Legislative Activity

This resolution celebrates the Blinded Veterans Association's 80th anniversary and its advocacy for blind and low-vision veterans. It recognizes the BVA's contributions to healthcare, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities for these veterans, while also highlighting ongoing needs such as equal access to services, safe environments for guide dogs, and addressing the impact of new technologies. The resolution urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure accessibility for guide dogs and expresses the Senate's commitment to supporting all veterans with disabilities.

This resolution recognizes May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the significant contributions of these communities to the history and culture of the United States. It acknowledges key historical milestones and achievements, while also addressing past discrimination and ongoing challenges faced by these communities. The resolution aims to honor the diverse heritage and resilience of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, highlighting their importance in enriching and strengthening the nation.

The End Crypto Corruption Act of 2025 prohibits covered government officials, including members of Congress, the President, and Vice President, from engaging in cryptocurrency and other digital asset transactions during and one year after their service. Violators may face civil penalties, including fines and the return of profits to the U.S. Treasury, as well as criminal penalties such as imprisonment for significant financial losses or bribery related to these transactions. This act aims to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption by ensuring that covered individuals do not financially benefit from the emerging digital asset market while in public service.

This resolution supports the designation of May 4-10, 2025, as "National Small Business Week". It recognizes the significant role of over 34.5 million small businesses in the U.S. that contribute to the economy and provide over 59 million jobs. The resolution celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, achievements, and resilience of small business owners and their employees.

This resolution expresses support for designating April 1-30, 2025, as "Fair Chance Jobs Month" to promote the hiring of formerly incarcerated individuals. It aims to address the systemic barriers and stigmas that these individuals face when seeking employment, housing, healthcare, and nutrition. The resolution supports initiatives to remove obstacles to fair-chance hiring, expand job training programs, educate employers, and foster collaboration between various stakeholders to improve opportunities for returning citizens and communities affected by mass incarceration.

The "Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025" establishes a grant program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. These grants will fund various activities, including workshops, mentoring, internships, and outreach programs, to boost recruitment and retention in STEM. The bill allocates \$15,000,000 annually from 2026 to 2030 to support this initiative. It also defines key terms such as "minority" and "underrepresented in science and engineering".

The "Comprehensive NASA Reporting Act of 2025" ensures congressional oversight of NASA by mandating that the agency submit all reports and notices to the relevant committees in the Senate and House simultaneously. It requires confidentiality for nonpublic reports and reprogramming requests. Additionally, NASA must report to Congress within 15 days of the U.S. entering any international agreement related to NASA's space activities, including providing a copy of the agreement.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury service. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics, including intersex traits. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act aims to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ individuals and women across various aspects of life.

The Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, the Emerald Mounds, and the Pulcher Mounds to evaluate their national significance and determine the feasibility of designating the area as a unit of the National Park System. The study will also consider other preservation alternatives and cost estimates, and the Secretary must submit a report to Congress with the study's findings and recommendations within 3 years of funding availability.

This resolution designates April 2025 as "Earth Month" to promote environmental stewardship and climate action. It recognizes the historical impact of Earth Day and the urgency of addressing climate change, while also supporting biodiversity preservation and learning from Indigenous communities. The resolution encourages collaborative efforts to address environmental challenges, improve energy efficiency, and educate communities about year-round environmental action. It also seeks to center the voices of frontline communities in proposed climate and environmental solutions.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 modifies the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by increasing the amount of expenses that can be claimed, adjusting the income phase-out ranges, and making the credit refundable. The bill increases the dollar limit on creditable expenses to $8,000 for one qualifying individual and $16,000 for two or more. It also adjusts the income level at which the credit begins to phase out and indexes it to inflation.

This resolution supports the designation of April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It recognizes the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black women, urges Congress to address systemic inequities, and calls for policies promoting equitable access to maternal healthcare and reproductive justice. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of community-led solutions and increased investment in Black-led organizations to improve maternal health outcomes.

This resolution designates the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week" to recognize the importance of national parks for recreation, education, and economic contributions. It encourages people to visit and support these parks while acknowledging the role of the National Park Service in protecting these resources for future generations.

The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 makes the adoption tax credit refundable, allowing more families to benefit from it regardless of their tax liability. It also streamlines the process for verifying legal adoptions through standardized affidavits. These changes apply to taxable years after December 31, 2024, with provisions to carry forward any excess credit from the previous year.

The "Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025" establishes an Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence, tasked with surveying victims and victim assistance professionals to identify their needs and effective support practices. The council will assess compensation fund administration, provide public information on available resources, and report to Congress and the public on best practices and service gaps. This council aims to improve access to medical, financial, mental health, and other essential services for those affected by gun violence. The council will gather public input and terminate five years after the bill's enactment.

The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2025 aims to improve financial recoveries for employees and retirees during company bankruptcy proceedings by prioritizing wage claims and protecting retirement savings. The bill modifies bankruptcy code to require good-faith negotiation between the trustee and labor organization, prioritize job preservation, and safeguard earned benefits during corporate restructurings. It also restricts excessive executive compensation and benefits, especially in cases where companies are facing bankruptcy. Additionally, the bill protects the rights of labor organizations and collective bargaining agreements during bankruptcy proceedings.

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The "Expanding Access to Family Planning Act" aims to increase investment in family planning clinics by establishing the Title X Clinic Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund will provide significant annual appropriations for grants, contracts, and infrastructure improvements for Title X clinics from 2026 through 2035. The act ensures that all pregnancy counseling is nondirective, offering patients comprehensive information on all options, including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination.

The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. It requires individuals who legally owned modified firearms before the enactment of the BUMP Act to register them. The act amends both title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Internal Revenue Code to include these devices under the regulatory scope of machine guns.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act amends Title 18 to restrict the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of specific gas-operated semi-automatic firearms, devices that increase a firearm's rate of fire, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill provides exceptions for governmental use, certain transfers to family members, and firearms lawfully possessed before enactment, and it allows Byrne grants to be used for buy-back programs for gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. It also tasks the Attorney General and ATF with publishing a list of prohibited firearms, reviewing applications for new firearms, and establishing a Firearm Safety Trust Fund to cover associated costs. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for violations of the Act.