Legislative Activity

The Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025 prevents federal agencies from permitting commercial finfish aquaculture in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. This prohibition stands unless a future federal law explicitly allows such activity. "Finfish" includes any aquatic finfish, excluding amphibians, seaweeds, algae, and invertebrates.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025) prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas. This prohibition applies to activities outlined in the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This act amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The "Preparing and Resourcing Our Student Parents and Early Childhood Teachers Act" aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care and strengthen the early childhood education workforce. It establishes grant programs to support child care for student parents, enhance early childhood educator training, and increase federal matching payments to states for child care expenditures. The bill also requires colleges to inform students with dependents about the dependent care allowance for federal student aid, ensuring they can access financial support for child care costs. Ultimately, this act seeks to support student parents in completing their education and ensure more children have access to quality early childhood education.

This resolution supports the designation of April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It recognizes the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black women, urges Congress to address systemic inequities, and calls for policies promoting equitable access to maternal healthcare and reproductive justice. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of community-led solutions and increased investment in Black-led organizations to improve maternal health outcomes.

The "Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025" aims to improve data collection on discriminatory school discipline, end discriminatory exclusionary discipline practices, and reduce lost instructional time due to excessive disciplinary removals. It authorizes grants for local educational agencies and nonprofits to implement non-exclusionary discipline policies and alternatives, and establishes a joint task force to address the school pushout of girls of color. The bill prohibits the use of funds for school-based law enforcement, surveillance equipment, or arming school personnel. It also allocates funding for data collection and grant programs.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 ensures the Department of Agriculture honors existing agreements with farmers and related entities by releasing committed funding and settling outstanding debts. It prevents the cancellation of contracts unless there is a violation and requires a 60-day notice to Congress before closing any Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development Service Center office.

This resolution supports designating March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools Month," highlighting the importance of music education. It recognizes music's cultural and historical significance, its role in community building and inclusivity, and its positive impact on student development. The resolution also acknowledges disparities in access to music education and emphasizes the need for greater support in public schools.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the strong relationship between the United States and Greece, rooted in shared democratic values. It recognizes Greece's role as a valued NATO ally and acknowledges the contributions of the Greek-American community to the United States. The resolution also highlights the importance of the U.S.-Greece partnership in areas like energy security and regional stability.

The "Providing a Quality Defense Act of 2025" aims to improve the quality of legal representation for defendants who cannot afford an attorney. It authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states, local governments, and tribal organizations to collect data on public defense and hire more public defenders or increase their compensation. The Act also requires the Attorney General to conduct studies and develop recommendations regarding public defender caseloads and compensation. Finally, it allocates funding for educational programs for public defenders and panel attorneys.

This resolution designates March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day to recognize the crucial role of Black midwives in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, especially within the context of existing racial disparities. It calls for increased support and resources for Black midwives through funding, training, and policy changes at the federal, state, and local levels. The resolution aims to address the maternal health crisis by promoting equitable access to culturally competent care and reducing systemic barriers in midwifery.

The Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act aims to support students with epilepsy and seizure disorders by establishing a grant program that funds training for school personnel on seizure awareness and preparedness. These grants will also help in creating individualized health care plans and emergency plans for students. The act ensures school nurses coordinate care, school bus drivers are informed, and school employees are protected from liability when acting in good faith. It authorizes an appropriation of $34.5 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement these measures.

This resolution urges the UN Security Council to strengthen and expand the arms embargo on Sudan to address the ongoing conflict and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It calls for stricter enforcement of sanctions against those violating the embargo, the inclusion of dual-use equipment in the embargo, and the establishment of mechanisms for humanitarian aid delivery and civilian protection. The resolution also appeals to the UN General Assembly for a nationwide ceasefire, recognition of atrocities, and unrestricted humanitarian aid, while pressing the U.S. government to increase support for civil society, improve monitoring of atrocities, and restart funding for affected areas. Ultimately, the resolution seeks to pressure all parties to end the conflict, adhere to the arms embargo, and ensure the protection and aid for civilians in Sudan.

This resolution recognizes the importance of the Rangel, Pickering, Clarke, and Payne fellowship programs in promoting diversity within U.S. foreign affairs agencies like the State Department and USAID. It emphasizes that these programs strengthen national security by ensuring a workforce that reflects the diversity of the American people. The resolution also acknowledges that terminating these programs would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and would weaken national security.

The "Do No Harm Act" amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to clarify that religious freedom cannot be used to justify discrimination, deny access to healthcare, or violate labor protections. It ensures the RFRA only applies to lawsuits involving the government, preventing its use in disputes between private parties. This bill aims to protect civil rights and ensure equal access to services, benefits, and opportunities.

The Combating International Islamophobia Act directs the State Department to establish an office to monitor and combat Islamophobia globally, headed by a Special Envoy. This office will track and address Islamophobic acts and incitement in foreign countries. The Act also mandates the inclusion of information on Islamophobia in the Department's annual human rights and religious freedom reports, detailing violence, harassment, propaganda, and governmental responses.

The CROWN Act of 2025 prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyle in federally funded programs, housing, public accommodations, and employment. This bill aims to protect individuals from race-based hair discrimination by explicitly including hair texture and hairstyles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin in the definition of discrimination. It enforces these protections under existing civil rights laws, ensuring that people are not denied opportunities due to their natural or protective hairstyles. The act clarifies that it does not change the existing definitions of race or national origin in existing civil rights laws.

This resolution celebrates Black History Month, acknowledging the historical injustices and significant contributions of African Americans to the United States. It recognizes Black History Month as a time for reflection, commemoration, and learning from the past. The resolution encourages the celebration of Black History Month and emphasizes the importance of moving forward as a united nation with liberty and justice for all.

The "Temporary Extension of Fentanyl-Related Substances Scheduling Act" extends the temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances, which was set to expire on March 31, 2025, to September 30, 2025. This extension allows law enforcement to continue to treat fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, helping to combat the opioid crisis.

The "Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act" enables state Medicaid programs to provide comprehensive care through health homes for individuals with sickle cell disease starting January 1, 2026. It requires states with sickle cell disease-focused plans to provide dental and vision services and to report on healthcare quality, access, and expenditures. The Act also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish best practices for these state plans.

The United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the African Americans who served with Union forces during the Civil War in recognition of their service and bravery. The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the gold medal, which will then be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs, with proceeds going back to the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.