The CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act updates federal law to expand mental health and substance use disorder services to include area career and technical education (CTE) schools alongside traditional institutions of higher education. This is achieved by replacing the term "institution of higher education" with the broader term "covered institution" throughout relevant sections of the Public Health Service Act. Essentially, the bill broadens the scope of federal support for student mental health programs to cover CTE students.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities initiated after February 20, 2025, against designated terrorist groups or drug trafficking organizations without prior Congressional authorization. It asserts Congress's constitutional power to declare war and finds recent military strikes against vessels lacked proper justification. The bill allows for continued use of forces for self-defense or authorized counternarcotics support, but explicitly states drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing September 22–28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." It highlights the critical role these institutions play in educating a significant portion of AANAPISI students, many of whom are first-generation and low-income. The bill encourages national acknowledgment and support for the programs and achievements of these vital colleges and universities.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act) explicitly extends the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to job applicants, prohibiting employers from limiting or classifying applicants based on age during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EEOC conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed under the ADEA since 2015. The EEOC must then report these findings, along with recommendations for combating hiring bias, to Congress and the public.

This resolution recognizes the severe psychological impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. It condemns specific enforcement tactics that violate constitutional rights and highlights the disproportionate harm caused by detention and deportation policies. The bill directs federal agencies to collect data on mental health impacts and support nonprofit organizations providing essential services to affected immigrant populations.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.