Legislative Activity

The "Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act" aims to enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs' handling of military sexual trauma claims. It mandates annual sensitivity training for VA employees involved in processing these claims, requires reports on training programs, and expands the Secretary's duty to assist claimants by obtaining relevant records. Additionally, it addresses sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals to prevent re-traumatization of veterans during examinations.

This bill designates May 5-9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week," recognizing the contributions of public school teachers and their support for various educational initiatives. It acknowledges teachers' dedication to improving education through innovative methods and emphasizes the importance of their involvement in shaping education policies. The bill encourages leaders to engage with teachers, ensuring their insights are included in classroom policies.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include state, federal, and local governments as employers, thereby extending OSHA protections to public service workers. This change ensures that public employees receive the same workplace safety standards and protections as those in the private sector. The Act will take effect 90 days after enactment for most entities, and 36 months after enactment for states without an approved state plan.

The "Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2025" extends key biofuel tax incentives through 2026, promoting the production and use of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and second-generation biofuels. This extension aims to support the biofuel industry by continuing tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel mixtures, as well as alcohol fuel. The act also ensures that no double benefits are claimed for fuel receiving credit under other sections of the law. These amendments are effective for fuel sold or used after December 31, 2024, and for qualified second-generation biofuel production occurring after the same date.

This bill expresses support for designating May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to highlight the benefits of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. It recognizes their positive impact on the economy, job creation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering fuel costs, supporting rural communities, and decreasing reliance on foreign oil. The bill emphasizes the role of biofuels in promoting energy independence and environmental sustainability.

The "ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025" aims to improve broadband access in rural areas by providing grants and loans for building and upgrading broadband infrastructure. Priority is given to projects that deliver at least 100-Mbps downstream and 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity, especially in underserved areas with populations under 20,000. The act authorizes \$650 million annually for grants and \$350 million annually for loans from 2026 through 2030 and prioritizes support for Tribal organizations, low-income communities, and areas lacking adequate broadband service. It also ensures funds are not used to overbuild existing adequate services and requires recipients to participate in federal internet affordability programs.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Workers Memorial Day Act" amends title 5 of the United States Code to recognize Workers Memorial Day as a federal holiday. This would add Workers Memorial Day to the list of days designated as legal public holidays.

This bill amends Title 38 of the United States Code to increase funding for comprehensive service programs addressing veteran homelessness. It extends the authorization of appropriations through fiscal year 2024 and provides $350 million for fiscal year 2025, as well as necessary funds for subsequent fiscal years.

This bill recognizes April 2025 as "Community College Month" to celebrate the significant role of community colleges in providing accessible higher education, workforce training, and economic support across the United States. It acknowledges the extensive contributions of over 1,000 community colleges, which serve millions of students and contribute significantly to the national GDP. The resolution highlights the importance of these institutions in fostering economic prosperity and community vitality.

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025 enhances the existing historic tax credit by allowing the full credit in the year the building is placed in service, increasing the credit for small projects, and expanding the types of buildings eligible for rehabilitation. It also eliminates the basis adjustment for the rehabilitation credit and modifies rules regarding tax-exempt use property. Certain small projects may qualify for an increased credit rate of 30% and the ability to transfer the credit. These changes aim to incentivize the rehabilitation of historic buildings, particularly benefiting smaller projects and rural areas.

The "Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act" modifies the clean fuel production credit to only include fuel derived from feedstocks grown in the United States. It also excludes indirect land use emissions from lifecycle greenhouse gas emission calculations, extends the clean fuel production credit through 2034, and refines emissions factor calculations for greater precision.

The "RESILIENCE Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow utility companies to reduce their adjusted financial statement income by the amount of depreciation and repair/maintenance deductions taken on public utility property. This applies to property that the utility company owns and is treating as depreciation on their financial statements. This change is applicable for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. These grants can be used for de-escalation training, mental health support for officers, officer recruitment and retention, and other community safety programs. The Act prioritizes a streamlined grant application process and emphasizes accountability and transparency in the use of funds, with \$50 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.