Legislative Activity

The Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025 ensures that states, local governments, or school districts are reimbursed for any of their own funds used to keep Head Start and Early Head Start programs operational during a lapse in federal appropriations. This legislation protects these vital early childhood education services from disruption caused by government shutdowns. By guaranteeing reimbursement, the Act encourages local entities to maintain program continuity without bearing the financial burden.

This resolution is an official request demanding the President transmit specific, unredacted documents to the House of Representatives within 14 days. Congress is seeking all communications and records related to potential furloughs, layoffs, or the withholding of pay for federal employees due to a funding lapse beginning October 1, 2025. The request specifically targets documents concerning legal opinions that might undermine the requirement to pay furloughed workers after appropriations resume.

The Keep Air Travel Safe Act ensures the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can continue all essential operations during a Congressional funding lapse. It allows the TSA Administrator to use unobligated prior-year funds to maintain activities at the previous year's spending rate. This temporary funding remains active until a new budget is passed or for a maximum of 180 days.

The WIC Benefits Protection Act mandates that all states must operate the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This legislation also guarantees permanent, mandatory funding for WIC starting in fiscal year 2026, ensuring the program has the necessary resources annually. Furthermore, it clarifies eligibility language within the program's governing statute.

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act aims to protect federal employees and contractors from negative civil actions during a government shutdown. It temporarily pauses various legal and administrative proceedings, including evictions, foreclosures, and debt collections, when a worker is furloughed or working without pay. The bill also grants federal workers the ability to defer income tax payments without penalty and prevents negative credit reporting based on seeking relief under this Act.

This bill ensures that states are reimbursed by the Federal Government for any state funds they use to maintain essential operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in federal appropriations. It provides a mechanism for the Federal Government to pay back states that cover WIC costs during a government shutdown. This protects state budgets while keeping vital nutrition assistance running.

The Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act prohibits the President or agency heads from firing, laying off, or removing career civil service employees during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary funding. This protection ensures job security for the career federal workforce, while explicitly excluding political appointees from coverage. The bill clarifies definitions to specify which employees are shielded and which are not.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal appropriations lapse to make tax-favored withdrawals of up to \$30,000 from their retirement plans without incurring early withdrawal penalties. These distributions can be repaid within three years and the taxable income can be spread over three years. This relief specifically targets furloughed federal contractors, grantee employees, and certain D.C. government workers impacted by shutdowns lasting two weeks or more.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to $30,000 during a qualifying shutdown. Additionally, it allows affected employees greater access to TSP hardship withdrawals and loans, and prevents missed TSP loan payments due to a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing October 2025 as Filipino American History Month. It celebrates the rich history, culture, and significant contributions of Filipino Americans across all sectors of U.S. society. The bill also calls for renewed efforts to study and educate the public about this vital, yet often overlooked, part of the American story.

The Pay Workers What They've Earned Act aims to reimburse federal employees and contractors for direct financial costs incurred due to government shutdowns. This legislation specifically covers expenses like late fees and interest charges resulting from missed paychecks during a lapse in funding. It also establishes a process for states to be reimbursed if they use their own funds to cover normally federal responsibilities during extended shutdowns. The bill creates a dedicated Treasury fund to ensure timely payments to affected workers in the future.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

The Funding Small Businesses During Shutdown Act ensures that critical Small Business Administration (SBA) loan servicing programs can continue operating for 30 days during a government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. This legislation allocates specific funds to cover the salaries and operating costs necessary to maintain key SBA loan functions. The goal is to prevent disruptions to small business lending support during a lapse in appropriations.

The TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Defense provide TRICARE beneficiaries with proactive, multi-stage electronic notifications before coverage transition requirements take effect. This ensures beneficiaries are clearly informed about necessary actions, such as re-enrollment due to age limits. The Act also requires a public awareness campaign and annual reporting to Congress on the effectiveness of these notification efforts.

The National Guard Proper Use Act prohibits active duty military personnel and National Guard members serving under Title 32 orders from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of immigration laws. This measure restricts the use of the Armed Forces for domestic immigration enforcement, aligning with existing statutes that govern such deployments.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical disparities in mental health access and treatment for Black youth, citing alarming increases in suicide rates among this population. It calls on the current administration to build upon previous efforts and implement recommendations from the *Ring the Alarm* report. The bill specifically urges increased funding, promotion of community education to reduce stigma, and protection of existing mental health service structures.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing September 22–28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." It highlights the critical role these institutions play in educating a significant portion of AANAPISI students, many of whom are first-generation and low-income. The bill encourages national acknowledgment and support for the programs and achievements of these vital colleges and universities.