Legislative Activity

This bill establishes the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The capsule, created by the Architect of the Capitol and filled with items chosen by the four congressional leadership offices, will be sealed in the Capitol Visitor Center. It is mandated to remain sealed until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to the 244th Congress.

This bill, the "Ending Forced Arbitration of Race Discrimination Act of 2025," invalidates predispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers for disputes involving alleged race discrimination. It ensures that individuals alleging race discrimination can choose to pursue their claims in court rather than through mandatory arbitration. Federal courts will determine the applicability and enforceability of these arbitration agreements.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The Urban and Rural Diabetes Initiative Act establishes a new grant program to improve diabetes treatment access in medically underserved urban and rural areas. This funding supports eligible health providers in offering comprehensive diabetes care, including routine treatment, education, and specialized services like eye and foot care. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award these grants, ensuring equitable distribution across both urban and rural communities.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

This bill, the "SEC Data Protection Act," mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) establish comprehensive data protection policies for sensitive, nonpublic information received from investment advisers. The SEC must adopt these rules within one year, ensuring the safeguarding and restricted access of proprietary data. This legislation aims to protect sensitive information collected by the Commission during its oversight of investment advisers.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The Right to Enroll Act of 2025 extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges specifically for the 2026 plan year. This legislation mandates that the open enrollment period will run from November 1, 2025, through May 1, 2026.

The Births in Custody Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving federal funding must quarterly report detailed, anonymized data to the Attorney General regarding pregnant individuals and those who have given birth in state or local custody. This data includes pregnancy testing, prenatal care, birth outcomes, and the use of restraints during these periods. States failing to comply face potential reductions in federal funding, and the Attorney General must make all reports public and conduct a study on improving inmate care.

The HOME Reform Act of 2025 amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to modernize definitions, adjust income thresholds for low-income assistance up to 100% of area median income, and allow HOME funds to support infrastructure improvements in nonentitlement areas. The bill also streamlines regulatory burdens by exempting certain small projects and infill housing from environmental reviews and limits federal restrictions on local housing use choices. Furthermore, it expands long-term affordability mechanisms for homeownership and provides exceptions for military members and heirs of deceased owners.

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

The HOME Reform Act of 2025 updates the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act by redefining eligibility for low-income assistance and expanding local flexibility in using housing funds. It allows certain infrastructure spending adjacent to affordable housing and streamlines environmental review processes for smaller projects. Furthermore, the bill removes expiration dates on certain trust funds and adjusts affordability standards for homeownership and rental units.

The Every Child Deserves a Head Start Act of 2025 aims to solidify the foundational support for the Head Start program, recognizing its vital role in early childhood development. This bill permanently establishes the structure and staffing levels of the Office of Head Start, including its 12 regional offices, as they existed before January 20, 2025. The legislation strictly limits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from altering this established structure or reducing staff without specific Congressional notification procedures. Ultimately, the Act ensures the consistent delivery of essential educational and support services to eligible children and families nationwide.

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.

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.

This resolution expresses deep concern over the growing trend of book banning and threats to freedom of expression in U.S. schools and libraries. It asserts that such censorship undermines democratic values and harms students by restricting access to diverse ideas and histories. The bill urges local entities to follow best practices for book challenges and calls for the immediate reinstatement of books removed from Department of Defense schools. Ultimately, it reaffirms the nation's commitment to First Amendment rights and the freedom to read.

This resolution officially designates October 8, 2025, as Latina Equal Pay Day to highlight the significant wage disparity faced by Latina workers. It recognizes that Latinas currently earn only about 58 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men, resulting in substantial lifetime earnings loss. The bill calls attention to systemic factors like workplace policies and harassment that contribute to this ongoing economic injustice. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to achieving pay equity for all women.

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.