Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Appreciation Day." It serves to recognize the vital and growing contributions of women who have served in the U.S. military throughout history. The day encourages the nation to honor the sacrifices and service of the approximately 2.1 million women veterans.

The Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025 establishes the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within HHS to coordinate federal efforts against climate-related health threats. This Act mandates the creation of a National Strategic Action Plan to prepare public health and healthcare systems, especially for vulnerable communities. It also establishes a permanent scientific advisory board and requires expert reports to guide strategy and assess preparedness.

The Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states recruit and retain paraprofessionals in public schools. Funds are distributed to states based on Title I allocations and must be used for state administration or competitive subgrants to local entities. Subgrants must support activities like mentoring, professional development, credentialing assistance, or wage increases, with priority given to entities serving high-poverty areas. States must report annually on wage changes and program effectiveness.

The Equal Health Care for All Act aims to eliminate systemic bias and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on race, sex, disability, and age. It mandates comprehensive data collection to expose inequities, incorporates fairness measures into hospital quality assessments and payment programs, and establishes a Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor progress. Furthermore, the Act strengthens anti-discrimination enforcement and creates grant programs to help hospitals actively promote equitable care.

The Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a public database containing detailed historical and ongoing real estate appraisal data from federal mortgage entities to promote transparency and combat bias. It also grants consumers the right to request a reconsideration of value or a second appraisal if they believe their home's valuation was unsupported, flawed, or discriminatory. Lenders must follow specific procedures for handling these consumer challenges and ordering new appraisals when necessary.

The Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act of 2025 overhauls the process for determining if substances used in food are "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), requiring manufacturers to provide extensive new safety data for current and future ingredients. This legislation mandates that the FDA review existing GRAS determinations and establishes a periodic safety reassessment program for all approved food chemicals based on modern scientific standards. Ultimately, the bill aims to strengthen public health protections by ensuring that all substances in the food supply meet rigorous, transparent safety criteria.

The Resilient Transit Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help public transportation agencies harden their systems against climate change impacts like floods and extreme weather. These grants will fund specific resilience improvements, such as installing flood barriers and backup power systems, with a focus on benefiting vulnerable and environmental justice communities. The bill also increases overall funding authorizations for related transit programs and mandates annual reporting on the use of these new resilience funds.

This concurrent resolution formally recognizes a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting children due to the previous administration's directives promoting fossil fuels and suppressing climate science. Congress asserts these policies increased greenhouse gas emissions, endangering children's fundamental constitutional rights to life and security. The resolution demands the reversal of policies that hindered clean energy and calls for federal actions to align with limiting CO2 to below 350 ppm this century to protect future generations.

This bill establishes new restrictions and transparency requirements for donations made to Presidential Libraries and Centers. It bans certain prohibited entities, such as lobbyists and foreign nationals, from donating while a President is in office or for two years after leaving. The legislation also imposes a $10,000 aggregate donation limit per person and mandates public quarterly reporting of all significant contributions.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress conditions. This Act requires the Secretary (of Labor) to rapidly establish comprehensive, science-based worker heat protection standards, including mandatory rest, water, and shade provisions. Furthermore, it grants enforcement power to OSHA, ensuring these new heat safety rules carry the full weight of existing occupational safety law. The legislation also establishes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who report heat hazards.

The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act comprehensively overhauls the nation's unemployment system by strengthening federal support during downturns, establishing robust national minimum standards for regular benefits, and creating a new federal Jobseeker Allowance program. Title I modernizes extended benefits by shifting costs to the federal government and updating activation triggers, while Title II mandates a 26-week minimum duration and eliminates the waiting week for regular state benefits. Finally, Title III establishes a new, federally funded Jobseeker Allowance starting in 2027 to provide ongoing support to those actively seeking work.

The Child Care for Working Families Act establishes comprehensive federal programs to guarantee access to high-quality, affordable child care for young children of working families. It mandates significant investments to stabilize the child care workforce by requiring higher provider pay and sets strict caps on costs for parents based on income. Additionally, the bill creates a framework for universal, free preschool for three- and four-year-olds and extends service hours and raises compensation for Head Start staff.

The Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive federal study to investigate the potential link between the use of hair straighteners and the risk of developing uterine cancer. This research will specifically examine disparities in incidence rates among women of color and evaluate the need for enhanced FDA oversight of product safety testing. The study aims to deliver findings and recommendations within two years of enactment.

This resolution officially designates July 2025 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month" to raise national awareness about the growing crisis of plastic pollution. It acknowledges the severe environmental and health risks posed by plastic waste, including its impact on wildlife and human bodies. The measure encourages individuals and communities across the United States to actively participate in efforts to reduce, reuse, and clean up plastic pollution during this designated month.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 10, 2025, as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors the critical, often dangerous work these essential employees perform to maintain the nation's power grid 24/7. The day commemorates their service, especially during emergencies, and recognizes the sacrifice of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the flexibility for hospitals to provide acute care services in a patient's home through 2030. The bill also mandates a comprehensive, subsequent study comparing the quality, cost, and patient experience of hospital-at-home care versus traditional inpatient settings. This follow-up report must be submitted to key Congressional committees by September 2028.

This concurrent resolution officially recognizes the significance of equal pay and highlights the persistent wage disparity faced by Black women compared to White, non-Hispanic men. It designates July 10, 2025, as Black Women's Equal Pay Day to draw attention to the economic losses caused by this gap. The resolution underscores that closing this disparity is vital for the economic stability and wealth-building of Black women and their families.

This Act establishes a five-year pilot program treating pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select. This allows eligible military family members to sign up for expanded coverage upon becoming pregnant. The Department of Defense is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing enrollment changes under this new provision.

This resolution recognizes that climate change is a growing public health crisis in the United States, causing increased illness, mental health strain, and disproportionate harm to vulnerable populations. It calls for coordinated federal action, primarily through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to bolster the healthcare sector's climate readiness and ensure equitable distribution of resources. The bill also directs agencies to improve data sharing, restore key climate and equity offices, and mandates the Department of Labor to establish strong worker heat protection standards.

The GLOBE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. It mandates increased State Department reporting on international abuses, implements sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for such violations, and directs foreign assistance to support LGBTQI rights defenders. Furthermore, the Act reforms immigration procedures to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers and ensures non-discrimination for LGBTQI U.S. citizens serving abroad.