Legislative Activity

The Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025 temporarily halts the government's ability to garnish wages for certain student loans until new systems for error correction and tracking are certified by the Secretary of Education. If the required fixes are not implemented, the garnishment program will cease entirely. Furthermore, the bill establishes strict rules for employers and mandates double repayment for any wrongfully garnished funds. Finally, it prohibits garnishment for loans outstanding for more than 10 years.

The RAISE Act of 2025 aims to significantly support educators through several key provisions. It establishes a new, refundable tax credit for teachers and early childhood educators, with larger bonuses available for those working in high-poverty schools. Additionally, the bill doubles the existing tax deduction for classroom expenses and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Finally, it mandates substantial federal funding to incentivize local school districts to maintain or increase teacher salaries.

The Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025 prohibits all federal agencies from issuing permits for commercial finfish aquaculture operations within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This ban specifically targets the farming of finned fish for commercial sale in federal waters. Any future authorization for this activity would require a new act of Congress.

The COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new oil and gas leasing and development activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. This legislation ensures the protection of these key ocean regions from future drilling exploration.

This resolution supports designating a week in April as Black Maternal Health Week to raise national awareness of the severe maternal health crisis facing Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It highlights that systemic racism and discrimination drive unacceptable disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates. The resolution calls for specific investments and policy changes, including expanded postpartum coverage and culturally competent care, guided by the voices of the affected community.

This bill aims to significantly support student parents and strengthen the early childhood education workforce through multiple avenues. It establishes a major grant program to provide free infant and toddler care for student parents at eligible institutions while simultaneously funding workforce development and ensuring fair wages for childcare staff. Furthermore, the legislation streamlines access to existing federal childcare subsidies for parents in higher education and mandates clearer communication from colleges regarding dependent care allowances in financial aid packages.

The Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025 aims to eliminate unfair, trauma-unresponsive disciplinary practices in schools by strengthening civil rights data collection on exclusionary discipline. The bill establishes competitive grants for districts to implement alternatives to harsh discipline, such as banning suspensions for minor infractions and prohibiting the use of seclusion or corporal punishment. Furthermore, it creates a joint task force to specifically study and recommend solutions for the disproportionate school pushout of girls of color.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Agriculture to immediately honor and pay all existing, unfrozen contracts with farmers and related entities. This legislation prevents the cancellation of signed agreements unless the terms have been violated by the recipient. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 60 days' notice to Congress before closing any local Farm Service Agency, NRCS, or Rural Development offices.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the deep, shared commitment to democracy between the United States and Greece. It recognizes the historical ties, ongoing strategic partnership in security and energy, and the contributions of the Greek-American community. The bill ultimately honors Greece as a vital NATO ally and friend.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress in support of designating March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools Month." It formally recognizes the vital role of music in American culture and education, highlighting its proven benefits for student engagement and skill development. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges disparities in access to quality music programs across the nation.

The Providing a Quality Defense Act of 2025 aims to strengthen constitutional rights by improving public defense services across the nation. It establishes a grant program for states and localities to collect better workload data and hire more staff, while also mandating studies on fair caseload limits and attorney compensation. Furthermore, the Act supports educational programs to enhance the skills and client-centered advocacy of public defenders and assigned counsel.

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 establishes a new federal grant program to help states fund local school districts in supporting students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Funds must primarily be used to train school staff on recognizing seizures and implementing individualized health and emergency care plans. The bill also mandates specific training for school nurses and bus drivers, ensuring comprehensive, good-faith preparedness for student seizures.

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 (RFRA) to ensure that federal anti-discrimination, labor, and equal access laws take precedence over religious freedom claims in specific circumstances. This legislation clarifies that RFRA protections cannot be used to override requirements in federal contracts or agreements involving government funding. Furthermore, the Act explicitly limits the application of RFRA to challenges against government actions, precluding its use in private litigation between non-governmental parties.

This Act establishes a new Office within the State Department, led by a Special Envoy, dedicated to monitoring and combating international Islamophobia. It mandates that the State Department specifically track and report on acts of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim incitement in its annual human rights and religious freedom reports. The goal is to systematically address and document prejudice and violence targeting Muslims abroad.

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 by honoring the profound contributions and resilience of African Americans throughout United States history. It acknowledges both the struggles of the past and the significant achievements of individuals who have shaped the nation’s progress. By recognizing this history, the resolution encourages all Americans to reflect on our shared past and continue working toward a future of unity and justice.

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.