Legislative Activity

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

This bill establishes new procedures for the IRS when errors occur in payroll tax filings made by third-party payors, such as Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). It clarifies the responsibility for resulting tax liabilities or penalties based on whether the payor relied on erroneous information provided by the employer. The legislation aims to fairly allocate responsibility between the employer and the third-party payor when mistakes happen during tax certification and filing.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week" to honor the dedication of public school teachers nationwide. It recognizes the crucial support teachers offer for key educational policies, including funding for students with disabilities and loan forgiveness programs. Furthermore, the bill affirms that teachers must have a voice in shaping federal, state, and local education policy.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act expands the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to explicitly cover all public employees, including those working for federal, state, and local governments. This change brings public sector workers under the general protections afforded by OSHA. While the expansion takes effect generally within 90 days, states without an existing OSHA plan are given a three-year transition period before federal oversight applies to their employees.

The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal efforts to combat poverty by updating the core goals and operational rules of the Community Services Block Grant program. The bill revises definitions, sets a specific annual funding authorization through Fiscal Year 2032, and tightens requirements for state plans and local agency governance, including mandating tripartite boards. Ultimately, these changes seek to ensure grant funds are effectively used by local entities to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals and families.

The Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025 addresses the significant financial burden and health risks associated with diaper need for American families. This bill makes diapers a qualified expense for tax-advantaged accounts like HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs, effectively lowering the cost through pre-tax dollars. Additionally, it prohibits state and local governments from imposing retail sales or use taxes on the purchase of diapers. These measures aim to increase access to this essential item for low-income households.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

This resolution expresses the support of Congress for designating the last Tuesday of April as "APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day." It highlights the disproportionate impact of AMKD, often linked to APOL1 gene variants common in people of African descent, on kidney health. The bill encourages public education and genetic testing to help identify at-risk individuals early. Ultimately, it aims to raise awareness to reduce kidney disease disparities and promote further research into specific treatments.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act establishes and protects the right of tenants receiving federal rental assistance, including Section 8 voucher holders and those in LIHTC projects, to form and participate in tenant organizations without fear of retaliation. The bill mandates that Public Housing Agencies and property owners must recognize these legitimate groups, consider their concerns, and respond to their feedback. Furthermore, it creates new enforcement mechanisms, allows tenants to sue for violations, and establishes funding for technical assistance and training for tenant groups.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount the Social Security Administration can withhold from a person's monthly benefit to recover an overpayment. Unless the individual agrees to a higher rate, the SSA can withhold no more than 10 percent of a monthly benefit payment to recoup accidental overpayments. This new limit applies to existing and future unrecovered overpayments under Title II benefits.

The EITC for Older Workers Act of 2025 eliminates the upper age limit for claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This change removes the current restriction preventing individuals aged 65 and older from claiming the credit. The provision will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Community College Month" to celebrate the vital role of over 1,000 community colleges nationwide. It recognizes these institutions for providing accessible, affordable higher education and critical workforce training. The bill highlights their significant economic contributions and commitment to local community needs.

This resolution supports the designation of the week of April 21 through April 25, 2025, as "National Home Visiting Week." It recognizes the critical role home visiting programs play in supporting early childhood development and strengthening families nationwide. These evidence-based services provide essential guidance and support to parents, promoting positive outcomes for children. The bill formally endorses the goals and ideals associated with this important national observance.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 11–17, 2025, as the eighth annual Black Maternal Health Week to raise national awareness of the severe maternal and reproductive health crisis facing Black women and birthing people. It highlights the unacceptable disparity where Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, emphasizing that most of these deaths are preventable. The bill calls for targeted investments, policy changes addressing systemic barriers, and the centering of Black women's voices in developing solutions to achieve equitable maternal health outcomes.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap hindering the construction and rehabilitation of affordable starter homes in distressed communities. This credit incentivizes developers to build or substantially renovate housing in specific low-income census tracts and sell it affordably to qualified moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will manage the allocation of these credits, ensuring projects meet affordability standards and promoting revitalization in struggling neighborhoods.