Legislative Activity

The Restore Trust in Government Act establishes strict new federal restrictions on senior government officials and their immediate families regarding the ownership and trading of specific financial investments. Covered individuals must divest existing investments that fall under the law's definition within a set timeframe, with limited exceptions. Violators face significant financial penalties, including a 10% fee on the investment value and disgorgement of any profits earned from prohibited transactions.

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 strengthens survivor benefits for miners who died from black lung disease by creating stronger legal presumptions and restoring older disability definitions. The bill also establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical costs for protracted claims, paid initially by the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Finally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office review of interim benefit recoupment, payment sufficiency, and survivor claim regulations.

This act ensures that individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not penalized for receiving legal settlement payments related to personal injury, physical sickness, or property damage. Specifically, it excludes these settlement amounts from being counted as income or resources for SSI eligibility and benefit calculations. This provision explicitly covers settlements from the *In Re: East Palestine Train Derailment* case.

The American Products in Parks Act mandates that all items sold in National Park System gift shops and visitor centers must be manufactured in the United States. This requires that final assembly, significant processing, and the sourcing of virtually all components occur domestically. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with establishing compliance procedures one year after the law's enactment.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

This bill establishes new federal requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans, effective in 2027. It mandates specific payment standards for pharmacies, requires PBMs to pass manufacturer rebates directly to patients and plan sponsors, and strictly prohibits steering patients toward specific pharmacies. Additionally, the legislation enhances transparency by expanding drug price reporting requirements for all types of pharmacies within the Medicaid program.

This bill, the Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act, establishes new rules for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employees. It mandates specific reimbursement rates for pharmacies and prohibits PBMs from engaging in anti-competitive practices like steering patients to affiliated pharmacies. The legislation also institutes civil monetary penalties and potential debarment for PBMs that fail to comply with these new requirements.

This concurrent resolution commends state and local governments for championing reproductive rights as human rights following the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. It declares that denying abortion care leads to severe health risks and highlights the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes across the U.S. The resolution urges states to repeal abortion restrictions and affirm that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights.

The Labor Enforcement to Securely Protect Workers (LETS Protect Workers) Act significantly increases civil penalties for violations across major federal labor laws, including child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety standards. It strengthens enforcement mechanisms for mine safety violations and retaliation against miners, while also establishing new penalties for employer unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, the bill enhances enforcement for health plan parity and makes certain recordkeeping failures under OSHA and FLSA continuing violations.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

This bill, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to convene a technical conference on strategies to shield residential and small commercial utility customers from rising energy costs driven by large loads like AI data centers. Following the conference, FERC must submit a report to Congress detailing recommendations and best practices. The goal is to ensure utility costs remain manageable for everyday families and small businesses.

This bill modifies the procedures for investigating claims that antidumping and countervailing duty orders are being evaded. It grants the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection the authority to self-initiate evasion investigations based on reasonable suspicion. Furthermore, it requires parties found to have evaded duties to pay all associated duties before seeking judicial review of that determination.

The Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act establishes a new grant program to expand digital workplace skills training across the nation. This initiative aims to build digital competency for workers in high-demand industries and foster digitally resilient education and workforce systems. Funds will be distributed to states via formula grants, which must then be used to award subgrants to local entities, alongside direct competitive grants from the Department of Labor. The overall goal is to help individuals access better jobs by closing digital skill gaps.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The No Robot Bosses Act regulates the use of automated decision systems (ADS) in employment-related decisions, requiring employers to conduct impact assessments and provide notice and human review rights to covered individuals. The bill establishes the Technology and Worker Protection Division within the Department of Labor to oversee enforcement, which includes creating a private right of action for violations. Furthermore, it prohibits employers from making final employment decisions solely based on an ADS output unless rigorous testing, validation, and human corroboration occur.

The Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive federal rules to prevent discrimination caused by automated decision-making systems in critical areas like employment, housing, and credit. It mandates independent safety checks, public reporting for high-risk findings, and clear contractual standards between algorithm creators and users. The law empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and grants individuals a private right of action to enforce these new civil rights protections against algorithmic bias.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This resolution recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean conflict and designates December 1, 2025, as Chosin Few Day. It honors the courage and sacrifice of the United States and allied forces who fought in extreme conditions against overwhelming odds. The bill commemorates the successful evacuation from Hungnam and reaffirms the nation's lasting gratitude to all who served.

The SECURE IT Act strengthens election security by mandating independent penetration testing as part of the certification process for all voting systems. It also establishes a five-year pilot program to facilitate coordinated vulnerability disclosure, allowing vetted security researchers to test election systems and report flaws confidentially. This program provides legal safe harbors for researchers acting in good faith while ensuring vendors address critical security issues promptly.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.