Legislative Activity

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 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 Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to create and issue guidance for banks and lenders on how to support customers and businesses affected by a government shutdown. This guidance must encourage flexible loan adjustments and prevent unfair negative credit reporting for those experiencing income loss due to the lapse in funding. Regulators must also issue rapid alerts when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The Stop the Trump Electricity Price Hikes Act immediately reinstates financial assistance awards previously canceled by the Department of Energy (DOE). This action specifically reverses cancellations based on the May 15, 2025 Secretarial Memorandum. The bill ensures these awards continue as if they had never been terminated.

The Pray Safe Act of 2025 establishes a Federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Homeland Security to publish evidence-based safety and security best practices for nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. This Clearinghouse will centralize information on security recommendations and available federal grant programs to help these entities prevent and respond to threats. The Act also mandates a GAO report evaluating existing federal security grant programs for these organizations.

The Water Preservation and Affordability Act of 2025 mandates the prioritization of "resource preservation techniques"—such as water reuse and rainwater management—in all federally funded water infrastructure projects. This legislation updates grant agreements and loan fund requirements to ensure these environmentally innovative methods are adopted for repairs, replacements, and expansions. Furthermore, the bill increases funding authorizations for both the Wastewater Efficiency Grant Pilot Program and the Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program through 2031.

This resolution formally reaffirms the foundational American principle of the separation of church and state, citing historical context and key figures. It strongly opposes the rise of extreme right-wing Christian nationalism as a threat to religious diversity and democracy. The measure also commemorates the 65th anniversary of President Kennedy's address on this separation and the 150th anniversary of a speech by President Grant. Ultimately, this is a statement recognizing core values rather than enacting new law.

The National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research into the causes, consequences, and prevention of gun violence. This bill repeals previous restrictions that limited data collection and research by agencies like the ATF, CDC, and NIH. It establishes a new National Gun Violence Research Program to coordinate efforts, fund grants through agencies like the NSF and HHS, and develop voluntary safety standards through NIST.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 1, 2025, as "National Animal Rescue Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of animal adoption and the critical work of rescue organizations nationwide. This day aims to encourage spaying and neutering efforts to combat pet overpopulation and promote increased animal adoptions.

The No Shame at School Act of 2025 mandates that schools must stop shaming students over unpaid meal debt by prohibiting overt identification or segregation of students who owe fees. This law requires local agencies to actively pursue free meal certification for students with outstanding balances and prevents schools from taking food away after it has been served. Furthermore, it establishes strict rules for debt collection, forbidding communication directed at the child and banning the use of third-party debt collectors.

This act authorizes the creation and issuance of a new circulating and numismatic $2.50 coin to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The bill mandates specific historical designs for the initial release, continuing a tradition from the 150th anniversary celebration. The Treasury Secretary is given authority over the production, alloy, and future designs, with a goal for the coins to be available by July 4, 2026.

The "If You See It, Squish It Act of 2025" mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to launch a national awareness campaign about the invasive spotted lanternfly. This campaign must include public service announcements encouraging the public to kill any lanternflies they encounter. The goal is to educate citizens on the threat this pest poses to local agriculture.

This resolution expresses strong Congressional support for Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day. It recognizes the severe, long-term impact of military sexual trauma (MST) on service members and veterans. The bill urges the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve survivor care, reduce stigma, and enhance prevention efforts. Ultimately, it commits to ensuring survivors receive compassionate support and that accountability measures are strengthened.

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.

The Improving Child Care for Working Families Act of 2025 significantly increases the tax exclusion limit for dependent care assistance programs. This change raises the maximum exclusion from $\$7,500$ to $\$10,500$ for most taxpayers. The bill also adjusts the limit for married individuals filing separately to $\$5,250$. These provisions apply to dependent care expenses incurred in calendar years beginning after the Act's enactment.

The Ejiao Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing trade, import, and export of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao products within U.S. commerce due to the devastating impact of the ejiao trade on global donkey populations. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including substantial fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, the Act grants enforcement authority to agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and mandates the forfeiture of illegal goods and related equipment.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

The Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act renews the popular program offering free access to national parks and federal recreation sites for eligible youth. This reauthorization specifically targets fifth graders or 10- and 11-year-old home-schooled learners. The bill authorizes $25 million annually to support the program, including funding for outreach and transportation assistance for underserved communities.

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act) explicitly extends the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to job applicants, prohibiting employers from limiting or classifying applicants based on age during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EEOC conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed under the ADEA since 2015. The EEOC must then report these findings, along with recommendations for combating hiring bias, to Congress and the public.