Legislative Activity

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act aims to reduce mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups through several key actions. It increases funding for existing grant programs and authorizes significant new funding for the NIH and NIMHD to support relevant research and community engagement. Furthermore, the bill mandates a comprehensive study on mental health research gaps and establishes a national strategy for culturally competent mental health outreach and education.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap hindering the construction and rehabilitation of affordable starter homes in distressed communities. This credit incentivizes developers to build or substantially renovate housing in specific low-income census tracts and sell it affordably to qualified moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will manage the allocation of these credits, ensuring projects meet affordability standards and promoting revitalization in struggling neighborhoods.

The Housing Supply Frameworks Act aims to address the national housing shortage by encouraging state and local governments to reform restrictive zoning and land use regulations. It directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop and publish comprehensive guidelines and best practices for these reforms. The Act also establishes reporting requirements to track the adoption of these new frameworks and authorizes funding to support these efforts.

The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE Act) prohibits the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill establishes a formal process managed by the Attorney General and ATF to list prohibited firearms, while grandfathering existing possessions under strict transfer rules. Furthermore, it permits states to use federal Byrne grants for voluntary buy-back programs targeting these newly restricted items. Violations carry significant fines and potential prison sentences.

The American Family Act fundamentally overhauls the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with a system of advance, refundable monthly payments delivered directly to families. These monthly allowances vary based on the child's age, with higher amounts provided for younger children. The bill also establishes a separate, smaller credit for other dependents and outlines procedures for annual renewal and reconciliation of advance payments when filing taxes.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.

The Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025 aims to reform school discipline by strengthening data collection to expose discriminatory practices, particularly against students of color and girls of color. It establishes grants to help districts reduce exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, while prohibiting harsh measures like corporal punishment and seclusion in recipient schools. Furthermore, the Act creates a Joint Task Force to specifically study and recommend solutions for ending the school pushout of girls of color.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to provide additional funding opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) specifically focused on the arts. It recognizes the crucial role HBCUs play in preserving and promoting Black art and culture. The legislation authorizes HBCUs to use grant funds for student support, outreach, exhibitions, and partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts to strengthen their arts programs.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow businesses from deducting federal income taxes for expenses incurred while attempting to influence employees regarding union organization or activities. This change is intended to stop companies from subsidizing anti-union campaigns through tax write-offs. The bill also establishes new, significant reporting requirements and penalties for businesses and third-party consultants who engage in these influence expenditures.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act restores key federal tax deductions for employees, effective after 2024. This legislation makes union dues fully deductible "above the line," meaning they reduce Adjusted Gross Income without itemizing. Additionally, it allows itemizers to deduct certain other job-related business expenses that were previously limited.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act significantly overhauls federal regulation of gun dealers by mandating enhanced physical security, stricter inventory tracking, and increased record-keeping requirements. The bill repeals outdated restrictions on the ATF, increases licensing fees, and establishes new regulations for online firearm transfer facilitators. Furthermore, it strengthens enforcement by increasing penalties for compliance failures and mandating more frequent inspections for high-risk dealers.

The IDEA Full Funding Act establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs through fiscal year 2035. This legislation sets specific appropriation targets based on student counts and national average spending to ensure greater financial support for special education services. Furthermore, the bill requires that these new IDEA appropriations adhere to "cut-as-you-go" budget offset rules.

The Youth Mental Health Research Act establishes a new, coordinated research initiative led by the NIMH Director to improve understanding and treatment of youth mental health. This effort will focus on building resilience, improving early identification, and enhancing the accessibility of mental health care in community settings. The Act authorizes $100 million in funding annually through fiscal year 2030 to support this vital research.

The Armenian Genocide Education Act establishes a program managed by the Librarian of Congress to develop and share educational resources combating denial of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide. This initiative will create online materials, train educators, and encourage the integration of accurate history into school curricula. The Act authorizes $2 million annually for five years to support these educational efforts aimed at promoting awareness and preventing future atrocities.

This Act mandates the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and then a final standard requiring comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans for employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. These plans must be developed with employee input and detail risk assessments, hazard controls, reporting procedures, and annual training. Furthermore, the bill amends the Social Security Act to require Medicare-funded hospitals and skilled nursing facilities not covered by OSHA to comply with these new federal workplace violence prevention standards. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for workplace violence and includes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

The Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a national public health campaign by the Secretary of HHS to educate the public on accessing abortion and related health services legally and safely. This campaign must provide medically accurate information on care options, including telehealth and medication abortion, while also teaching people how to recognize disinformation and protect their health data. The effort must be culturally competent and accessible to underserved communities, explicitly prohibiting the promotion of misinformation or abstinence-only programs.

The Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 mandates that any adjustment to the Thrifty Food Plan used for calculating SNAP benefits must not result in an increase in food insecurity. This ensures that updates to the cost of the food plan do not negatively impact households' ability to afford adequate nutrition.

The Arts Education for All Act aims to elevate the status and accessibility of arts education across the entire educational spectrum. It mandates evidence-based training for early childhood providers, requires states to integrate arts education into core academic planning and public reporting, and authorizes the use of the arts in juvenile and adult offender reentry programs. Furthermore, the bill directs federal research agencies to study the impact of the arts and restores arts assessment to the national testing schedule.