Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and recognizes the profound contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the United States. It honors those who fled the communist regime after April 30, 1975, and reaffirms American commitment to democracy and human rights. The bill encourages all citizens to observe this anniversary and remember the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act significantly strengthens federal enforcement against oil spills. This legislation revises the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish much higher minimum and maximum civil fines for polluters. Furthermore, it substantially increases the criminal penalties, doubling the maximum jail time and fines associated with various levels of oil spill violations.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The American Music Tourism Act of 2025 directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to actively promote domestic and international travel focused on U.S. music heritage and events. This includes identifying key music tourism locations and streamlining international visitor access to these sites. The Act also establishes new biennial reporting requirements to Congress detailing progress on these tourism goals.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 establishes "Ocean Innovation Clusters" across the U.S. to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy." This legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce to designate at least seven regional clusters led by non-profits to enhance collaboration between industry, academia, and local governments. The Act authorizes a competitive grant program, up to $10 million per award, to help these clusters operate and create physical collaboration centers. Ultimately, the goal is to drive economic opportunity, workforce development, and climate resilience in ocean-related sectors.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount the Social Security Administration can withhold from a person's monthly benefit to recover an overpayment. Unless the individual agrees to a higher rate, the SSA can withhold no more than 10 percent of a monthly benefit payment to recoup accidental overpayments. This new limit applies to existing and future unrecovered overpayments under Title II benefits.

This resolution expresses strong support for honoring Earth Day and recognizes its historical importance in launching the modern environmental movement. It highlights ongoing challenges like climate change while celebrating recent landmark investments in clean energy and infrastructure. Ultimately, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and encourages all Americans to take sustained action to protect the environment for future generations.

The Housing for All Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to aggressively combat the national housing shortage and homelessness crisis through massive federal investment. It establishes long-term funding for housing development, dramatically expands rental assistance programs like Section 8 vouchers, and creates new grants for supportive services and community-driven solutions. Ultimately, the Act aims to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing while providing legal and crisis intervention resources for vulnerable populations.

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to fund national organizations in developing comprehensive, out-of-school workforce readiness programs for youth aged 6 to 18. This Act aims to boost employment opportunities by connecting youth education and training with employer needs through community partnerships. Furthermore, it strengthens youth voices by mandating the reestablishment and integration of Youth Councils within local workforce boards to advise on training and readiness initiatives.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 11–17, 2025, as the eighth annual Black Maternal Health Week to raise national awareness of the severe maternal and reproductive health crisis facing Black women and birthing people. It highlights the unacceptable disparity where Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, emphasizing that most of these deaths are preventable. The bill calls for targeted investments, policy changes addressing systemic barriers, and the centering of Black women's voices in developing solutions to achieve equitable maternal health outcomes.

The Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025 permanently prohibits the issuance of new oil and gas leases, or the extension of existing ones, for mineral exploration and production in designated Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. This measure establishes an ironclad ban on offshore drilling in these specific Arctic waters.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act aims to combat sophisticated, cross-border criminal organizations driving massive increases in retail and supply chain theft. This bill updates federal laws regarding stolen goods and money laundering to strengthen enforcement tools against these groups. Furthermore, it establishes a new federal Coordination Center within Homeland Security to share intelligence and coordinate efforts between federal, state, and private sector partners. The legislation recognizes that these theft rings often fund other serious criminal activities, threatening national security and the economy.

The Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act permanently prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any new oil or gas leases within the Southern California Planning Area. This measure specifically bans all exploration, development, and production authorizations in the region defined by the September 2023 leasing program. The Act ensures long-term protection for the Southern California coast against new offshore drilling activities.

The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 establishes an Advisory Council, led by HHS, to assess the needs of gun violence victims and service providers. This Council will survey stakeholders, review existing support programs, and identify best practices for medical, financial, and mental health assistance. Its primary function is to compile and widely distribute a comprehensive list of available federal, state, and nonprofit resources to ensure victims can easily access necessary aid.

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 mandates the FDA to update federal regulations within one year, replacing references to "animal testing" with the broader term "nonclinical testing" in drug development rules. This change aligns FDA regulations with recent legislative updates, allowing for the use of modern, non-animal testing methods in drug approval processes. The interim final rule implementing these changes will take effect immediately upon publication.

The Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act aims to strengthen protections and streamline legal pathways for non-citizen survivors of crime and abuse, including domestic violence and trafficking. The bill reforms the U-visa program by eliminating its annual cap and speeding up work authorization for victims. It also establishes new protections against detention and deportation for victims with pending humanitarian applications and expands access to public benefits for certain lawfully present noncitizens.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This legislation specifically bans the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any new leases or permissions for drilling activities in designated planning areas. The goal is to secure long-term protection for these vital West Coast marine environments.

The California Clean Coast Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new federal oil and gas leasing and related activities on the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California. This measure ensures no future drilling permits can be issued in these sensitive waters. However, the Act explicitly preserves the rights of any existing oil and gas leases already in effect.