Legislative Activity

The Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to help states and districts address racial isolation and concentrated poverty in public schools. Funds will support the creation and implementation of plans designed to increase racial and economic diversity within covered schools. The law emphasizes performance measurement focused on both student outcomes and diversity metrics, while explicitly prohibiting federal control over local educational decisions.

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nursing workforce by expanding federal grant support for advanced nursing education programs, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. The bill updates funding rules to cover more training costs and allows nursing schools to invest in modern educational tools like simulation and telehealth technology. Furthermore, it authorizes increased appropriations through fiscal year 2030 to support these critical educational and practice expansion efforts.

The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025 aims to establish comprehensive, evidence-based, and culturally responsive sex education and health services for young people aged 10 to 29. The bill creates competitive grant programs to fund sex education in K-12 schools and higher education, support educator training, and improve access to youth-friendly sexual health services, especially for underserved communities. It explicitly mandates that all funded programs must be medically accurate, inclusive of all identities, and centered on principles of consent and reproductive justice. The Act authorizes $100 million annually and repeals prior funding streams dedicated to abstinence-only education.

The Fit to Serve Act prohibits the U.S. Armed Forces from discriminating against service members based on their gender identity. This means military branches cannot set different standards, involuntarily discharge personnel, or deny medically necessary healthcare due to a service member's gender identity. The bill ensures equal opportunity for joining, serving, and receiving care regardless of one's internal sense of self.

This Act mandates the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history across federally supported K-12 American history and civics education programs. It recognizes the vital, yet often omitted, contributions of AANHPI communities while addressing historical exclusion and systemic racism. The legislation directs educational programs to partner with the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center to develop accurate and comprehensive curricula. This ensures AANHPI history is integrated into national assessments and teacher training.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month to combat a growing national crisis. It highlights alarming statistics regarding rising mental illness rates, significant barriers to accessing care, and disproportionate impacts on youth and marginalized communities. Ultimately, the bill declares mental health a national priority and encourages increased public awareness and support for mental health services.

This bill imposes significant restrictions on the transfer of specific defense articles and services to Israel. Transfers of listed military equipment, such as certain bombs and ammunition, are prohibited unless Congress first passes a law detailing their specific authorized use. Furthermore, Israel must provide satisfactory written assurances that the items will only be used for those stated purposes and in compliance with international law.

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2025 significantly lowers the standard of proof required for employment discrimination claims under major federal laws like the ADEA, Title VII, and the ADA. It establishes that an illegal factor only needs to be a "motivating factor" in an employer's decision, rather than the sole cause. While this makes it easier to prove discrimination, remedies like damages are limited if the employer can prove they would have made the same decision regardless. These new standards apply immediately to all pending claims upon enactment.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The AGRITOURISM Act establishes a new Office of Agritourism within the Department of Agriculture, led by a dedicated Director. This office is tasked with promoting and supporting farm-based tourism activities across the nation. The goal is to boost rural economies by helping agricultural businesses diversify through educational, recreational, and direct-sale opportunities.

The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2025 establishes mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient ratios across various hospital units to enhance patient safety and care quality. This legislation requires hospitals to implement detailed staffing plans, ensures enforcement through federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and supports the nursing workforce through expanded financial aid and retention initiatives. Furthermore, the bill protects nurses who refuse unsafe assignments and establishes clear mechanisms for reporting violations.

The Born in the USA Act of 2025 declares that Executive Order 14160, which attempted to restrict birthright citizenship, is unconstitutional and contrary to the 14th Amendment. This Act prohibits the use of any federal funds to implement or enforce that Executive Order. It affirms the established constitutional right to birthright citizenship for nearly everyone born on U.S. soil.

The GHOST Act of 2025 establishes a new Federal Interstate Firearm Parts Reporting System to track the shipment of specific gun components, including barrels, slides, and bolts, across state or international lines. Shippers must pre-register these covered components with the Attorney General, detailing sender, recipient, and shipping method, and later confirm delivery. The system allows for retroactive registration but imposes significant penalties for knowingly circumventing these tracking requirements.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal Trust Fund, financed by an increase in the corporate tax rate, to support water infrastructure and affordability programs nationwide. The bill mandates a comprehensive EPA report analyzing water affordability, civil rights compliance, and public participation in water planning. It also significantly increases funding for household water well systems and revises state revolving loan fund rules to expand eligible projects, including lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup. Finally, the Act creates new job training grants for the water sector and enhances drinking water assistance for colonias.

The Child Care Infrastructure Act establishes federal grants to help states upgrade and improve child care facilities nationwide, focusing on safety and capacity. This funding aims to support the building, renovation, and expansion of centers, prioritizing those serving low-income families and infants. The bill also authorizes grants to intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and financing tools to providers. Overall, $10 billion is authorized to improve the physical infrastructure supporting early childhood education.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the 60th anniversary of SkillsUSA, a leading organization dedicated to preparing students for skilled careers through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Congress commends SkillsUSA for empowering over 440,000 students annually in personal, workplace, and technical skills. The bill encourages communities to support the organization's vital mission of developing America's future workforce.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.

The Child Care Workforce Development Act establishes two key initiatives to strengthen the early childhood education field. First, it creates a loan assistance program to help repay student debt for experienced educators who commit to five years of service. Second, it sets up a grant program to provide financial aid to individuals pursuing degrees or certificates in early childhood education, contingent upon a future service commitment. These measures aim to reduce educator debt and increase the pipeline of qualified professionals in the childcare sector.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 declares that practices attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity for payment constitute an unfair and deceptive business practice. Citing professional consensus on the ineffectiveness and harm of such "conversion therapy," the bill prohibits its provision and advertising. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the law allows both the U.S. Attorney General and State Attorneys General to file civil actions against violators.

This resolution officially supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6th through May 12th. It recognizes the critical, front-line contributions nurses make to patient safety, healthcare quality, and public health across the nation. The bill encourages the public to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor the profession.