Legislative Activity

The Public Service Worker Protection Act amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include state, federal, and local governments as employers, thereby extending OSHA protections to public service workers. This change ensures that public employees receive the same workplace safety standards and protections as those in the private sector. The Act will take effect 90 days after enactment for most entities, and 36 months after enactment for states without an approved state plan.

The "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025" directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program providing veterans and certain former service members with secure firearm storage items or vouchers to obtain them, along with information on secure firearm storage options. The program aims to promote firearm safety and suicide prevention among veterans, while ensuring that participation does not infringe upon lawful firearm ownership rights. The Act allocates $5,000,000 annually from 2026 to 2036 for program implementation and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress and impact.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the "Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole Post Office Building." It ensures that all references to this facility in U.S. documents and records will reflect this new designation.

The "Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act" establishes a fund to reimburse local emergency responders for costs incurred during hazardous train events, defined as incidents involving hazardous materials. It mandates immediate initial funding of at least $250,000 to eligible entities upon declaration of such an event, with potential for additional funds up to $3,000,000. The Act also requires railroads to provide advance notice and real-time location updates to local emergency responders regarding hazardous material shipments and establishes fees for rail shippers/carriers of hazardous materials to fund the reimbursement fund.

The DERAIL Act aims to improve railroad safety by updating the definition of "high-hazard flammable train" to include trains carrying flammable liquids or gases. It also mandates that railroad carriers report derailments involving toxic inhalation materials to relevant authorities within 24 hours.