Legislative Activity

The MIL FMLA Act significantly expands existing family and medical leave protections for military families and veterans under the FMLA. It broadens the definition of "family" to include domestic partners and extended relatives for leave purposes related to service members. Crucially, the bill grants eligible employees up to 26 weeks of leave to care for an injured service member and grants covered service members up to 26 weeks of leave for their own service-related injuries. These expanded rights and definitions are also applied specifically to federal civilian employees.

The Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act establishes new oversight measures for the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) to ensure consistent service delivery. This includes requiring advance notification to Congress before firing VCL staff and mandating detailed, ongoing performance and staffing reports. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to review the VCL's operations and provide recommendations for improvement.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the rules governing collective bargaining for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This legislation repeals outdated subsections detailing specific collective bargaining procedures for VHA staff. Crucially, this change preserves the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay and expedited hiring processes.

The TSA Commuting Fairness Act mandates a study to determine the feasibility of compensating Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees for the time spent walking between their work areas and airport parking lots or transit stops. This review must analyze the time differences across various airport sizes, potential benefits, tracking methods, and associated costs. The TSA Administrator has 270 days to complete the study and report findings to relevant Congressional committees.

This resolution demands the immediate reinstatement of all veteran federal employees involuntarily removed or dismissed without cause since January 20, 2025. It follows significant staff cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that impacted critical services, including the Veterans Crisis Line. Congress is demanding transparency regarding the reasoning behind these dismissals and requires that reinstated veterans receive all due back pay promptly.

The IVF for Military Families Act mandates that TRICARE coverage be extended to active-duty service members and their dependents for comprehensive fertility treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This coverage is limited to three completed egg retrieval procedures, though subsequent embryo transfers are unlimited. The bill also requires the Department of Defense to establish a dedicated care coordination program for these services starting October 1, 2027.

This resolution officially recognizes the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on its 113th birthday, celebrating its enduring legacy of empowering girls. It honors founder Juliette Gordon Low and highlights the organization's role in preparing girls for leadership through experiences in STEM, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. The resolution also commemorates the upcoming release of the Juliette Gordon Low commemorative quarter.

The Youth Poisoning Protection Act bans consumer products containing 10% or more by weight of sodium nitrite, classifying them as banned hazardous products. This measure aims to protect youth by restricting access to these highly concentrated substances. The ban specifically exempts products already regulated by the FDA or USDA, such as food, drugs, and cosmetics.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act aims to provide reinstatement eligibility for federal employees who are veterans and were unfairly removed from their civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the date the Act is signed into law. This legislation also mandates that Executive agencies regularly report to Congress on the number and reasons for any veteran dismissals during the specified period.

The School Bus Safety Act of 2025 mandates significant safety upgrades for school buses, requiring the Secretary of Transportation to establish new federal rules within one year. These rules will enforce the installation of 3-point safety belts, automatic emergency braking systems, and enhanced fire protection on new buses. The Act also creates a new federal grant program to help states and local districts purchase new buses or retrofit existing ones with these required safety features. Finally, it directs studies on implementing pedestrian detection systems and seat belt warning alerts for future consideration.

The Family Building FEHB Fairness Act mandates that Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) plans must cover a comprehensive range of fertility treatments. This coverage includes services such as egg and sperm preservation, various forms of assisted insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and related medications and donor services. This expansion of benefits aims to provide essential reproductive healthcare access for federal employees and their families.

The Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 amends Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 4001, to prohibit the detention of individuals in the United States based solely on protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and any additional characteristic the Attorney General specifies. The Attorney General cannot remove any of the characteristics already listed (race through disability).