Legislative Activity

The Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act addresses significant delays in obtaining death certificates for veterans who die from natural causes, often due to VA medical staff delays. This bill mandates that VA medical providers must certify a veteran's death within 48 hours or allow the local medical examiner to step in. Furthermore, the VA must annually report on its compliance with this new timely certification requirement.

The Head Start for Our Future Act updates the Higher Education Act of 1965 by replacing the term "literacy training" with "child development and early learning" when describing eligible community services. This change explicitly ensures that Head Start and Early Head Start programs are recognized under this section of the law. The bill aims to better reflect the comprehensive nature of early childhood education services.

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to increase the number of mental health professionals in high-need school districts. This funding is specifically designed to help eligible agencies recruit, hire, and retain school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Grantees must demonstrate a plan to improve student-to-provider ratios and report annually on staffing improvements and provider retention.

The AMMO Act modernizes federal oversight of ammunition by requiring federal licenses for all ammunition dealers and mandating background checks through NICS for transfers by licensed sellers to non-licensees. The bill also prohibits straw purchases of ammunition and establishes new federal limits on bulk ammunition sales, requiring recordkeeping and reporting for these transactions. These provisions will take effect 120 days after the date of enactment.

This bill, the Prohibition of Medicaid Funding for Conversion Therapy Act, prohibits Medicaid plans from using federal funds to pay for conversion therapy services. Conversion therapy is defined as any paid practice aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation ensures that taxpayer dollars do not support efforts to alter a person's core identity.

The GLOBE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. strategy to champion and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people globally through diplomacy, targeted sanctions, and foreign assistance reforms. The bill mandates enhanced reporting on violence and discrimination while creating new interagency roles and funds to support international advocacy and development efforts. Furthermore, it reforms immigration law to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers and ensures inclusive implementation of U.S. global health programs like PEPFAR.

The Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act establishes a new grant program to enhance mental and behavioral health support for K-12 students through telehealth services. These grants prioritize funding for schools in high-poverty, rural, or underserved areas to acquire necessary equipment and staff for remote care delivery. The program aims to expand access to mental health services while ensuring strict compliance with student privacy laws.

The Housing not Handcuffs Act of 2025 prohibits federal agencies from penalizing individuals experiencing homelessness for engaging in necessary life-sustaining activities on public land. This protection applies unless a strictly defined, fully accommodating indoor alternative space is available. The Act establishes a "necessity defense" in court for survival-related infractions and allows individuals to sue to enforce these new rights.

This resolution formally recognizes the history, achievements, and ongoing struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States. It serves as a declaration by Congress affirming that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights and encouraging the celebration of Pride Month. The bill highlights key historical milestones, legal victories, and acknowledges the persistent challenges and violence faced by the community. Ultimately, it commits the U.S. to continuing the pursuit of full equality for all citizens.

This resolution expresses the House's support for the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI+ individuals across the United States. It recognizes key Supreme Court decisions that advanced equality and highlights the ongoing need for comprehensive legal protections against discrimination. Finally, the bill proposes designating June 26th as "LGBTQI+ Equality Day" to commemorate these legal victories.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.

The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act of 2025 aims to improve services and support for older adults who identify as LGBTQI. This bill establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging and mandates the creation of a National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging. Furthermore, it updates definitions, ensures eligibility for federal grants, and requires specific data collection on discrimination faced by this population in aging services.

The PRIDE Act of 2025 aims to update the Internal Revenue Code to ensure equal treatment and inclusive language for all married couples. It extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to file amended joint tax returns following past recognition changes. Furthermore, the bill systematically replaces gendered terms like "husband," "wife," and "his" with gender-neutral language such as "spouse" and "individual" across numerous tax provisions. These changes ensure consistent, equitable application of tax law regardless of gender identity.

The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025 bans the use of "panic defenses" in federal court, which attempt to excuse or lessen a defendant's culpability for a crime based on the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation recognizes that these outdated defenses rely on prejudice and undermine justice for LGBTQ+ individuals. The Act also requires the Attorney General to report annually on violent federal crimes motivated by bias against LGBTQ+ people.

This resolution formally recognizes the constitutional right to peaceful protest while strongly condemning violence and illegal acts committed during demonstrations. It criticizes the federal government's deployment of military forces during recent events, arguing the actions were an overreach that bypassed proper legal and state authority. Ultimately, the bill asserts the importance of transparency in law enforcement and denounces rhetoric that escalates community tensions.

The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2025 mandates that group health plans treat the cost-sharing for oral (take-at-home) anticancer drugs the same as they treat cost-sharing for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This ensures patients do not face higher out-of-pocket expenses for necessary oral chemotherapy medications. The Act also requires the GAO to study the financial impact of this new parity requirement on patients.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal statutory right to access abortion services, prohibiting medically unnecessary restrictions that impede care before fetal viability. This Act protects the right of patients to travel across state lines to receive reproductive healthcare and allows providers to offer services free from state interference that conflicts with established medical standards. It preempts conflicting state and local laws and provides robust enforcement mechanisms for individuals and the Attorney General to challenge violations.

The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand healthcare access for immigrants legally residing in the U.S. by ensuring eligibility for federal health programs like Medicaid and CHIP, removing state restrictions for permanent residents, and treating federally authorized presence as lawful presence for coverage purposes. The bill also provides states the option to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage to individuals without lawful status. Furthermore, it removes citizenship barriers preventing certain non-citizens from accessing ACA marketplace subsidies and updates Medicare eligibility rules.

The End Junk Fees for Renters Act aims to protect tenants by banning application and screening fees for federally assisted rental units. It also caps late rent fees at 3% and mandates that landlords disclose key rental history and maintenance information before a lease is signed. Furthermore, the bill directs federal agencies to define "junk fees" and prohibits landlords from reporting unpaid junk fees to credit bureaus.

This bill posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall "Major" Taylor, recognizing the pioneering Black cyclist for his historic achievements and his fight against racial prejudice. The medal will be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and presented to Taylor's great-granddaughter. The Act also authorizes the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.