Legislative Activity

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 imposes sweeping economic penalties on the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. This legislation mandates severe, immediate sanctions against key Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities, including asset freezes and trade prohibitions. Furthermore, the Act dramatically increases import duties on Russian goods and requires the President to review and reimpose these measures until Russia negotiates a lasting peace with Ukraine.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve support and benefits for those who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). The bill mandates a review of coverage for technology-related trauma and overhauls the disability claims process to be more sensitive and evidence-flexible. Furthermore, it expands access to VA health care for MST survivors, including those in reserve components, and ensures timely communication of available support services upon filing a claim.

The Armenian Genocide Education Act establishes a program managed by the Librarian of Congress to develop and share educational resources combating denial of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide. This initiative will create online materials, train educators, and encourage the integration of accurate history into school curricula. The Act authorizes $2 million annually for five years to support these educational efforts aimed at promoting awareness and preventing future atrocities.

This bill restricts the use of federal funds to carry out large-scale removals of employees within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Specifically, it prohibits using federal money for terminations if 3% or more of the total HHS workforce, or 3% or more of any individual sub-agency's staff, are removed within a 60-day period. This measure aims to prevent sudden, mass layoffs across the department and its major divisions.

This Act mandates the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and then a final standard requiring comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans for employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. These plans must be developed with employee input and detail risk assessments, hazard controls, reporting procedures, and annual training. Furthermore, the bill amends the Social Security Act to require Medicare-funded hospitals and skilled nursing facilities not covered by OSHA to comply with these new federal workplace violence prevention standards. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for workplace violence and includes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

The Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 mandates that any adjustment to the Thrifty Food Plan used for calculating SNAP benefits must not result in an increase in food insecurity. This ensures that updates to the cost of the food plan do not negatively impact households' ability to afford adequate nutrition.

The Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act of 2025 establishes federal funding to help states and eligible groups create comprehensive programs for early vision screening and intervention in children. These grants will support activities such as improving data collection, reaching underserved populations, and building coordinated public health systems for eye care. The bill also authorizes technical assistance grants through the CDC to support states in developing and improving their screening and intervention strategies. Funding is authorized at $5 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the main grant program.

The Hot Foods Act of 2025 removes the general federal ban on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. This legislation clarifies that hot foods are now eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, while also setting a new rule that limits SNAP-participating retailers to deriving no more than 50% of their gross sales from these ready-to-eat hot items. The act updates existing statutes to reflect this expanded purchasing power for recipients.

The Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a national public health campaign by the Secretary of HHS to educate the public on accessing abortion and related health services legally and safely. This campaign must provide medically accurate information on care options, including telehealth and medication abortion, while also teaching people how to recognize disinformation and protect their health data. The effort must be culturally competent and accessible to underserved communities, explicitly prohibiting the promotion of misinformation or abstinence-only programs.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to significantly expand and modernize energy assistance for low-income families facing high utility costs and extreme weather. It increases funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), streamlines eligibility requirements, and mandates that energy suppliers take steps to prevent shutoffs and eliminate late fees for recipients. Furthermore, the bill prioritizes using funds for weatherization and home retrofitting to reduce fossil fuel dependence and improve climate resilience for vulnerable households.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2025 seeks to permanently safeguard vast public lands across five Western states by designating new wilderness areas, establishing critical wildlife corridors, and protecting numerous rivers as Wild and Scenic. The bill also mandates extensive ecological restoration in designated recovery zones and establishes rigorous scientific monitoring for the entire region. Furthermore, it explicitly protects existing Tribal rights and ensures that federal water claims remain unaffected by these new conservation mandates.

The Support UNFPA Funding Act authorizes specific funding levels for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This legislation affirms that supporting UNFPA is in the U.S. strategic interest because it advances global health, reduces preventable maternal deaths, and combats gender-based violence. The bill emphasizes that UNFPA's work on voluntary family planning promotes stability and economic growth worldwide.

The COST of Relocations Act mandates that Federal agencies conduct a detailed, OMB-guided cost-benefit analysis before executing any "covered relocation" of jobs. Agencies must submit this analysis to their Inspector General (OIG), who then reviews the methodology and findings before reporting directly to Congress. This process ensures transparency and rigorous economic justification for significant federal job moves.

The No Hungry Kids in Schools Act establishes a new statewide community eligibility option for schools starting July 1, 2025. This option allows states to ensure all schools receive full federal reimbursement for 100% of meals served by covering any funding gaps with non-federal money. By opting in, states can eliminate the minimum participation threshold and calculate eligibility based on the entire statewide student population.

This resolution officially recognizes the recent observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and commends the spiritual renewal and fasting undertaken by Muslims. It extends best wishes to Muslims in the United States and globally for a joyous observance of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of the fast. The bill further acknowledges the significant contributions of the Muslim community to American society.

The America's Red Rock Wilderness Act focuses on designating numerous specific tracts of land across Utah as official Wilderness Areas, granting them the highest level of federal protection. This legislation aims to preserve the unique ecological, geological, and cultural values of these diverse landscapes from development. It also establishes administrative provisions for managing these new areas, including boundary definitions, water rights, and the continuation of existing uses like livestock grazing. Ultimately, the bill significantly expands protected wilderness in Utah while safeguarding critical natural and historical resources.

The Foster Care Tax Credit Act establishes a new, non-refundable \$850 federal tax credit for eligible taxpayers who provide foster care for a qualifying child under age 17 for at least one month during the year. This credit phases out for higher-income taxpayers based on specific income thresholds. Furthermore, the bill mandates new reporting requirements for placement agencies to the IRS and requires a study on the financial impact of emergency and short-term foster placements.

The Raise the Age Act of 2025 generally prohibits Federal Firearms Licensees from selling certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles or shotguns capable of holding magazines over five rounds to anyone under 21, with exceptions for qualified military or government personnel. The bill also maintains the existing minimum age of 18 for general firearm purchases, excluding the newly restricted categories. Finally, it mandates that the FBI Director report on the operational procedures of its public access line within 90 days of enactment.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 aims to clarify and simplify eligibility rules for striking workers seeking Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation removes outdated restrictions and clarifies the precise conditions under which participation in a labor strike affects a worker's SNAP eligibility. The goal is to streamline the existing law regarding striker access to food assistance.

The Mobility Means Freedom Tax Credit Act establishes a new federal tax credit equal to 50% of the cost of purchasing qualified mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and braces. This credit is limited to a maximum of three devices per year. The purpose is to provide financial relief for individuals acquiring necessary equipment to enhance personal mobility.