Legislative Activity

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Equal Tax Act aims to increase tax fairness by limiting preferential tax rates for high earners and treating property transfers at death or as a gift as a taxable event. It introduces new rules for capital gains exclusions on inherited family farms and businesses, while also capping the use of like-kind exchanges for non-farming real estate. Finally, the Act adjusts the calculation for the Qualified Business Income deduction based on income thresholds.

This proposed constitutional amendment grants Congress and the states the authority to establish reasonable limits on campaign spending by candidates and outside groups to ensure fair elections. It allows for different spending regulations for individuals versus corporations or other entities. Crucially, this new power cannot be used to restrict the freedom of the press.

The Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2025 imposes a federal income tax penalty on corporations whose CEO-to-worker pay ratio exceeds 50-to-1, calculated using a five-year average. If the ratio is too high, the standard 21% corporate tax rate will increase according to a specified penalty table. This measure applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, with exceptions for smaller companies below a $100 million revenue threshold.

The Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act mandates increased transparency for federal vehicle assembly contracts by requiring bidders to disclose detailed information about their plants, wages, and labor violations. It strictly controls where contract work can be performed and prohibits the Postal Service from purchasing new delivery vehicles until specific union neutrality and compliance agreements are secured with the manufacturer. In essence, the bill ties federal vehicle contracts to detailed operational disclosures and commitments regarding fair labor practices and union neutrality.

The REAL Health Providers Act mandates that Medicare Advantage plans maintain accurate and up-to-date public directories of their network providers starting in 2028. This legislation requires regular verification of provider information and establishes cost-sharing protections for patients who see listed providers who are ultimately out-of-network. Furthermore, plans must annually report their directory accuracy scores to the Secretary, which will eventually be made public.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

This bill, the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, updates eligibility requirements for certain school employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It adjusts how paraprofessionals and education support staff meet the required hours of service by using a percentage of expected monthly hours worked during the school year. Furthermore, the bill mandates clear guidelines for calculating FMLA leave entitlement for these employees to account for non-standard school schedules.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 9, 2025, as "National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the growing crisis of firearm suicides across the United States. It emphasizes that safe and secure firearm storage is a critical component of suicide prevention efforts. The resolution encourages professionals to discuss gun safety and suicide prevention with their patients.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to update regulations to encourage aviation workers to seek mental health support without fear of stigma. The bill mandates annual reviews of the medical clearance process and allocates funding to hire more Aviation Medical Examiners. Furthermore, it requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a recent mental health task force and launch a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma.

The No Social Media at School Act requires social media companies to use geofencing technology to block access to their platforms on K-12 school grounds during school hours. This enforcement mechanism is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with State Attorneys General also empowered to file civil lawsuits. The law specifically exempts emergency public safety messages and does not mandate new age verification measures for companies.

The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 establishes a pathway for workers involved in a strike or lockout to receive unemployment insurance benefits after a mandatory 14-day waiting period. This legislation also exempts striking workers from the standard requirement to actively search for new employment while they are unable to work due to the labor dispute.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act seeks to federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, which will retroactively apply to past offenses. The bill establishes an Opportunity Trust Fund, financed by new cannabis taxes, to reinvest in communities harmed by prohibition. Furthermore, it mandates the expungement of non-violent federal cannabis convictions and opens up Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to legitimate cannabis businesses.

The Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act officially designates the Peter J. McGuire Memorial and gravesite in Pennsauken, New Jersey, as the Peter J. McGuire Memorial National Commemorative Site. This designation honors McGuire's pivotal role in founding major labor organizations and proposing the concept of Labor Day. The bill allows for partnerships to support educational programming at the site without altering existing property rights.

The INFORM Act of 2025 mandates that Homeland Security must notify the immediate family of any individual transferred between immigration detention facilities within 24 hours. This notification must include the reason for the transfer and contact information for the new location. The Act broadly defines "immediate family" to cover a wide range of relatives, including step- and foster-family members.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 aims to incentivize keeping customer service jobs in the U.S. by penalizing companies that move call centers overseas with loss of federal grants and contracts. The bill also mandates transparency, requiring businesses to disclose an agent's physical location or the use of AI during customer service communications. Furthermore, it ensures that all call center work performed under a federal contract must be completed within the United States.

The Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025 aims to protect consumers by prohibiting grocery stores from charging "grossly excessive" prices for food items. The bill also bans stores from adjusting prices based on personal tracking data, such as facial recognition, and requires clear signage if facial recognition technology is used. Furthermore, it mandates that large physical grocery stores must use printed signs instead of electronic shelf labels for displaying prices.

The Public Utility Remediation and Enhancement for Water Act establishes a new federal grant program administered by the EPA to help public wastewater treatment plants upgrade facilities. These grants specifically target the planning, design, and construction needed to treat or eliminate emerging contaminants like PFAS chemicals. The federal government will cover at least 75% of eligible project costs to improve water quality.