Legislative Activity

The Student Loan Tax Elimination Act eliminates origination fees on federal direct loans. This change applies to loans where the first disbursement is made, or for consolidation loans when the application is received, on or after July 1 of the year following the Act's enactment. By repealing subsection (c) of section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, this act seeks to reduce the upfront costs associated with federal student loans.

The "Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025" aims to promote and expand employee ownership, particularly through S corporation employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). It includes provisions for tax deferrals on certain stock sales to ESOPs, establishes a Treasury Department office to provide technical assistance for S corporations interested in employee ownership, amends the Small Business Act to support ESOP-owned small businesses, and creates an Advocate for Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to support and promote employee ownership initiatives. This act seeks to encourage employee ownership by providing resources, removing barriers, and ensuring representation for employee ownership interests within the government.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the enforcement of animal welfare regulations by clarifying inspection authority, prohibiting unlicensed animal dealing, and granting the Attorney General greater power to prosecute violations, including seeking penalties, seizing animals, and obtaining warrants. It also mandates collaboration between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to share information on repeat offenders. This act enhances the ability to penalize and prevent mistreatment of animals under the Animal Welfare Act.

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 selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. 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 seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The TREES Act of 2025 establishes a grant program through the Department of Energy to support tree planting projects that reduce residential energy consumption. Grants will be awarded to state and local governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofits, and retail power providers, with priority given to projects benefiting low-income communities, areas with low tree cover, and those engaging local residents. The program aims to plant at least 300,000 trees annually and is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to strengthen brain tumor research and treatment development through various initiatives. This includes fostering transparency of biospecimen collections, establishing a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network, promoting cancer clinical trial awareness, creating pilot programs for brain tumor survivor care, and directing the FDA to issue guidance that ensures brain tumor patient access to clinical trials. The Act authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

The PEER Support Act aims to address behavioral health workforce shortages by formally recognizing and supporting peer support specialists – individuals with lived experience in recovery who assist others facing mental health or substance use challenges. It mandates the creation of a specific job category for peer support specialists in the Standard Occupational Classification system and establishes an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to promote their training, integration, and professional development. Additionally, the Act requires a report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer support specialists, with recommendations to reduce barriers to certification.

This bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President in Executive Order 14257 on April 2, 2025. The termination is enacted as per section 202 of the National Emergencies Act.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" aims to eliminate tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees' decisions regarding unionizing and collective bargaining. It defines "labor organization activity" broadly, encompassing elections, disputes, and collective actions. The bill mandates detailed reporting of such activities, with significant penalties for non-compliance, and directs the Treasury Secretary to issue implementing guidance. This would apply to expenses incurred more than 240 days after the bill's enactment.

The "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an occupational safety and health standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. This standard aims to protect workers from workplace violence through risk assessment, hazard prevention, incident reporting, employee training, and recordkeeping. The bill also extends these requirements to certain facilities receiving Medicare funds, ensuring broader coverage and compliance.

The "Protect America's Workforce Act" nullifies a 2025 executive order that limited federal labor-management relations programs. It prevents the enforcement of the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds for its implementation. Additionally, the bill ensures the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor organizations until their original expiration dates.

This bill expresses Congress's disapproval of the Trump administration's tariffs on Canada and Mexico. It argues that these tariffs undermine free trade, violate the USMCA, and endanger millions of jobs and billions in trade. The bill also voices support for resolving non-tariff trade barriers and the USMCA's review process.

The "Reentry Act of 2025" amends Title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow states to provide Medicaid coverage to inmates in the 30 days before their release. It also requires the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to submit a report to Congress analyzing health and safety standards in correctional facilities, the impact of this change, and recommendations for further action.

The "ABC Act" aims to simplify and streamline the processes, procedures, forms, and communications within Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs for family caregivers. It mandates a comprehensive review of these programs to reduce administrative burdens, improve communication, enhance website accessibility, and ensure employee understanding of caregiver support. The Act requires regular reports to Congress and encourages states to adopt similar simplification measures.

This bill recognizes International Transgender Day of Visibility to honor the achievements and contributions of the transgender community and raise awareness of the discrimination and violence it faces. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression suffered by transgender individuals, including discrimination and violence, and recognizes the record number of antitransgender bills introduced in recent years. The bill expresses support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, encourages its observance, and celebrates the accomplishments and leadership of transgender individuals.