Legislative Activity

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently prohibits new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the Outer Continental Shelf along the West Coast. The areas affected include the Washington-Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California Planning Areas as defined by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. This prohibition is implemented through an amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

This resolution designates the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week" to recognize the importance of national parks for recreation, education, and economic contributions. It encourages people to visit and support these parks while acknowledging the role of the National Park Service in protecting these resources for future generations.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to further prohibit animal fighting ventures, including sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, or gambling on these events. It bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting and allows citizens to file civil suits against alleged violators. The act also enables the seizure of real property used in animal fighting and clarifies that it does not override state or local animal fighting laws unless there is a direct conflict.

The Housing for All Act of 2025 aims to combat housing shortages and homelessness through increased funding for affordable housing programs, support for vulnerable populations like the elderly and disabled, and the establishment of a commission to address racial equity in housing. It expands housing assistance programs, provides resources for emergency housing and support services, and promotes innovative community-driven solutions. This act also focuses on initiatives such as safe parking programs, hotel conversions into permanent housing, eviction protection, and mobile crisis intervention teams. Additionally, the act seeks to improve coordination between healthcare and homelessness services while promoting climate mitigation and disaster resilience through transit-oriented development.

This resolution supports the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It addresses the alarming rise of discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQI+ students and the negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The resolution encourages states and localities to enact inclusive policies that prevent victimization and promote positive school climates for all students.

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. It requires individuals who legally owned modified firearms before the enactment of the BUMP Act to register them. The act amends both title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Internal Revenue Code to include these devices under the regulatory scope of machine guns.

The "Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025" expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for individuals without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, eliminating the maximum age, and increasing credit and phaseout percentages. It also makes permanent the application of the EITC to U.S. possessions and allows taxpayers to elect to use prior year earned income when calculating the EITC if it results in a larger credit. These changes aim to provide additional tax relief to low- and moderate-income workers.

The Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025 aims to bolster organic agriculture by expanding research initiatives, providing grants for transitioning to organic practices, and enhancing data collection on organic production and markets. It establishes a coordinated research initiative across agricultural agencies, extends funding for organic research and extension programs, and promotes research into the economic and environmental impacts of organic farming. The act also supports partnerships with various educational institutions and prioritizes projects involving on-farm research and traditional ecological knowledge.

The "Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act" amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to broaden the definition of kidnapping, modify provisions related to sexual abuse, and update penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct. These changes include expanding the scope of kidnapping to include deception, clarifying the application of laws regarding interstate travel for sexual abuse offenses, and refining the language and references within existing statutes to enhance clarity and enforcement. The Act also introduces a new offense related to intentional genital contact with minors under specific circumstances. Some of the changes apply retroactively.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over a five-year period, after which it will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees and newly hired employees under 20, eventually eliminating the separate wage tiers. Additionally, it increases the minimum wage for individuals with disabilities and promotes their economic self-sufficiency by phasing out special certificates that allow employers to pay them a subminimum wage.

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 each state's laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining rights in that state. The Act outlines the rights of public employees and employers, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, and prohibits lockouts and strikes that would disrupt emergency or public safety services. This law does not invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements and certifications and includes exceptions for certain state laws and political subdivisions.

This resolution expresses the Senate's view that paraprofessionals and education support staff are crucial to schools and deserve fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions that allow them to effectively support students. It advocates for livable wages, affordable healthcare, paid leave, professional development, necessary resources, and a safe working environment for these essential employees. The resolution also supports their right to have a voice in school policies and protection from retaliation when reporting workplace concerns. Additionally, it encourages employers to engage in good faith negotiations and avoid replacing or locking out these workers during strikes.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Louisiana Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr., recognizing his contributions to energy policy, natural resource conservation, and Louisiana's cultural heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to Senator Johnston's family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in his honor.

The "Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025" establishes an Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture. This office will investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act related to competition and trade practices in the food and agriculture sector, serve as a liaison to other agencies, and coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security on national security issues in the food and agriculture sector. The Special Investigator has the authority to bring civil or administrative actions against entities regulated under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

This resolution designates April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month" to recognize the importance of native plants to the environment and the economy. Native plants are critical for healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and providing other environmental benefits. The resolution aims to raise awareness about the importance of native plant conservation.

The "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees regarding union activities, including union elections and collective bargaining. It requires detailed reporting of such expenditures on tax returns, with significant penalties for non-compliance, while providing exemptions for certain communications and activities. The Act aims to prevent taxpayer subsidization of employer interference in workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that unaccompanied children have legal representation in immigration proceedings by providing government-funded counsel. It mandates that these children receive complete copies of their immigration files and have sufficient time to review them, and it also requires the Department of Homeland Security to allow counsel access to detained non-citizens. The Act directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop guidelines for legal representation and requires annual reports on the provision of counsel to unaccompanied children. Additionally, it allows unaccompanied children to reopen their immigration cases if they were not provided with appointed counsel, and it authorizes the necessary appropriations for implementation.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.

The IDEA Full Funding Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to authorize and appropriate specific funding amounts for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It aims to increase federal funding for special education, gradually working towards full federal funding by fiscal year 2035. The funding is calculated based on the number of children with disabilities receiving special education and the average per-pupil expenditure in public schools. This act ensures that funds are available to states to support special education and related services for children with disabilities.