Legislative Activity

The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act) permanently prohibits new oil and gas leasing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. This legislation ensures these specific ocean regions are protected from future exploration and development.

The American Family Act fundamentally overhauls the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with a system of advance, refundable monthly payments delivered directly to families. These monthly allowances vary based on the child's age, with higher amounts provided for younger children. The bill also establishes a separate, smaller credit for other dependents and outlines procedures for annual renewal and reconciliation of advance payments when filing taxes.

This resolution formally recognizes Clela Rorex, the 1975 Boulder County Clerk who courageously issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in the United States. It honors her pioneering role in advancing civil rights for all couples, four decades before nationwide legalization. The bill also supports the designation of a "Clela Rorex Day" to commemorate her bravery and lasting legacy.

The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for military parades in Washington D.C. intended to celebrate the personal birthday or achievement of any single individual. Congress argues that such events risk significant taxpayer expense and infrastructure damage for personal glorification. Instead, the bill suggests the President celebrate with low-key activities like cake or golf.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to review state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. If a state fails to meet these standards, the FLRA will administer federal labor relations rules for the uncovered employees. The Act also prohibits strikes or lockouts that would measurably disrupt emergency or public safety services.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow businesses from deducting federal income taxes for expenses incurred while attempting to influence employees regarding union organization or activities. This change is intended to stop companies from subsidizing anti-union campaigns through tax write-offs. The bill also establishes new, significant reporting requirements and penalties for businesses and third-party consultants who engage in these influence expenditures.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act restores key federal tax deductions for employees, effective after 2024. This legislation makes union dues fully deductible "above the line," meaning they reduce Adjusted Gross Income without itemizing. Additionally, it allows itemizers to deduct certain other job-related business expenses that were previously limited.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act significantly overhauls federal regulation of gun dealers by mandating enhanced physical security, stricter inventory tracking, and increased record-keeping requirements. The bill repeals outdated restrictions on the ATF, increases licensing fees, and establishes new regulations for online firearm transfer facilitators. Furthermore, it strengthens enforcement by increasing penalties for compliance failures and mandating more frequent inspections for high-risk dealers.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to significantly expand and modernize energy assistance for low-income families facing high utility costs and extreme weather. It increases funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), streamlines eligibility requirements, and mandates that energy suppliers take steps to prevent shutoffs and eliminate late fees for recipients. Furthermore, the bill prioritizes using funds for weatherization and home retrofitting to reduce fossil fuel dependence and improve climate resilience for vulnerable households.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates National Women's History Month for March 2025, honoring the long struggle and significant achievements of women throughout American history. It highlights key milestones in women's suffrage, political leadership, and social progress. The House of Representatives supports the goals of ensuring women's history is taught and recognizes the 2025 theme, "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating Inspiring Generations!"

This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Congress acknowledges the achievements of transgender individuals while highlighting the ongoing discrimination and violence they face. The resolution encourages appropriate ceremonies and activities to observe the day and celebrate the community's leadership and fight for equality.

The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025 aims to immediately restart U.S. funding for the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, which was previously frozen. This bill mandates the cancellation of existing restrictions and requires the Secretary of State to resume aid payments while ensuring accountability based on an independent review. Furthermore, it urges Israel to cooperate with UNRWA investigations to maintain agency neutrality.

The America's Red Rock Wilderness Act focuses on designating numerous specific tracts of land across Utah as official Wilderness Areas, granting them the highest level of federal protection. This legislation aims to preserve the unique ecological, geological, and cultural values of these diverse landscapes from development. It also establishes administrative provisions for managing these new areas, including boundary definitions, water rights, and the continuation of existing uses like livestock grazing. Ultimately, the bill significantly expands protected wilderness in Utah while safeguarding critical natural and historical resources.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2025 seeks to permanently safeguard vast public lands across five Western states by designating new wilderness areas, establishing critical wildlife corridors, and protecting numerous rivers as Wild and Scenic. The bill also mandates extensive ecological restoration in designated recovery zones and establishes rigorous scientific monitoring for the entire region. Furthermore, it explicitly protects existing Tribal rights and ensures that federal water claims remain unaffected by these new conservation mandates.

The Support UNFPA Funding Act authorizes specific funding levels for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This legislation affirms that supporting UNFPA is in the U.S. strategic interest because it advances global health, reduces preventable maternal deaths, and combats gender-based violence. The bill emphasizes that UNFPA's work on voluntary family planning promotes stability and economic growth worldwide.

The Raise the Age Act of 2025 generally prohibits Federal Firearms Licensees from selling certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles or shotguns capable of holding magazines over five rounds to anyone under 21, with exceptions for qualified military or government personnel. The bill also maintains the existing minimum age of 18 for general firearm purchases, excluding the newly restricted categories. Finally, it mandates that the FBI Director report on the operational procedures of its public access line within 90 days of enactment.

This resolution formally recognizes the significant and persistent wage gap between men and women in the United States, highlighting statistics that show women earn substantially less. It serves as a strong public statement reaffirming Congress's commitment to achieving pay equity. The measure does not enact new laws but emphasizes the economic harm caused by unequal pay for women and their families.