Legislative Activity

The DEFENSE Act allows the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to authorize state and local law enforcement to use drone countermeasures at specific protected events. Law enforcement must complete required training and use approved equipment for drone detection, identification, and monitoring. The use of drone countermeasures will be overseen by various federal departments and agencies.

This bill expresses support for Wildfire Preparedness Week, a national event focused on educating the public on fire safety and preparedness. It highlights the significant impact of wildfires in the United States, including the acres burned and the need for preventative measures. The bill supports resources and educational programs that teach communities to prevent wildfires through early warning systems, reducing human-caused ignitions, and safe evacuation practices for people and animals. It also commits to providing financial support to communities affected by catastrophic firestorms.

The "Fair Allocation and Improvement of Regional Fleets Act" or "FAIR Fleets Act" aims to modernize the Postal Service fleet and ensure fair vehicle distribution, especially in underserved areas. It requires regular assessments of vehicle distribution, a strategic plan for improvement, and the adoption of fuel-efficient vehicles. The Postal Service must submit annual reports to Congress detailing fleet distribution and steps taken to improve service in underserved areas, which include rural areas, regions with aging vehicles, and areas with significant mail delays or high poverty rates. These changes will take effect 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

This resolution acknowledges the 50th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon, honoring the Vietnamese American community's contributions to the U.S. and their pursuit of freedom and democracy. It recognizes the sacrifices of the South Vietnamese and U.S. militaries during the Vietnam War, while reaffirming the U.S. commitment to human rights and freedom for all, including in Vietnam. The resolution encourages Americans to remember Black April and celebrate the Vietnamese American community.

The Vietnam Human Rights Act aims to integrate human rights considerations into all interactions between the U.S. and Vietnam, emphasizing that improvements in human rights are crucial for trade, security, and economic development. It mandates sanctions for Vietnamese government officials and other foreign individuals responsible for human rights abuses, significant corruption, online censorship and surveillance, and severe violations of religious freedom. The Act also focuses on combating online censorship and surveillance in Vietnam, promoting internet freedom, and supporting individuals who are being censored. Finally, the Act urges the Secretary of State to designate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom and requires annual reports on U.S.-Vietnam human rights dialogue meetings.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The "Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act" allows homeowners with federally backed mortgages who have property damage from a declared disaster to request a forbearance on their mortgage for up to 180 days, with a possible extension of another 180 days. During this forbearance period, no fees, penalties, or interest will accrue. Borrowers must submit a written request and documentation of damage to their loan servicer to qualify. This act aims to provide financial relief to disaster survivors by temporarily suspending mortgage payments.

The WISE Act aims to strengthen protections and expand immigration benefits for non-citizen survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes. It reforms the U visa program, broadens protections for battered spouses and children, limits the detention and removal of survivors, and enhances access to information and services. The bill also addresses issues related to waivers, step-children, visa caps, and naturalization requirements for survivors of abuse. Overall, the Act seeks to remove obstacles and provide timely access to immigration relief for vulnerable immigrants.

This bill supports the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to recognize her lifelong commitment to activism, including co-founding the United Farm Workers Union and advocating for civil rights. It celebrates her achievements in improving Latino voting access, ensuring safer working conditions, and promoting feminism and women's equality. The bill also acknowledges her numerous awards and ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act introduces a new tax credit to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of homes in distressed communities. This credit aims to bridge the "value gap" that often hinders development in these areas by incentivizing the creation of affordable homes for qualified low- to moderate-income homebuyers. The credit is allocated to developers through state agencies, with specific requirements for affordability, construction standards, and homeowner protection. If the homeowner sells the home within five years, a portion of the profit must be repaid.

The California Clean Coast Act of 2025 permanently prohibits any new oil and gas leasing activities in federal waters off the coast of California. This amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act aims to protect California's coastal environment and economy. Existing leases issued before the enactment of this law are not affected.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil or gas exploration, development, or production in the Central California Planning Area. This is achieved through amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the specified planning areas. This prohibition aims to protect the marine environment and coastal economies of the West Coast from the risks associated with offshore drilling. The Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The "Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025" prevents any reconciliation bill from reducing Medicaid enrollment or benefits, or SNAP eligibility or benefits, through January 20, 2029. It amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to enforce this protection, ensuring these vital programs remain untouched by budget cuts. Violations of this act will be subject to a point of order.

The "Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act" aims to improve the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and related items during airport security screening. It mandates the TSA to update its guidance in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks and ensure hygienic standards are met during additional screenings. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will audit compliance and report on screening technologies' impact on these items.

The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess and report on terrorist threats to the U.S. posed by individuals in Syria linked to foreign terrorist organizations. This assessment will evaluate the origin, affiliations, and the Department of Homeland Security's capabilities to identify, track, and mitigate these threats, ensuring congressional oversight through required reports and briefings.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. These grants can be used for de-escalation training, mental health support for officers, officer recruitment and retention, and other community safety programs. The Act prioritizes a streamlined grant application process and emphasizes accountability and transparency in the use of funds, with \$50 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031.

The "Save Our Sequoias Act" aims to protect giant sequoia groves from wildfires, insects, and drought by streamlining environmental review processes for emergency response projects, establishing a collaborative coalition, and creating a reforestation strategy. This act directs the Secretary to create agreements, assessments, and strike teams to address threats to giant sequoias on both public and National Forest System lands. It also establishes grant programs and amends existing laws to support these efforts, including stewardship contracting and good neighbor agreements. Finally, the act authorizes appropriations for these protection and restoration activities.