Legislative Activity

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act extends the operational deadlines for key federal programs designed to strengthen water infrastructure. Specifically, this bill pushes the expiration dates for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program and two Drinking Water System Resilience and Sustainability Programs from 2026 to 2031. This extension ensures continued funding and support for community projects aimed at improving water system toughness against severe weather and environmental challenges.

This resolution officially expresses support for National Public Lands Day, recognizing the vast spiritual, cultural, and economic value of America's public lands. It encourages all citizens to visit these lands on the designated fee-free day. The measure highlights the significant acreage managed by various federal agencies that support recreation and the national economy.

The Flood Insurance Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the public release of comprehensive data regarding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This includes detailed information on flood risk assessments, premium calculations, claims history, and loss ratios. The goal is to enhance public access to NFIP data to support better flood risk research and analysis. All released information must be anonymized to strictly protect the privacy of individual policyholders.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to ensure continuous flood insurance coverage. It specifically moves the program's expiration date from late 2023 to November 21, 2025. This extension provides Congress with additional time to develop long-term reforms for the program.

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.

This resolution supports designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month" to highlight ongoing threats to fair elections, such as gerrymandering and restrictive voting laws. It urges Congress to pass key legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act. The bill also encourages educational programs about voting history and registration efforts nationwide. Ultimately, it calls for federal action to protect and expand access to the ballot box for all citizens.

The Mortgage Insurance Freedom Act aims to eliminate the collection of annual mortgage insurance premiums once a homeowner's loan balance drops to 78% or less of the original value. This change applies only to newly insured mortgages, though the government can resume collecting premiums if the insurance fund's capital ratio falls below 2%. The Secretary of HUD must establish rules and inform homeowners on how to verify their eligibility to stop paying.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve federal support for state-level stillbirth research and data collection. It authorizes grants for states to enhance surveillance, track risk factors, and build local capacity for analyzing stillbirth data, provided the information remains de-identified. Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of standardized guidelines and educational materials regarding stillbirth awareness and risk factors, developed in consultation with experts and bereaved families.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 establishes an automatic mechanism to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains funded during a lapse in appropriations. This allows the FAA to continue essential operations using existing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund until a new budget or continuing resolution is enacted. Funding will cease after 30 days if no new appropriations are passed. This ensures continuity for core FAA programs, including operations, infrastructure, and grants.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The Protecting Free Vaccines Act mandates that most private health insurance plans must cover specific vaccines recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without any out-of-pocket costs until January 1, 2030. This requirement also updates coverage rules for Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP to ensure continuity of coverage for these recommended immunizations. The bill locks in coverage based on the ACIP recommendations in place as of October 25, 2024, across various federal health programs.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It highlights the critical economic and environmental value of estuaries, which support millions of jobs and provide vital natural protection for coastal communities. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the need to protect and restore these essential ecosystems.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This resolution expresses strong Congressional support for designating September 2025 as "African Diaspora Heritage Month." It recognizes the significant and diverse contributions of the African diaspora community to American society, culture, and the economy. The bill encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe this month through appropriate programs and activities. Ultimately, it affirms the vital role of the diaspora in strengthening U.S. ties with Africa and enriching the nation's heritage.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

This resolution commemorates the eighth anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It honors the thousands of lives lost and acknowledges the ongoing struggles of survivors due to massive infrastructure failure. The bill strongly urges federal agencies to expedite recovery funding and calls on Congress to prioritize building resilient infrastructure for the territories' future.