Legislative Activity

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase the pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality pay rate. This bill mandates that their pay locality be adjusted to the nearest established locality offering a higher rate, provided it is within 200 miles of their worksite. This change is designed to ensure fairer compensation for these federal correctional staff.

This resolution supports designating the second Friday of June as "National Service and Conservation Corps Day" to recognize the vital work of existing Service and Conservation Corps programs. It highlights how these corps train thousands of young adults and veterans annually while addressing critical environmental and community needs. The bill encourages public recognition of these efforts and supports the continued operation and expansion of the national service network.

The Understanding Student Parent Outcomes Act of 2025 aims to improve support for students who are also parents by requiring the federal government to establish a clear definition for "parenting student" and mandate the collection of detailed, disaggregated data on their enrollment, costs, and outcomes. The bill further directs the Secretary of Education to conduct a comprehensive study analyzing the impact of campus childcare and support services on student parent success. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to provide the necessary data and research to better inform policies that help student parents achieve higher education degrees.

The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act aims to improve support for postsecondary students with disabilities. It standardizes the types of documentation colleges must accept to verify a disability, ensuring clearer access to necessary accommodations. The bill also authorizes increased funding for national technical support centers and requires colleges to report essential data on enrolled students with disabilities. Finally, it clarifies that these changes do not alter existing rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Helping Student Parents Succeed Act requires colleges receiving federal aid to establish clear policies supporting expectant and parenting students. These institutions must provide comprehensive information regarding academic accommodations, financial aid adjustments like dependent care allowances, and available support services. The bill ensures these students are fully informed of their rights, available resources, and complaint procedures related to pregnancy and parental status.

The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act removes a long-standing federal prohibition that prevented students from receiving certain housing assistance. This legislation allows the Secretary to waive specific requirements for Section 8 housing assistance for college students who live in campus housing and have a history in foster care or are emancipated minors. Crucially, any assistance received through this waiver will not negatively impact a student's eligibility for federal financial aid or other support programs.

The Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution amends House rules to allow public bills and resolutions to have two primary sponsors, provided one is from the majority party and the other from the minority party. This formalizes bipartisan introduction of legislation from the outset. The resolution also adjusts related rules concerning cosponsorship and required submission statements for these jointly sponsored measures.

The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025 reauthorizes and significantly increases mandatory funding levels for critical animal disease prevention and management programs through 2031. This legislation ensures sustained financial support for national animal health laboratories, surveillance efforts, and preparedness initiatives. The bill updates funding allocations to enhance the nation's ability to rapidly respond to potential foreign animal disease outbreaks.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 updates Medicare rules to ensure comprehensive coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. This legislation clarifies and expands the scope of telehealth coverage under Medicare for these essential services. Furthermore, it removes previous restrictions, making the expanded coverage effective retroactively to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 updates federal programs to better support and protect runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth. This legislation modernizes grant programs to ensure services are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and address critical needs like housing, education, and mental health. It also expands communication channels to include online outreach and strengthens coordination across federal agencies to combat youth homelessness and exploitation.

This resolution strongly condemns the recent rise in ideologically motivated attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions across the United States, including the violent assault in Boulder, Colorado. The House of Representatives reaffirms its commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence in all its forms. It calls for thorough investigation and prosecution of such incidents and urges all sectors of society to speak out against hate.

The Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025 aims to streamline and improve the VA's caregiver support program. It mandates the creation of a centralized digital system for processing caregiver applications and appeals. Additionally, the bill clarifies stipend payments following a veteran's death and standardizes training for all employees reviewing caregiver assistance appeals.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through increased reporting and new procedural tools. This legislation mandates annual transparency on decision times and empowers the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) to group similar cases for faster resolution. Furthermore, it expands the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and requires studies to explore issuing precedential BVA decisions to streamline common legal issues.

This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates the life, achievements, and public service of former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush on the occasion of her 100th birthday. It highlights her dedication to her family, her tireless advocacy for national literacy, and her compassionate service as Second Lady and First Lady. Congress commends her enduring legacy as a model citizen for the nation.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the 250th birthday of the United States Army, celebrating its 250 years of service, valor, and dedication to defending American freedom. Congress expresses deep appreciation for the Army's history, its commitment to core values, and its current readiness to meet any future global challenge. The resolution encourages the American public to observe this significant anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.

The ADINA Act mandates that prescription and over-the-counter drugs must clearly label if they contain ingredients derived from major food allergens or gluten-containing grains. This new requirement aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency regarding potential allergens in medications. Drugs failing to include this specific warning will be considered misbranded under federal law.

The New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the United States' readiness to combat the reintroduction of the New World screwworm, a devastating parasite of warm-blooded animals. This study, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, must assess current threat levels, sterile fly production capacity, surveillance systems, and emergency response plans. The resulting report will provide Congress with critical recommendations to strengthen national preparedness against this costly agricultural and wildlife pest.

The SKIM Act, or Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act, mandates stricter sentencing guidelines for crimes involving counterfeit or stolen credit and debit cards, ensuring a minimum offense level for such offenses. It also requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on federal and local cooperation in combating access device fraud. This legislation aims to increase penalties and improve coordination against identity and payment card misuse.

The Defense Shipyard Workforce Housing Act of 2025 mandates a Department of Defense study to assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits of providing housing for civilian workers at four key naval shipyards. This comprehensive review will examine options for building or leasing housing and its potential impact on recruitment and retention. The findings, including recommendations, must be reported to Congress within 18 months of enactment.

The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act of 2025 updates the WIC program by replacing outdated terminology with "substance use disorder." This legislation mandates the development of specialized, evidence-based nutrition education materials for WIC participants affected by substance use disorder. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to actively reach out to and support these families through training and resource sharing. The Act authorizes $1 million for fiscal year 2026 to implement these new support activities.