Legislative Activity

The Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his lifelong commitment to civil rights, justice, and equality. This legislation honors his legacy as a champion for constitutional guarantees and his courageous stand against the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' view that Congress should act to maintain the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent entity within the Federal Government. It emphasizes the USPS's role as a self-sustaining service vital to the economy and national connectivity. The resolution discourages privatization, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act prevents the U.S. government from denying foreign aid to nongovernmental organizations based on the legal health services they provide using their own private funds. It ensures that these organizations are not penalized for offering counseling or referrals that comply with local laws. Additionally, the bill prohibits the imposition of restrictive advocacy and lobbying requirements on these groups that exceed those applied to U.S.-based organizations.

The Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025 ensures that all voters have the option to vote by mail in federal elections without needing to provide a specific reason. The bill prohibits states from imposing additional eligibility requirements on mail-in voters and mandates a "notice and cure" process to allow voters to fix minor ballot defects. These measures aim to increase voter turnout, improve accessibility, and ensure that every eligible vote is counted.

This bill expresses the House of Representatives' disapproval of the President's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, recognizing climate change as a threat and highlighting the increasing costs of extreme weather events. It commends entities supporting the Agreement, urges the President to reconsider, and encourages Congress to prioritize U.S. leadership on climate change.

The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025 prohibits the use of federal funds for a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress has explicitly authorized such an action through a declaration of war. This legislation aims to establish a constitutional check on presidential authority by ensuring that the decision to initiate nuclear conflict rests with the people’s representatives. The bill maintains the President's ability to authorize retaliatory nuclear strikes in response to an existing nuclear attack.

The Build Housing with Care Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund the development and renovation of facilities that co-locate affordable housing with child care services. By incentivizing these partnerships, the bill aims to expand access to both essential housing and quality child care, particularly in underserved communities. Additionally, the legislation mandates a GAO study to evaluate the current availability and affordability of child care for public housing residents.

The Neighbors Not Enemies Act seeks to repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. By eliminating these long-standing statutes, the bill aims to remove the legal framework that currently allows for the detention and deportation of non-citizens based solely on their country of origin during times of declared war.

The Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act mandates that military service eligibility and personnel policies be based solely on an individual's ability to meet occupational standards. It prohibits discrimination within the Armed Forces based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex, explicitly including gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. This legislation ensures equal treatment and opportunity for all service members.

The Saving the Civil Service Act protects the merit-based federal workforce by restricting the ability of agencies to reclassify competitive service positions into the excepted service. The bill establishes strict oversight, limits the number of positions that can be transferred, and mandates employee consent for such reclassifications. These measures ensure that federal staffing remains professional and protected from arbitrary political interference.

The Department of Education Protection Act prohibits the Department of Education from using federal funds to reorganize, decentralize, or reduce its staffing and operations. This legislation mandates that the Department must maintain the structure, authority, and functions that were in place as of January 1, 2025.

The TRUST in Congress Act requires Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children to place covered financial investments into qualified blind trusts to prevent conflicts of interest. The bill establishes strict deadlines for asset transfers and mandates public certification of compliance. These measures ensure that lawmakers cannot influence or benefit from their personal investments while serving in office.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.

The Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 expands access to health insurance by removing the 400% federal poverty level income cap for premium tax credits. It also introduces a new sliding-scale contribution formula to ensure that insurance costs remain affordable for households across all income levels. These changes are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act ensures veterans do not pay more for contraception than the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pays for the medication. Additionally, it eliminates copayments for contraceptive items if health insurance coverage is required without cost-sharing under the Public Health Service Act.

The Dental Care for Veterans Act aims to improve veterans' access to dental care by integrating it more closely with other medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill removes specific limitations and updates existing code to allow the Secretary to provide comprehensive dental care, including dentures and appliances. The implementation of these expanded benefits will be phased in over four years, prioritizing veterans based on existing eligibility criteria. Additionally, the bill makes necessary clerical updates to reflect these changes in the U.S. Code.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act proposes admitting the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union, while maintaining a reduced federal district to serve as the nation’s capital. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for the transition, including the election of congressional representatives, the transfer of local government authority, and the gradual shift of federal responsibilities to the new state. This legislation aims to grant D.C. residents full voting representation in Congress while ensuring the continued security and operation of the federal seat of government.

The "Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act" establishes a commission to examine the history of slavery and discrimination in the United States from 1619 to the present. The commission will study the lingering negative effects of these injustices on living African Americans and U.S. society, and recommend appropriate remedies, including how to educate the American public on its findings to promote racial healing and understanding. The commission will submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to Congress within 18 months of its first official meeting, and the act authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 to implement the provisions of this act.