Legislative Activity

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025 updates tax code deductions for performing artists by allowing them to deduct essential business expenses—including agent and manager commissions—directly from their taxable income. The bill introduces an income-based phaseout for the deduction, increases the "nominal employer" threshold, and implements annual inflation adjustments to ensure the policy remains current. These changes aim to provide greater financial relief for working artists by simplifying how they account for professional costs.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' disapproval of the President's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, recognizing climate change as a threat and highlighting the increasing costs of extreme weather events. It commends entities supporting the Agreement, urges the President to reconsider, and encourages Congress to prioritize U.S. leadership on climate change.

The Build Housing with Care Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund the development and renovation of facilities that co-locate affordable housing with child care services. By incentivizing these partnerships, the bill aims to expand access to both essential housing and quality child care, particularly in underserved communities. Additionally, the legislation mandates a GAO study to evaluate the current availability and affordability of child care for public housing residents.

The 911 SAVES Act mandates that the Office of Management and Budget reclassify public safety telecommunicators as "Protective Service Occupations" within the federal Standard Occupational Classification system. This legislation recognizes the critical, high-stress, and lifesaving nature of 911 dispatchers, correcting their current misclassification to better reflect their essential role in emergency response.

The Health Care Providers Safety Act of 2025 authorizes federal grants to help health care facilities enhance the safety of their personnel, patients, and infrastructure. These funds support critical security upgrades, including physical site improvements, advanced surveillance systems, and strengthened cybersecurity measures.

The Assuring Medicare’s Promise Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by redirecting revenue from the net investment income tax directly to the program. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of this tax for high-income earners by including certain trade or business income and foreign earnings in the tax base. These measures are designed to improve the long-term financial stability of Medicare starting in 2026.

The Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act permanently protects over 225,000 acres of federal land and water in Minnesota’s Rainy River Watershed from the risks of sulfide-ore copper mining. By withdrawing these lands from mineral leasing and development, the bill safeguards the region’s pristine water quality, wilderness values, and treaty-protected resources. This legislation ensures the long-term ecological integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and supports the local amenity-based economy.

The Equal COLA Act amends the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to ensure that retirees receive the full annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This legislation eliminates current discrepancies in calculation methods, providing federal annuitants with a COLA that matches the full percentage change in the price index.

The FAIR Act (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act) proposes a 2026 pay adjustment for federal civilian employees. This legislation mandates a 3.3 percent increase in basic pay for both statutory and prevailing rate employees, alongside a 1 percent increase in locality pay.

The Saving the Civil Service Act protects the merit-based federal workforce by restricting the ability of agencies to reclassify competitive service positions into the excepted service. The bill establishes strict oversight, limits the number of positions that can be transferred, and mandates employee consent for such reclassifications. These measures ensure that federal staffing remains professional and protected from arbitrary political interference.

The Food Deserts Act establishes a federal grant program to help states create revolving loan funds for grocery stores in underserved communities. These funds provide affordable financing to support the opening and operation of stores that prioritize healthy, affordable food. By incentivizing local hiring and community-focused business practices, the Act aims to increase access to nutritious food in areas that need it most.

The Young Americans Financial Literacy Act addresses the widespread need for improved financial education among young people aged 8 to 24. This bill authorizes funding for competitive grants to establish Centers of Excellence focused on developing and implementing research-backed financial literacy programs. These centers will create educational materials, train educators, and specifically target issues like student debt management for young adults. The goal is to improve financial well-being and stability through targeted, measurable educational interventions.

The Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a series of commemorative coins in 2028 to honor the diverse women who served on the Home Front during World War II. Proceeds from the sale of these coins will support the Rosie the Riveter Trust in its efforts to maintain the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park and fund educational programs. This initiative ensures the legacy of these essential workers is preserved and recognized through a national numismatic program.

The Department of Education Protection Act prohibits the Department of Education from using federal funds to reorganize, decentralize, or reduce its staffing and operations. This legislation mandates that the Department must maintain the structure, authority, and functions that were in place as of January 1, 2025.

The LNG Public Interest Determination Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Energy approve natural gas exports only after a rigorous public interest review. This process requires comprehensive climate, economic, and environmental justice assessments to ensure that exports do not negatively impact U.S. consumer prices, global climate goals, or vulnerable communities. Additionally, the bill eliminates previous regulatory exemptions, ensuring all export authorizations undergo full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The HCT/P Modernization Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and regulatory predictability for human cell and tissue products. The bill mandates that the FDA publish key oversight data, provide stakeholder education, and host public workshops to gather feedback. Ultimately, the legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and submit formal recommendations to Congress for modernizing the current regulatory framework.

Goldie’s Act strengthens the Animal Welfare Act by mandating more rigorous USDA inspections and requiring the prompt confiscation of animals suffering from neglect. The bill increases financial penalties for violators, ensures the immediate sharing of violation records with local law enforcement, and establishes stricter oversight to prevent future animal abuse.

This bill designates January 13th of each year as Korean American Day. It recognizes the important influence, contributions, and sacrifices of Korean Americans in the United States, and celebrates the 122nd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. The bill encourages all Americans to acknowledge and celebrate the integral role of Korean Americans in strengthening the ties between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to health insurance by removing the 400% federal poverty level income cap for premium tax credits. It also introduces a new sliding-scale contribution formula to ensure that insurance costs remain affordable for households across all income levels. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.