Legislative Activity

This resolution observes the one-year anniversary of the devastating 2025 Southern California wildfires. It honors the 31 lives lost, recognizes the heroic efforts of thousands of emergency responders, and affirms commitment to supporting the ongoing rebuilding efforts in affected communities.

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 Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025 mandates increased transparency for the Supreme Court when issuing emergency orders concerning preliminary injunctive relief or stays thereof. This requires the Court to publish a written explanation detailing the reasoning and how each participating justice voted. The bill also establishes periodic reporting requirements for the Federal Judicial Center to assess compliance with these new disclosure standards.

This bill officially recognizes Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) individuals as a distinct racial and ethnic minority group within federal health law. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the unique health disparities affecting the MENA population. The legislation aims to ensure MENA individuals are included in federal health policies and resource allocation, addressing historical exclusion.

This resolution expresses support for designating the first Saturday of May as "National Lowrider Day." It recognizes lowrider culture as an integral part of American history and celebrates the contributions of its builders and artists. The resolution also acknowledges the community's importance in building connections while calling for support for related cultural events and education.

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 Temporary Family Visitation Act establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category specifically for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to visit the United States for family purposes. This visa limits stays to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and requires financial support, medical insurance, and a sworn declaration of intent to depart. Individuals admitted under this category are prohibited from changing their status while in the U.S.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the **Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building**. This change ensures all federal records and documents will use the new name for this specific post office.

The Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 establishes a special registration process for physicians to administer certain unapproved, experimental Schedule I investigational drugs to terminally ill patients under existing "Right to Try" laws. This process, overseen by the Attorney General, requires physicians to meet specific criteria regarding state compliance, manufacturer agreements, and drug handling to prevent diversion. The Act mandates a swift approval timeline for these applications, enabling terminally ill patients greater access to promising treatments.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

The Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 significantly increases funding authorization for the Weatherization Assistance Program through 2030. This bill also raises the maximum average cost allowed for weatherizing a single home from $6,500 to $12,000. Finally, it mandates that the Department of Energy's annual readiness report to Congress include details on how enhancement efforts impact program eligibility.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 seeks to reverse harmful provisions affecting unaccompanied children. This bill eliminates various immigration-related fees for current and former unaccompanied children, including those for asylum and employment authorization. It also prohibits physically intrusive medical examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the Act mandates the refunding of previously paid fees.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025 updates the federal definition of a manufactured home to include those built without a permanent chassis. It mandates new HUD safety standards and requires states to certify that their laws treat these homes equally to traditionally built manufactured homes. Failure to certify will result in a state prohibition on the sale or installation of these newly defined homes.

The PEARL Act establishes a three-year pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enhance its Support Canine Program. This initiative requires CBP to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them to serve as support dogs.

The Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive threat assessment of terrorist threats posed by individuals in Syria affiliated with designated terrorist organizations. This assessment must detail the individuals, their affiliations, and DHS's capabilities to track and mitigate these threats. The Secretary must submit the unclassified assessment, potentially with a classified annex, to relevant congressional committees within 60 days of the Act's enactment.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 28201 Franklin Parkway in Santa Clarita, California, as the "Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all future official references to this location will use the new name.

The First Responders’ Care Expansion Act of 2025, or FORCE Act, establishes an early enrollment option for Medicare coverage for eligible first responders starting at age 57, provided they have ten or more years of service. This allows qualified individuals to access standard Medicare benefits (Parts A, B, and D) years before the traditional age of 65. Premiums paid under this option will be deposited into a newly created Medicare First Responder Trust Fund. The Act also mandates revisions to Medigap standards to ensure guaranteed acceptance for these early enrollees.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.