Legislative Activity

The Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act of 2025 establishes fixed, non-renewable 18-year terms for all future Supreme Court Justices, with appointments staggered every two years. This legislation also outlines a process for phasing out current Justices upon the confirmation of new appointees. Finally, it grants the Chief Justice the authority to temporarily fill sudden vacancies below the standard nine-justice level using a randomly selected retired Justice.

This bill imposes significant restrictions on the transfer of specific defense articles and services to Israel. Transfers of listed military equipment, such as certain bombs and ammunition, are prohibited unless Congress first passes a law detailing their specific authorized use. Furthermore, Israel must provide satisfactory written assurances that the items will only be used for those stated purposes and in compliance with international law.

The College for All Act of 2025 establishes a Federal-State partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees at public and Tribal colleges for eligible students, while significantly increasing Federal Pell Grant maximum awards and expanding eligibility to include many "Dreamer students." The bill also creates new grant programs to cover tuition at private non-profit HBCUs and MSIs, and funds initiatives to improve student success and support for low-income and first-generation students. Finally, it increases overall appropriations for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025 aims to establish comprehensive, evidence-based, and culturally responsive sex education and health services for young people aged 10 to 29. The bill creates competitive grant programs to fund sex education in K-12 schools and higher education, support educator training, and improve access to youth-friendly sexual health services, especially for underserved communities. It explicitly mandates that all funded programs must be medically accurate, inclusive of all identities, and centered on principles of consent and reproductive justice. The Act authorizes $100 million annually and repeals prior funding streams dedicated to abstinence-only education.

The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to immediately ensure the National Park Service is fully staffed to protect resources and enhance visitor safety. This legislation requires filling all maintenance positions and reinstating any NPS employees terminated since January 20, 2025. Furthermore, the Act ensures the continuation of all previously authorized and funded National Park Service projects.

The Put School Counselors Where They’re Needed Act establishes a demonstration project to award competitive grants to low-graduation-rate secondary schools. These grants fund the hiring of additional school counselors specifically tasked with supporting students at risk of not graduating. The goal is to supplement existing staff and provide intensive, individualized support to boost four-year graduation rates.

The Save Our Forests Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the management and health of the National Forest System. This legislation mandates the immediate hiring of additional Forest Service personnel and the reinstatement of recently departed employees. Furthermore, it ensures the continuation of all previously authorized and funded Forest Service projects under various existing laws.

This Act mandates the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history across federally supported K-12 American history and civics education programs. It recognizes the vital, yet often omitted, contributions of AANHPI communities while addressing historical exclusion and systemic racism. The legislation directs educational programs to partner with the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center to develop accurate and comprehensive curricula. This ensures AANHPI history is integrated into national assessments and teacher training.

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and improves key federal grant programs designed to support successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. This legislation shifts the authorization window for several demonstration projects to run from 2026 through 2030. It also specifically broadens the scope of reentry demonstration projects to explicitly fund substance use disorder treatment, including peer recovery services and reentry housing. Overall, the bill ensures continued federal support for vital reentry, education, and substance abuse collaboration initiatives through the end of the decade.

The Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act ensures that employers cannot terminate or alter group health plan coverage for employees during a lawful strike or an employer-initiated lockout. This legislation aims to prevent employers from using health benefits as leverage during labor disputes. The bill also establishes significant civil penalties, including fines up to \$150,000 per violation, for employers who interfere with this coverage, and allows for individual liability for directors and officers involved in such violations.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

This bill, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, posthumously awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks to recognize her foundational contributions to science and medicine through her immortal HeLa cells. The legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal, which will ultimately be housed at the Smithsonian Institution. Furthermore, the Act authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act officially integrates therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists into the VA's professional staffing ranks. This legislation establishes specific qualification standards, including mandatory post-graduate training and board certification, for these roles. Furthermore, it creates dedicated pay grades for these physicists, ensuring they are properly compensated within the VA healthcare system structure. The VA must report to Congress one year after enactment on the impact of these changes.

The Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act establishes a new federal grant program to provide operating support for high-quality public transit services. This funding is specifically targeted to improve mobility and environmental outcomes, with a requirement that the majority of funds benefit underserved communities or areas of persistent poverty. The Act also increases the federal share for rural transit operating assistance up to 80%.

This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizing its vital role in advancing U.S. science, engineering, and education since 1950. Congress acknowledges the NSF's foundational support for groundbreaking innovations, including the internet and advancements in medical technology. The bill reaffirms Congress's commitment to ensuring the NSF continues to lead in scientific discovery for decades to come.

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to immediately provide Congress with all documents and a detailed report concerning the proposed transfer of an aircraft from Qatar to an entity controlled by former President Trump. Furthermore, it prohibits the use of any federal funding for aircraft transfers involving foreign governments to the U.S. Government, the President, or the Trump Presidential Library. The Act aims to ensure transparency and halt federal financial support for these specific property transfers.

The GHOST Act of 2025 establishes a new Federal Interstate Firearm Parts Reporting System to track the shipment of specific gun components, including barrels, slides, and bolts, across state or international lines. Shippers must pre-register these covered components with the Attorney General, detailing sender, recipient, and shipping method, and later confirm delivery. The system allows for retroactive registration but imposes significant penalties for knowingly circumventing these tracking requirements.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for required training programs for school food service personnel. This bill mandates that all required training must be paid for by the employer, conducted during regular work hours whenever possible, and offered at no cost to the employee. Furthermore, the Act strictly prohibits employers from penalizing staff who are unable to attend training sessions.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal Trust Fund, financed by an increase in the corporate tax rate, to support water infrastructure and affordability programs nationwide. The bill mandates a comprehensive EPA report analyzing water affordability, civil rights compliance, and public participation in water planning. It also significantly increases funding for household water well systems and revises state revolving loan fund rules to expand eligible projects, including lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup. Finally, the Act creates new job training grants for the water sector and enhances drinking water assistance for colonias.

The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends child labor laws to prohibit individuals under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves. This change ensures that agricultural work involving direct handling of tobacco falls under federal child labor protections. The bill specifically updates exemptions to reflect this new restriction on youth employment in tobacco agriculture.