Legislative Activity

The Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance soil health and climate resilience across agricultural operations. This bill updates key conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, by redefining resource concerns and prioritizing activities like carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction. Furthermore, it establishes a national framework for Agroforestry Centers to research, develop, and promote integrated tree and shrub systems to improve farm profitability and environmental quality.

The Pre-Registration Of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act mandates that states establish a process for 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in federal elections. Once they turn 18 and meet other requirements, these individuals will be automatically registered. The bill also authorizes grants to states to encourage civic engagement and promote the use of this new pre-registration system among young people.

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 Ejiao Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing trade, import, and export of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao products within U.S. commerce due to the devastating impact of the ejiao trade on global donkey populations. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including substantial fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, the Act grants enforcement authority to agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and mandates the forfeiture of illegal goods and related equipment.

The Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act establishes a pilot program to fund evidence-based mental health peer support activities in high schools. This program allows eligible entities to receive competitive awards to train students and staff on early intervention and resilience building. All activities must be overseen by a mental health professional, and the program's effectiveness will be evaluated and reported to Congress before its scheduled end in 2029.

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act officially recognizes the vital role of cooperative management, particularly volunteer partnerships, in maintaining National Scenic and Historic Trails. This bill formally designates operational partners, like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, to share management responsibilities with federal agencies. It also establishes processes for prioritizing land protection and assessing the economic impact of these trails on local communities. Ultimately, the Act aims to strengthen the framework for long-term stewardship and development of the National Trails System.

The Fulbright Teacher’s Loan Forgiveness Act amends federal law to recognize participation in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program or the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program as qualifying public service employment. This change allows individuals serving in these Fulbright programs to count that time toward the requirements for student loan cancellation under existing public service loan forgiveness rules.

The Fair Representation Act fundamentally reforms federal elections by mandating Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for all federal contests and restructuring how states elect their House delegations, potentially moving toward multi-member or at-large districts. It also establishes strict, nonpartisan criteria and public transparency requirements for drawing congressional district maps, banning partisan gerrymandering. The bill provides federal funding to help states implement these changes, with most new district structure rules taking effect after the 2030 census.

The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act comprehensively reforms unemployment benefits by increasing federal funding for extended aid and establishing national minimum standards for regular state programs. Title I modernizes extended benefits by lowering triggers and increasing duration during recessions, while Title II mandates stronger state-level protections, including a 26-week minimum benefit and eliminating the initial waiting week. Finally, Title III establishes a new, federally funded Jobseeker Allowance to support active job searchers, creating a more robust and accessible safety net overall.

This bill, the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Joan Trumpauer Mulholland in recognition of her lifelong, courageous commitment to nonviolent civil rights activism. The legislation details her significant contributions, including participation in the Freedom Rides and sit-ins, which led to numerous arrests and personal danger. The Act also permits the creation and sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program through the Department of Transportation to fund the installation of suicide deterrents like nets and barriers at high-risk locations such as bridges and rail stations. The bill also amends existing law to explicitly allow National Highway System funds to be used for these safety barriers on bridges. Finally, it mandates a study on the effectiveness of suicide prevention measures for structures other than bridges.

This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizing its vital role in advancing U.S. science, engineering, and education since 1950. Congress acknowledges the NSF's foundational support for groundbreaking innovations, including the internet and advancements in medical technology. The bill reaffirms Congress's commitment to ensuring the NSF continues to lead in scientific discovery for decades to come.

The Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2025 establishes a process for identifying and officially designating "American wildlife corridors" to improve habitat connectivity for fish and wildlife movement. This act directs the USDA Secretary to work with federal agencies to map potential areas and set criteria for formal corridor designation based on scientific standards. Once designated, the Secretary must provide technical assistance to landowners to support conservation practices within these corridors. The bill also clarifies privacy protections for private data submitted under these new conservation programs.

The Probationary Reduction for Employee Protections (PREP) Act shortens the initial probationary periods for new federal employees. Specifically, it limits the trial period to a maximum of six months for those transitioning directly from another executive branch civil service job. For other new hires, the maximum probationary period will be 12 months across competitive service, excepted service, and Senior Executive Service appointments.

The REHIRE Act establishes a temporary hiring preference for certain Federal employees involuntarily removed from their positions between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2027. These eligible former employees will receive the equivalent of a "preference eligible" status plus five extra points on their earned scores when applying for competitive service jobs. This hiring advantage excludes those removed for misconduct, poor performance, or from political positions, and it expires five years after enactment.

This resolution expresses the urgent need to protect and conserve at least 50 percent of the land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems within the United States to combat a severe biodiversity crisis. It calls for Congress to support this ambitious goal, recognizing that intact nature is vital for economic stability and climate resilience. Furthermore, the bill encourages the U.S. to promote similar conservation efforts globally through diplomatic engagement while ensuring that conservation actions are equitable and just for all communities.

This resolution of inquiry formally requests the President and the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to provide the House of Representatives with specific documents. These documents must detail the economic impact of recent federal workforce reductions, particularly those stemming from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on local economies and unemployment rates. Additionally, Congress seeks information regarding the effect of newly imposed tariffs on the cost of imported goods.

The Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act of 2025 establishes new federal oversight for local governments seeking hate crime prevention grants. Jurisdictions with over 100,000 residents must demonstrate credible hate crime reporting to the FBI to remain eligible for funding. Failure to report credibly can result in ineligibility, though jurisdictions can avoid penalties by proving they have undertaken significant public education and improved reporting standards.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This change allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring qualified military spouses. A qualified military spouse is defined as someone certified as being married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2025 significantly overhauls presidential authority to restrict imports based on national security grounds. This bill shifts the primary investigation role to the Secretary of Defense and mandates that any resulting import adjustments require explicit approval by a Congressional joint resolution to take effect. Furthermore, all new trade restrictions will automatically expire after three years unless Congress renews them.