Legislative Activity

This bill expresses disapproval of any pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It serves as a symbolic condemnation of violence against law enforcement and underscores the importance of holding accountable those who perpetrate such acts.

The "Caring for All Families Act" expands the definition of family members under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include domestic partners, in-laws, adult children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and other individuals with close family-like relationships, allowing employees to take leave to care for them. It also allows employees to take additional leave for parental involvement in children's or grandchildren's education and extracurricular activities, and to meet family wellness needs, with certain limitations on the amount of leave that can be taken for these purposes. These provisions apply to both private-sector and federal employees.

This bill codifies Executive Order 11246, ensuring its provisions against employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin are legally binding. By codifying the executive order, the bill ensures consistent enforcement and protection against discrimination in employment.

The Job Protection Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to expand eligibility for family and medical leave to employees employed for at least 90 days. This act also expands the FMLA to include employers with 1 or more employees.

The Right to Contraception Act establishes a federal right for individuals to access and use contraception without government interference. It prohibits federal and state governments from enacting laws that restrict access to contraceptives or the provision of related services. The Act provides clear enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals and the Attorney General to sue to strike down any rule that violates these protections.

The "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to discourage multinational corporations from avoiding U.S. taxes by shifting profits overseas. It includes provisions such as current year inclusion of net CFC tested income on a country-by-country basis, limitations on foreign tax credits, restrictions on interest deductions for domestic corporations in international financial reporting groups, and changes to the tax treatment of inverted corporations and foreign corporations managed in the U.S. This act aims to eliminate tax advantages for companies that move operations or profits outside the United States.

This bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in recognition of their contributions to the Civil Rights movement. The medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and other appropriate locations, with bronze duplicates available for sale to the public. Funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund will cover the costs.

The "Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, honoring his courageous actions during World War II when he saved approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers from Nazi persecution by defying direct orders to segregate them. This medal recognizes Edmonds' extraordinary heroism and will be presented to his son or next of kin. The Act also permits the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to commemorate his bravery.

This bill recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Greensboro Four sit-in, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement that began on February 1, 1960. It acknowledges the Greensboro Four's significant contribution to the fight against racial inequality and encourages states to include their story in educational curricula. The bill also recognizes the importance of sit-ins as a form of nonviolent resistance and the enrichment that ethnic and racial diversity brings to the United States.

The "Stop the Wait Act of 2025" eliminates the waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, phasing it out completely by 2030. It also waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for certain SSDI recipients who lack minimum essential health coverage, allowing them to access Medicare retroactively to the start of their SSDI entitlement. The Act establishes special enrollment periods for Medicare Part B for these newly eligible individuals.

The Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate Fort Pillow Historic State Park's national significance and determine the feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. This study will consider the park's historical importance, particularly its role in the massacre of Union troops, including United States Colored Troops, and its impact on the Civil War. The findings of this study will help determine whether Fort Pillow should be recognized as a National Battlefield Park.

This bill expresses support for the nation's public K-12 schools and the Department of Education, highlighting the Department's role in providing critical funding and resources to students, schools, and families. It condemns any actions that would defund public education or weaken the Department of Education. The bill affirms that public education investment should not be diverted to private K-12 schools through vouchers. It also rejects any claim that the executive branch has the authority to dismantle or relocate major offices within the Department of Education, dismantle or relocate the Department of Education, reduce federal funding for public education, block major federal grant programs for education, or transfer education funding burdens to state and local governments.

The NO BAN Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to limit the President's power to suspend or restrict the entry of foreign nationals based on nationality. It requires the President to provide Congress with specific evidence justifying any such restrictions, ensuring they are narrowly tailored and time-limited. The bill also expands nondiscrimination provisions in immigration law and allows those harmed by violations to sue the government. Additionally, the Act mandates detailed reports to Congress on visa applicants affected by any restrictions.

The Combating International Islamophobia Act directs the State Department to establish an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia, headed by a Special Envoy. This office will monitor and combat Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement in foreign countries. The State Department will also include information about Islamophobia in its annual reports on human rights practices and international religious freedom.

The "Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act" directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2029 to honor Rosa Parks and her legacy as a Civil Rights Movement leader. Coin designs must symbolize her contribution to civil rights and include her name and likeness. Surcharges from the coin sales will benefit the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, supporting youth programs, civil rights education, and advocacy. The Act ensures no net cost to the government and mandates the recovery of all costs before surcharge distribution.

The Rosa Parks Day Act officially establishes Rosa Parks Day as a legal public holiday in the United States. This amendment updates federal law to include Rosa Parks Day alongside existing holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Consequently, federal employees and operations will observe this new national holiday.

The "Access to Counsel Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to guarantee individuals undergoing inspection at ports of entry or deferred inspection have access to legal counsel and assistance. It mandates that the Department of Homeland Security provide these individuals with the opportunity to consult with counsel within one hour of secondary inspection and allows counsel to advocate on their behalf. The Act also ensures lawful permanent residents are given the chance to seek legal advice before abandoning their residency status. This act aims to ensure due process and protect the rights of individuals during immigration inspections.

The "Black History is American History Act" amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include Black history in American history education programs. It ensures Black history is part of authorized programs, Presidential and Congressional academies, Smithsonian Institution resources, national activities, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This act emphasizes the importance of Black history as an integral part of American history.

The "Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025" allows the Secretary to request access to concentrated animal feeding operations for microbial sampling when investigating foodborne illness outbreaks or addressing public health needs. These operations must provide reasonable access for sampling of plants, animals, water, and the environment. The collected data will be shared with relevant agencies to help prevent foodborne illnesses. Refusal to provide reasonable access for microbial sampling is now a prohibited act under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

The "Semiconductor Technology Advancement and Research Act of 2025" or "STAR Act of 2025" incentivizes domestic semiconductor design by adding qualified semiconductor design expenditures to the advanced manufacturing investment credit. This includes a 25% tax credit for these expenditures, covering in-house and contract design expenses for semiconductor design conducted in the United States. This credit aims to boost innovation and development in semiconductor technology. The credit will terminate for construction beginning or expenditures made after December 31, 2036.