Legislative Activity

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act strictly prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools, establishing national safety standards and requiring immediate parental notification after any restraint incident. It mandates that states create detailed plans, publicly report incident data broken down by student demographics, and utilize federal grants to fund training and prevention strategies. The bill creates a private right of action for families harmed by violations and ensures oversight across various federal school systems.

The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act amends the Higher Education Act to eliminate specific annual and aggregate loan limits for Federal Direct PLUS Loans made to graduate and professional students. This action removes previous restrictions on the maximum amount graduate students can borrow through these federal loan programs.

This bill commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States, recognizing the profound sacrifices and immense contributions of Southeast Asian Americans. It honors the historical alliance and acknowledges the challenges faced by these communities since their arrival. The legislation celebrates the vibrant cultural and economic impact of over three million Southeast Asian Americans today.

The Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by reducing massive visa backlogs and prioritizing family reunification across various categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying certain family members as "immediate relatives," and creating new pathways for permanent partners and refugees to join their loved ones. Ultimately, the bill aims to keep families together, speed up legal immigration processes, and address past discrimination in the visa system.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the **Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building**. This change ensures all federal records and documents will use the new name for this specific post office.

The Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act of 2025 restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining individuals attending or departing from immigration court proceedings or scheduled appointments, unless a judicial warrant is present or an imminent threat exists. The bill mandates specific supervisory approval for arrests during scheduled check-ins. Furthermore, it requires the DHS Inspector General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance with these new protections.

This bill establishes the **Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act** to authorize the Attorney General to appoint highly qualified, temporary immigration judges for limited terms. These temporary judges are intended to supplement, not replace, permanent judges and must meet specific experience requirements. The legislation mandates rigorous oversight, training protocols, and limits the total service time for these temporary appointments to ensure judicial integrity.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act officially recognizes the installation of mechanical insulation in federal buildings as a qualifying energy or water efficiency measure. This legislation defines compliant mechanical insulation as meeting or exceeding ASHRAE Standard 90.1 requirements and resulting in energy loss reduction. Furthermore, the Act mandates that comprehensive evaluations of federal buildings must identify these specific energy and water-saving insulation opportunities.

This resolution commemorates World AIDS Day and recognizes significant progress made in combating HIV/AIDS globally and domestically through programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White Act. It highlights ongoing challenges, particularly disparities in impact, while encouraging continued robust funding for research, prevention, and treatment efforts worldwide. The resolution supports the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 through zero new transmissions and zero discrimination.

The LEAD Act of 2025 seeks to prohibit the use of lead ammunition on all lands and waters managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to documented health and environmental risks. This legislation mandates the creation of a certified list of approved nonlead ammunition alternatives for use on these federal lands. The bill establishes civil penalties for knowing violations of this new prohibition.

The Food Assurance and Security Act establishes a mandatory, interagency program to annually measure and report on food insecurity and hunger in the United States. This program requires the Census Bureau to conduct a standardized food security supplement as part of its Current Population Survey. The resulting data will be analyzed and published by the Department of Agriculture in an annual public report submitted to Congress.

The Find It Early Act mandates that certain individuals at increased risk for breast cancer receive additional, recommended screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. This coverage requirement applies across private health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. These provisions are set to take effect starting January 1, 2026.

This bill mandates that the FEMA Administrator administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program. It requires the immediate disbursement of obligated 2022 funds and the initiation of grant awards for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the bill calls for research and development to improve the accessibility, resiliency, and security of emergency warning systems.