Legislative Activity

The Pacific Partnership Act formally establishes the U.S. commitment to strengthening its comprehensive policy toward the Pacific Islands region, emphasizing peace, security, and prosperity. It mandates the President to develop and submit a detailed "Strategy for Pacific Partnership" to Congress by 2026 and 2030, outlining diplomatic, economic, and security goals. Furthermore, the bill enhances coordination with allies on aid delivery and grants the Pacific Islands Forum diplomatic immunities. Finally, it requires enhanced reporting from the State Department on transnational issues affecting the region.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal Trust Fund, financed by an increase in the corporate tax rate, to support water infrastructure and affordability programs nationwide. The bill mandates a comprehensive EPA report analyzing water affordability, civil rights compliance, and public participation in water planning. It also significantly increases funding for household water well systems and revises state revolving loan fund rules to expand eligible projects, including lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup. Finally, the Act creates new job training grants for the water sector and enhances drinking water assistance for colonias.

The PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act simplifies the requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This bill removes the confusing dual requirement that previously mandated simultaneous qualifying employment and payment status for service time to count. Moving forward, the focus is simply on having been employed in a qualifying job while making the required payments.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month every May. It highlights the significant historical contributions of these communities to the United States, while also acknowledging past hardships and ongoing challenges. The bill encourages the nation to observe this month to appreciate the diversity and strength AANHPI individuals bring to the country.

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help law enforcement officers secure childcare during non-traditional hours. Administered by HHS, these competitive grants will fund local agencies to offer subsidies, start new facilities, or cover operational costs for officers. The program requires state agencies to apply and secure matching funds, with a sunset date of September 30, 2030.

This bill aims to safeguard the financial stability of land-grant colleges and universities. It explicitly prohibits any federal official, including the Secretary of Agriculture, from reducing, eliminating, or suspending their established funding. Funding for these institutions can only be altered through a new act of Congress.

The Defense Workforce Integration Act of 2025 aims to streamline the transition of separating service members into civilian Department of Defense (DoD) roles, particularly for those medically disqualified from service. It also establishes a new program to connect medically ineligible individuals with career opportunities in the defense industrial base and related national security sectors. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Navy inform separating personnel about career opportunities within the Military Sealift Command. The DoD must report to Congress within one year on the implementation of these integration and information-sharing provisions.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

The Taiwan International Solidarity Act clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 does not determine Taiwan's status and affirms U.S. opposition to any change in Taiwan's status without its consent. The bill directs the U.S. government to actively advocate in international organizations against the People's Republic of China's (PRC) distortion of the "One China" position regarding Taiwan. Furthermore, it mandates encouraging allies to resist PRC efforts to undermine Taiwan's international partnerships and requires expanded reporting on these PRC actions.

The Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 amends the Lacey Act to prohibit the importation, sale, breeding, and possession of most nonhuman primates across state lines. This sweeping ban includes species like monkeys and lemurs, with limited exceptions for registered research facilities and existing owners who register their animals promptly. The law establishes immediate prohibitions, even before the Secretary of the Interior finalizes all associated regulations.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The SALUTE Act establishes a pilot program to allow certain active-duty service members and their dependents to purchase supplemental private insurance for uncovered cancer-related medical expenses. This optional coverage will be offered through agreements with selected insurance companies, with participants paying the full premium cost. The Department of Defense must report on the program's success after three years to determine if it should become permanent.

The Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act aims to strengthen consumer protections for service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This bill mandates improved financial literacy training focusing on SCRA interest rate caps and requires specific notifications of these benefits upon entry or mobilization to active duty. Additionally, it ensures financial institutions must retroactively apply maximum interest rates to pre-service debts from the start of active duty and expand those protections to all debts held by the creditor.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Clean Slate Act of 2025 establishes new federal rules for automatically sealing certain criminal records, particularly for nonviolent marijuana offenses or arrests that did not result in conviction. It also creates a process allowing individuals convicted of specific nonviolent federal offenses to petition the court to seal their records after completing their sentences. Once sealed, these records are generally inaccessible, promoting rehabilitation, though exceptions exist for law enforcement and specific background checks.

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 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 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 PROSPER Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program administered by the Attorney General to fund evidence-based violence prevention strategies for youth. These grants will support community organizations and educational institutions in implementing programs focused on trauma healing, skill-building, and connecting high-risk young people with essential resources. The initiative is specifically funded by $25 million set aside from existing juvenile justice allocations between fiscal years 2026 and 2030.