Legislative Activity

The "Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary Act" or "TRUST Act" amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to ensure that complaints against judges are not dismissed simply because the judge resigns, retires, or dies. It requires special committees to complete investigations and file reports, regardless of the judge's separation from office.

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 "Oligarch Act of 2025" introduces a wealth tax on individuals and trusts with substantial assets, setting tiered tax rates based on the value of net taxable assets. It establishes valuation rules, special considerations for trusts and non-resident aliens, and mandates annual audits for a significant percentage of taxpayers subject to the tax. The act also includes provisions for information reporting, payment extensions under specific circumstances, and penalties for wealth tax valuation understatements. This tax is not deductible from income taxes and takes effect for calendar years following the bill's enactment.

The Ukraine Support Act aims to provide extensive support to Ukraine through diplomatic, financial, and strategic measures, while countering Russian aggression and disinformation. It authorizes financial support, expands war risk insurance, and establishes initiatives to aid Ukraine's reconstruction and integration with Europe. The act also extends lend-lease authority, authorizes direct loans for Ukraine and NATO allies, and supports Baltic countries' military capabilities. Finally, the legislation imposes sanctions and export controls on Russia and related entities, targeting key financial institutions, energy sectors, and individuals involved in actions against Ukraine.

The NO FAKES Act of 2025 establishes a digital replication right, granting individuals control over the use of their voice and visual likeness in digital replicas. It defines the scope of this right, sets terms for its transfer and licensing, and addresses unauthorized use, including safe harbors for online service providers. The act outlines civil action frameworks, remedies for violations, and preempts certain state laws, while clarifying that it does not require online service providers to monitor their services. It aims to protect individuals' digital identities while allowing for certain exceptions like news and parody.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

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 Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act aims to combat the spread of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, including deepfakes, online. It establishes criminal penalties for intentionally sharing such images without consent, with increased penalties for depictions involving minors. The Act also requires online platforms to create a process for users to report and request the removal of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions within 48 hours, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. It defines key terms related to consent, digital forgeries, and covered platforms, while also ensuring that the rest of the law remains valid if any part is deemed unenforceable.

The "Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act" amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to broaden the definitions and penalties for kidnapping and sexual offenses involving minors, including redefining abduction, clarifying the circumstances under which consent is not a valid defense, and creating a new offense for the intentional touching of a minor's genitalia with intent to abuse. The Act also updates language and penalties related to abusive sexual contact, ensuring that attempts to commit such offenses are penalized equally with completed acts. Additionally, it modifies language regarding sexual exploitation of children, broadening the scope of the law. Finally, the Act makes conforming amendments to civil rights offense penalties and sentencing classifications to reflect the changes made to the definitions of the underlying offenses.

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 "End Gun Violence Act of 2025" prohibits the sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition to individuals convicted of a violent misdemeanor in the last 5 years, defining a violent misdemeanor as one involving the use or threat of physical force or a deadly weapon, or the intent or act of causing physical injury. The bill updates existing legislation to reflect this prohibition and clarifies that it does not impact convictions occurring before the law's enactment or alter existing federal, state, tribal, or local laws regarding firearms.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act aims to strengthen regulations and oversight of licensed firearm dealers to reduce illegal firearm trafficking and enhance public safety. It mandates enhanced security measures, regular inventory checks, and electronic record-keeping for dealers, while also increasing inspection frequency and penalties for violations. The act also broadens background check requirements for both dealers and their employees and seeks to modernize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) operations through increased staffing and data accessibility. Finally, the act repeals limitations on sharing firearm trace data and centralizing records, and it requires reports to Congress on the act's implementation and dealer inspections.

The STOP Violence Act of 2025 aims to bolster protection against mass violence by allocating an additional $20,000,000 in grants to states, local governments, and nonprofits. These funds will support public assembly facilities in preparing for and protecting against incidents like active shooter events and targeted violence. The act defines key terms such as "mass violence," "active shooter," "targeted violence," and "public assembly facility" to ensure clear understanding and effective implementation of the grants.

The "Making Insulin Affordable for All Children Act" aims to lower insulin costs for individuals aged 26 and under with private health insurance. Beginning in 2026, private health plans must cover selected insulin products without a deductible and cap the cost-sharing at $35 per 30-day supply or 25% of the negotiated price, whichever is lower. This ensures that young people have affordable access to this life-saving medication.