Legislative Activity

The Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025 honors the legacy of the late Medal of Honor recipient and veterans' advocate by renaming the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Haven, Connecticut, in his memory. This designation serves as a tribute to Captain Bucha’s extraordinary heroism in Vietnam and his lifelong commitment to supporting fellow veterans.

The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act strengthens worker protections by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to mandate pay transparency, guarantee timely final pay, and significantly increase penalties for wage theft. It also extends the statute of limitations for filing wage claims and establishes a federal grant program to support local efforts in preventing wage theft and assisting workers with recovery. Overall, the bill aims to ensure workers receive the full wages they are owed through stricter enforcement and greater accountability for employers.

The CHILD Labor Act significantly strengthens protections against child labor by expanding the definition of oppressive child labor and requiring updated regulations for hazardous work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It enhances enforcement through supply chain accountability, extended "hot goods" restrictions, liability for successor businesses, and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations. Furthermore, the Act imposes strict child labor requirements on federal contractors and recipients of federal financial assistance.

The Physician Education for Fistula Treatment Act aims to combat devastating childbirth injuries like obstetric fistula in the world's poorest nations. It establishes a program to train and retain specialized OB/GYNs and urogynecologists in least developed countries. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive 10-year strategy to address physician shortages and improve care for these preventable injuries.

The DONOR Milk Act aims to enhance the safety and oversight of pasteurized donor human milk by regulating it as a critical food under federal law. This legislation mandates annual safety inspections for all processing facilities and requires them to register as food establishments. Furthermore, it establishes a grant program to assist nonprofit milk banks in meeting these new food safety standards.

This resolution calls for a fundamental shift in U.S. trade policy to prioritize American workers, family farmers, and domestic production over corporate interests. It asserts that decades of corporate-centered trade have harmed communities and calls for a new framework built on strong labor, environmental, and domestic manufacturing standards. The bill demands that future trade policy actively support fair wages, strengthen "Buy America" requirements, and penalize offshoring.

The CHARTER Act ensures that federally funded charter schools adhere to nonprofit requirements by prohibiting them from contracting with for-profit entities to operate or manage the school's core operations. This legislation aims to prevent public education funds from being diverted as profit for private entities. It clarifies that while core management must remain nonprofit, charters can still contract for specific support services like food or transportation.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act establishes the new Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan for federal student loans. This income-driven option features low monthly payments calculated based on a percentage of income above 250% of the federal poverty line. The plan offers loan forgiveness after 10 or 15 years, depending on whether the borrower has undergraduate or graduate loans. Additionally, 50% of each payment is applied directly to the loan principal.

The Infant Formula Safety Modernization Act of 2026 strengthens federal oversight by mandating rigorous pathogen testing, stricter manufacturing facility standards, and rapid reporting of contamination. The bill requires manufacturers to promptly notify the FDA of positive test results and ensures that Congress is kept informed of critical safety and inspection issues. These measures aim to enhance the safety and quality of infant formula products for all consumers.

The Tariff Relief for Consumers Act establishes a program to refund tariffs previously invalidated by the Supreme Court, ensuring these funds are returned directly to the public. The legislation requires qualifying importers to provide concrete plans for lowering prices on essential consumer goods or issuing rebates to customers. Additionally, the bill prohibits participating companies from conducting stock buybacks or issuing dividends until these consumer-focused price reductions are fully implemented.

This resolution immediately brings the bill funding the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026 to the House floor under expedited rules. It waives standard objections and substitutes the text of H.R. 7481 into the funding bill before a final vote. The process allows for only one hour of debate and one motion to recommit before the final vote.

The Healthy Families Act establishes a national standard requiring most employers to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, usable for personal or family health needs, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Act prohibits employer retaliation for using this leave and ensures existing, more generous leave policies are not diminished.

This bill provides the funding and establishes the operational rules for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 across all major components, including intelligence, security operations, emergency management, and research. It allocates billions for agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA while imposing strict new requirements for congressional oversight, spending transparency, and management of federal grants. The legislation also includes specific policy directives, such as mandating security screening for senior officials and restricting certain intelligence and contracting activities.

The American Business for American Companies Act of 2026 prohibits the U.S. government from awarding federal contracts to "inverted domestic corporations." This legislation specifically targets companies that reincorporate overseas to avoid U.S. taxes while maintaining significant U.S. operations and management. The bill also imposes restrictions on large prime contractors awarding subcontracts to these prohibited entities. Waivers are permitted only in cases of national security or for essential public health programs.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide workers with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request flexible or stable schedules and requires employers to engage in a good-faith discussion about these requests. For covered sector employees (like retail and food service), the bill mandates 14 days' advance notice of schedules and establishes "predictability pay" for last-minute changes or split shifts. The Act also grants employees the right to 11 hours of rest between shifts, with premium pay required if this rest period is violated.

The Federal Food Administration Act of 2025 establishes a new independent agency, the Federal Food Administration, within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee food safety and nutrition. This Act transfers all food-related regulatory authority from the FDA to this new Administration, led by a Commissioner of Foods. The new agency is mandated to implement a risk-based inspection program for food facilities and promote public health through research and timely action on food products.

The No GOUGE Act prohibits sellers from raising the price of "tariffed goods" by more than the direct costs resulting from a new or planned tariff for five years. This prevents companies from using tariffs as an excuse to charge unreasonably high prices, with specific rules for final goods, assembled products, and components. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcement, while large companies face a presumption of violation following major tariff announcements. The bill also mandates annual reports from the FTC and other agencies detailing price changes and enforcement actions.

The Find It Early Act mandates that certain individuals at increased risk for breast cancer receive additional, recommended screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. This coverage requirement applies across private health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. These provisions are set to take effect starting January 1, 2026.

This resolution urges the people of the United States to observe October 2025 as Italian and Italian American Heritage Month. It seeks to honor the profound and diverse contributions made by Italian Americans throughout U.S. history and culture. The measure encourages appropriate ceremonies and activities to celebrate this rich heritage.

This resolution officially supports the designation of September 2025 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The goal is to draw critical attention to ovarian cancer, the deadliest gynecologic cancer, due to vague symptoms leading to late-stage diagnoses. By raising awareness, the measure aims to encourage earlier detection, improve access to care for underserved populations, and support increased federal research funding.