Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

This bill officially designates the week of September 15 through September 21, 2024, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes the significant achievements and goals of these vital institutions across the nation. The resolution encourages public observance with appropriate activities to demonstrate support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act is a comprehensive bill designed to restore federal forest health, expand outdoor recreation opportunities, and permanently conserve significant natural landscapes in Northern California. It establishes large restoration areas to reduce wildfire risk, designates new wilderness and wild and scenic rivers, and authorizes new trails and visitor centers. The legislation also protects existing utility operations and affirms the rights of Indian Tribes for traditional and religious uses.

The American Affordability Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to lower costs across five key areas: housing, energy, family care, education, and healthcare. It achieves this by expanding tax credits for housing construction and homebuyers, extending incentives for clean energy manufacturing and consumer adoption, replacing the Child Tax Credit with larger monthly payments, making higher education expenses more affordable, and permanently expanding subsidies to lower health insurance premiums for millions. Overall, the legislation aims to provide direct financial relief and increase access to essential services for American families and workers.

The GRACE Act establishes the Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act to reform how the annual number of refugee admissions is set, requiring a minimum of 125,000 plus an additional amount for privately sponsored refugees. The bill mandates detailed quarterly public reporting on admission progress and processing statistics, including security checks and circuit ride operations. It also requires the President to submit plans if admissions fall significantly below the annual goal.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide workers with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request flexible or stable schedules and requires employers to engage in a good-faith discussion about these requests. For covered sector employees (like retail and food service), the bill mandates 14 days' advance notice of schedules and establishes "predictability pay" for last-minute changes or split shifts. The Act also grants employees the right to 11 hours of rest between shifts, with premium pay required if this rest period is violated.

The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act aims to strengthen protections and expand benefits for part-time and temporary employees. The legislation eliminates restrictive hours-of-service requirements for FMLA leave and prohibits discrimination based on hours worked regarding pay, benefits, and promotion opportunities. Additionally, it mandates that employers offer available work hours to existing staff before hiring new employees or contractors.

The Clean Competition Act establishes a carbon intensity charge on energy-intensive industrial goods produced domestically or imported into the United States to incentivize lower emissions. The bill provides financial support for industrial decarbonization through technology grants and competitive contracts funded by these charges. Additionally, it promotes international cooperation through "carbon club" agreements and climate assistance programs.

The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services conduct widespread outreach to educate Medicare beneficiaries on how to authorize family caregivers to access their personal health information via 1-800-MEDICARE. The bill requires the integration of this authorization process into official Medicare resources and mandates the development of new fraud protection best practices to ensure beneficiary security. By streamlining access and providing clear guidance, this legislation aims to better support caregivers while safeguarding sensitive health data.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

The People's White House Historic Preservation Act removes the White House and its grounds from a specific list of properties under current preservation law. This action reclassifies the status of the White House regarding federal historic preservation regulations.

The Restore Trust in Government Act establishes strict new federal restrictions on senior government officials and their immediate families regarding the ownership and trading of specific financial investments. Covered individuals must divest existing investments that fall under the law's definition within a set timeframe, with limited exceptions. Violators face significant financial penalties, including a 10% fee on the investment value and disgorgement of any profits earned from prohibited transactions.

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the USDA to reform its food purchasing practices to support a more just, healthy, and sustainable food system. This is achieved by mandating the purchase of foods that prioritize equity, resilient supply chains, worker well-being, and climate mitigation. The bill also establishes reporting requirements, a set-aside for specific producers, and pilot programs to help smaller and targeted producers participate in USDA contracts.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Empowering App-Based Workers Act aims to increase transparency and accountability for digital labor platforms that use electronic monitoring and automated systems to manage workers. This bill mandates detailed disclosures regarding data collection, algorithmic decision-making for pay and assignments, and itemized receipts after each job. Furthermore, it establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, including a 25% cap on "take rates" for ride-hail services and prohibits certain pre-dispute arbitration agreements.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act strictly prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools, establishing national safety standards and requiring immediate parental notification after any restraint incident. It mandates that states create detailed plans, publicly report incident data broken down by student demographics, and utilize federal grants to fund training and prevention strategies. The bill creates a private right of action for families harmed by violations and ensures oversight across various federal school systems.

This bill commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States, recognizing the profound sacrifices and immense contributions of Southeast Asian Americans. It honors the historical alliance and acknowledges the challenges faced by these communities since their arrival. The legislation celebrates the vibrant cultural and economic impact of over three million Southeast Asian Americans today.

The Labor Enforcement to Securely Protect Workers (LETS Protect Workers) Act significantly increases civil penalties for violations across major federal labor laws, including child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety standards. It strengthens enforcement mechanisms for mine safety violations and retaliation against miners, while also establishing new penalties for employer unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, the bill enhances enforcement for health plan parity and makes certain recordkeeping failures under OSHA and FLSA continuing violations.

The Computer Science for All Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to dramatically expand computer science education across all grade levels in states, local districts, and Tribal schools. These grants aim to ensure universal access to rigorous computer science and STEAM learning, focusing specifically on closing equity gaps for underrepresented students. The Act mandates teacher training, curriculum development, and detailed reporting to track progress toward these national goals.

This concurrent resolution commends state and local governments for championing reproductive rights as human rights following the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. It declares that denying abortion care leads to severe health risks and highlights the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes across the U.S. The resolution urges states to repeal abortion restrictions and affirm that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights.