Legislative Activity

The "Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act" eliminates the waiting periods for Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. This bill amends the Social Security Act to expedite access to disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer, ensuring quicker access to essential care and support.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2025 reauthorizes and reforms the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to provide affordable housing by allocating funding, modifying qualification thresholds, and streamlining processes for participating jurisdictions. It modifies affordable housing qualifications, eliminates deadlines for committing funds, reforms homeownership resale restrictions, requires on-site inspections of home properties, and establishes a home loan guarantee program. The bill also refines the processes for community housing development organizations to better serve low- and moderate-income individuals, and makes technical corrections to fix errors and modernize the language in the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. These changes aim to increase the availability of affordable housing options, improve living conditions, and ensure efficient use of government funds.

The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing services, including preventative care, exams, and devices like dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Coverage for most services begins in 2026, with specific cost-sharing arrangements and limitations outlined in the bill. The Secretary has the authority to implement additional limitations and modify coverage based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill also requires the United States Preventive Services Task Force to include at least one oral health professional.

The American Teacher Act aims to address teacher shortages and improve teacher compensation by establishing grants for states to increase teacher salaries, with the goal of ensuring a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers at qualifying schools, adjusted for inflation. The Act also allows for a national campaign to raise awareness of the value of the teaching profession and clarifies that the Act does not alter existing employee rights or agreements. Finally, the Act defines key terms and authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the grants and awareness campaign.

The "Do No Harm Act" amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to ensure religious freedom is not used to justify discrimination or harm. It clarifies that the Act does not override federal laws protecting against discrimination, ensuring equal opportunity, or safeguarding access to healthcare and other essential services. This amendment confirms that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies only when the government is a party in a judicial proceeding.

The Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2025 amends Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, redefining national security and shifting the investigation of import threats to the Secretary of Defense. It mandates congressional approval for presidential actions adjusting imports based on national security concerns, requiring a joint resolution of approval within 60 days. The Act also establishes a process for businesses to request exclusions from import restrictions and includes a sunset provision for presidential actions, requiring reevaluation and potential renewal after three years. Finally, the Act requires rates of duty to revert to their pre-modification rate 75 days after the enactment of this Act.

The Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act aims to support the mental health and well-being of public safety officers, healthcare providers, firefighters, and EMS personnel. It establishes a national data system to track suicide incidence among public safety officers, authorizes grants for peer-support behavioral health programs within fire departments, EMS agencies, and healthcare facilities, and directs the development of educational resources for mental health professionals and best practices for addressing PTSD in public safety officers. The Act seeks to improve access to mental health services and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help in these high-stress professions. It also ensures the confidentiality and anonymity of those seeking help.

The "Farewell to Foam Act of 2025" bans the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service ware, loose fill, and coolers starting January 1, 2028. The ban applies to food service providers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, with escalating civil penalties for violations after an initial written warning. The EPA Administrator is authorized to enforce the ban and create necessary regulations, and may allow states to enforce the ban if they meet the Administrator's requirements. Certain entities with lower annual revenues will face limitations on how frequently they can be penalized.

The HIRE CREDIT Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to include "displaced disaster victims" in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program. A "displaced disaster victim" is defined as someone whose residence or employment location within a qualified disaster zone became inoperable due to a major disaster, and who is currently unemployed. This provision applies to individuals hired within one year after the disaster's incident period, starting on or after January 1, 2024, aiming to incentivize employment in communities recovering from emergencies. The act also includes transition rules for disasters where the incident period ended before the enactment of the Act.

The Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025 allows individuals to exclude from their gross income any payments or benefits they receive from state-based catastrophe loss mitigation programs designed to help homeowners protect their properties from disasters such as windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. These payments will not affect the property's basis, and the exclusion is applicable retroactively for taxable years starting after December 31, 2020, allowing individuals to claim the exclusion retroactively.

The "Protecting Americans' Social Security Data Act" aims to safeguard Social Security data by restricting access for political appointees and special government employees, and by creating avenues for civil lawsuits for unauthorized data access or disclosure. It mandates investigations by the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration into data breaches and requires regular reports to Congress. The Act also directs the Comptroller of the United States to study the effects of changes to the Social Security Act made by this Act and subsequent Acts.

The "Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act" modifies the income exclusion for conservation subsidies, applying to amounts received after December 31, 2021. It includes subsidies from public utilities, state or local governments for water conservation, storm water management, or wastewater management measures for a taxpayer's primary residence. The act defines key terms such as "water conservation or efficiency measure," "storm water management measure," "wastewater management measure," and "public utility".

This bill, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025, seeks to amend the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws to strengthen protections for workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. It aims to modernize labor regulations by clarifying definitions, addressing unfair labor practices, enhancing enforcement, and increasing transparency in labor-management relations. The bill introduces measures such as electronic voting in union elections, strengthens whistleblower protections, and mandates studies on collective bargaining practices. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure fair treatment of workers and promote equitable labor practices.

The "Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act" prevents the Social Security Administration (SSA) from closing or consolidating field offices, hearing offices, and resident stations, ensuring continued access to services. It requires the SSA Commissioner to justify any planned closures to Congress with detailed analysis and cost-benefit assessments, considering the impact on vulnerable populations. The bill mandates public notice, hearings, and a final report to Congress before any changes, allowing appeals and maintaining the number of offices at or above the January 20, 2025 level, excluding temporary emergency closures.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims, and to update which states and political subdivisions are subject to federal oversight based on a history of voting rights violations. It broadens the types of violations that allow a court to retain jurisdiction over a case, clarifies the Attorney General's authority to assign observers, and ensures transparency in voting-related changes. The Act also authorizes the Attorney General to demand documents and information to enforce voting rights and provides grants to small jurisdictions to assist with notification requirements.

The MERIT Act requires federal agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were terminated as part of a mass termination event between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date, providing them with back pay and benefits. The Act also mandates reports on government employee terminations and the reinstatement process. It defines key terms such as "affected probationary employee" and "mass termination" to clarify the scope and applicability of the Act. This act ensures that affected employees are treated as involuntarily separated without cause and outlines the process for determining back pay and providing notice to eligible employees.

The "Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act" seeks to promote diplomatic engagement to formally end the Korean War by replacing the Armistice Agreement with a peace agreement. It requires the Secretary of State to review travel restrictions to North Korea for humanitarian reasons and to develop a plan for achieving a permanent peace agreement, including the potential establishment of liaison offices between the U.S. and North Korea. The act emphasizes that it does not affect the status of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea or elsewhere.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to reduce bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states to establish policies prohibiting such conduct based on various characteristics, including race, sex, religion, and disability. It mandates annual notifications, data collection on incidents, biennial evaluations of programs, and regular reports to Congress to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This act does not infringe on existing nondiscrimination laws or freedom of speech but seeks to create a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

This resolution designates February as Black History Month, celebrating the heritage and achievements of Black Americans. It recognizes the foundational role of Black labor in the United States, from slavery to modern times, and acknowledges the economic disparities that persist. The resolution also honors key figures and movements that have advanced Black Americans' rights and economic opportunities. It encourages the continued observance of Black History Month to promote awareness of Black Americans' contributions.

The Social Security Expansion Act aims to increase Social Security benefits, change cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect elderly consumers, and extend eligibility to student children. It also adjusts payroll and self-employment taxes for earnings above $250,000, increases taxes on investment gains, and establishes a new Social Security Trust Fund. These changes are intended to provide greater financial security for beneficiaries and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system.