Legislative Activity

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 addresses the severe harm caused by non-consensual, sexually intimate digital forgeries (deepfakes). This bill establishes a federal civil cause of action allowing victims to sue those who knowingly create, possess with intent to disclose, or disclose these intimate digital forgeries. Successful plaintiffs can recover significant statutory damages, actual damages, and injunctive relief.

The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vapes Act establishes a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. This group, co-chaired by the Attorney General and the Secretary of HHS, will develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce illicit vapes in the market. The task force is required to meet monthly and submit detailed semi-annual reports to Congress on enforcement actions and necessary legal improvements.

This resolution recognizes the 28 Illinois schools selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2025 before the program was discontinued. It celebrates the history and importance of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program as the highest federal honor for academic excellence. The resolution also calls upon the Secretary of Education to immediately reinstate the program.

The Safer Detention Act of 2025 aims to expand options for elderly and terminally ill federal offenders to serve their remaining time in home detention. It modifies eligibility criteria and extends the authorization for this pilot program through 2029. Additionally, the bill clarifies and streamlines the process for older cases seeking compassionate release directly through the courts.

This bill amends federal law to prohibit judges from considering a defendant's acquitted conduct when imposing a sentence. Under this legislation, judges may only use information related to acquitted conduct if it serves to mitigate, or lower, the final sentence. This ensures that individuals are not punished for actions for which they were formally found not guilty.

The First Step Implementation Act of 2025 aims to expand sentencing relief under the First Step Act, introduce new "safety valve" options for certain drug offenses, and enact significant corrections reforms. Key provisions include establishing pathways for sentence reduction for those convicted as juveniles and creating procedures for sealing and expunging nonviolent juvenile records. The Act also mandates new federal procedures to ensure the accuracy and completeness of criminal records shared for employment and housing purposes.

This bill proposes to amend current law to extend the required reporting period for the First Step Act from five years to ten years. It specifically modifies Section 3634 of Title 18 of the United States Code to enact this change.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1300 East Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois. The building will henceforth be known as the "Bernie Bluestein Post Office Building." This designation must be used in all future official federal references to the location.

The Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act establishes new federal grant programs to coordinate local efforts in preventing trauma and building community resilience. It also expands support and training for professionals working with children and youth affected by trauma, violence, or addiction. Key provisions include funding for hospital interventions to reduce repeat injuries and strengthening the national network for child traumatic stress. Overall, the bill aims to improve outcomes for trauma survivors through coordinated community programming and a better-prepared workforce.

The Medical Device Recall Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance patient and provider safety by standardizing and accelerating medical device recall communications. This legislation mandates the creation of a standard electronic format for recall notifications and requires manufacturers to submit these notices for timely FDA review. Furthermore, it establishes new requirements for notifying affected patients about high-risk device recalls and creates a public database of all recall information.

The Federal Food Administration Act of 2025 establishes a new, independent agency within the Department of Health and Human Services dedicated solely to ensuring the safety and security of the U.S. food supply. This Act transfers all food-related regulatory authority, functions, and personnel from the FDA to the new Federal Food Administration, headed by a Senate-confirmed Commissioner of Foods. The new Administration is mandated to implement a risk-based inspection schedule for food facilities and enhance collaboration across federal agencies on food safety science.

The Dream Act of 2025 establishes a pathway to conditional permanent resident status for eligible long-term residents who entered the U.S. as children. This status lasts for eight years and requires meeting specific criteria related to continuous presence, good moral character, and education or military service. After meeting further requirements, including education, military service, or employment benchmarks, individuals can apply to remove the conditional basis and obtain full lawful permanent resident status. The bill also mandates strong confidentiality protections for applicant information, prohibiting its use for general immigration enforcement.

This act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to apply new environmental and equity standards when approving natural gas pipeline projects. FERC must evaluate a project's greenhouse gas emissions and its impact on environmental justice communities when determining "public convenience and necessity." The bill mandates that applicants propose mitigation for adverse effects, and FERC must weigh these environmental impacts against the project's benefits.

The Inspector General Access Act of 2025 amends existing law to streamline investigations of Department of Justice personnel. Specifically, this bill removes a previous exception regarding certain types of allegations from the general investigation procedures governing the Inspector General. This change ensures that the Inspector General has broader authority to investigate all relevant matters concerning DOJ personnel.

This act extends the existing 6% interest rate cap under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to cover new student loan consolidation or refinancing debts incurred by servicemembers *during* their active military service. This protection specifically applies when servicemembers refinance pre-service student loans. The reduced interest rate takes effect immediately upon the creation of the new refinancing loan.

The FSMA Fee Technical Corrections Act updates how the FDA calculates and uses certain food safety fees, including those for reinspections and the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP). It establishes a base fee amount for fiscal year 2026 and mandates fee reductions for qualifying small businesses. Furthermore, the bill clarifies how collected fees can be spent and increases the annual collection limits for specific fees.

This resolution honors Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy murdered in a hate crime in Illinois. It condemns all forms of hate-motivated violence based on ethnicity or religion and recognizes the contributions of the Palestinian community. Furthermore, the resolution affirms the right of all children to live free from discrimination and calls for officials and the media to avoid dehumanizing language.

The REDUCE Act mandates that regional transmission organizations must allow retail customer aggregators to bid into wholesale electricity markets, overriding any conflicting state laws. This ensures that demand flexibility from large utility customer bases can participate directly in organized power markets. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is tasked with creating rules to implement this requirement within one year.

This resolution formally recognizes the 2024 Venezuelan election results, affirming the opposition's victory and condemning the Maduro regime's refusal to step down. It specifically honors Nobel Laureate María Corina Machado for her courageous advocacy for democracy. Furthermore, the resolution demands the regime ensure Machado's safety and release all political prisoners.

The Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act of 2025 designates approximately 750 acres as the Camp Hutchins Wilderness and establishes three Special Management Areas—Camp Hutchins, Ripple Hollow, and Burke Branch—to protect ecological and scenic resources. The Act mandates specific management plans for these areas, prohibiting commercial timber harvesting while allowing necessary activities like prescribed fire and invasive species control. Furthermore, it withdraws the designated lands from mineral entry and disposal to ensure long-term conservation.