Legislative Activity

This bill ensures that states are reimbursed by the Federal Government for any state funds they use to maintain essential operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in federal appropriations. It provides a mechanism for the Federal Government to pay back states that cover WIC costs during a government shutdown. This protects state budgets while keeping vital nutrition assistance running.

This resolution strongly condemns the brutal October 7th attacks by Hamas, demanding the immediate and unconditional surrender of the terrorist group and the release of all hostages, including Americans. It reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense while urging international action against Hamas and condemning the global surge in antisemitism. The measure serves as a formal statement of U.S. policy and support following the attacks.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to create and issue guidance for banks and lenders on how to support customers and businesses affected by a government shutdown. This guidance must encourage flexible loan adjustments and prevent unfair negative credit reporting for those experiencing income loss due to the lapse in funding. Regulators must also issue rapid alerts when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to $30,000 during a qualifying shutdown. Additionally, it allows affected employees greater access to TSP hardship withdrawals and loans, and prevents missed TSP loan payments due to a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Trust Through Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that federal immigration enforcement agents wear body cameras during public-facing duties. The bill establishes specific rules for retaining video footage, generally requiring deletion after six months unless exceptions like use of force or a filed complaint apply. Furthermore, it requires annual public reporting to Congress on compliance and establishes an advisory panel to recommend best practices for camera usage and data management.

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.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical disparities in mental health access and treatment for Black youth, citing alarming increases in suicide rates among this population. It calls on the current administration to build upon previous efforts and implement recommendations from the *Ring the Alarm* report. The bill specifically urges increased funding, promotion of community education to reduce stigma, and protection of existing mental health service structures.

This resolution supports the designation of a National Hazing Awareness Week to highlight the serious and often tragic issue of hazing on college campuses. It builds upon existing federal law by emphasizing the need for comprehensive, ongoing prevention education for students, staff, and faculty. Ultimately, the bill encourages nationwide action to promote awareness and prevent hazing incidents.

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.

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.

The Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 (RRLEF Act) amends the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to require state and local agencies to cease firearm transfers with licensed dealers flagged by the ATF. Dealers are placed on a restricted list if a significant number of their traced firearms show a "short time-to-crime." Furthermore, the Act mandates increased public disclosure of firearm tracing data by the ATF, removing previous statutory restrictions on making this information public.

The Protecting Free Vaccines Act mandates that most private health insurance plans must cover specific vaccines recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without any out-of-pocket costs until January 1, 2030. This requirement also updates coverage rules for Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP to ensure continuity of coverage for these recommended immunizations. The bill locks in coverage based on the ACIP recommendations in place as of October 25, 2024, across various federal health programs.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The Fed Integrity and Independence Act of 2025 reinforces the Federal Reserve's separation from political influence by prohibiting members of the Board of Governors and regional Federal Reserve Bank leaders from holding any other position requiring a Presidential appointment. This measure aims to ensure monetary policy decisions remain focused on long-term stability rather than short-term political pressures. Any current officeholder who violates this new dual-appointment restriction will have their Fed service terminated immediately upon the Act's enactment.

This House Resolution strongly condemns all forms of political violence and threats against elected officials and public figures, regardless of political affiliation. It affirms that disagreements must be resolved through peaceful and democratic means, not intimidation or force. The resolution urges law enforcement to prosecute those who commit or encourage such violence. Finally, it calls on all leaders to cease using dehumanizing rhetoric and promote civil discourse.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

This constitutional amendment seeks to grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate contributions and expenditures in political campaigns. It specifically allows for the establishment of public financing systems to offset the influence of private money in elections. The amendment ensures that any regulations enacted must not infringe upon the freedom of the press.

The HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act mandates that the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs formally agree to share relevant housing research and market data. This legislation requires the three agencies to submit a joint report to Congress detailing plans for improving interagency coordination on housing programs. Before submission, the proposed coordination plan must undergo a 30-day public review period.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.