Legislative Activity

The FAST VETS Act mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must review and potentially redevelop a veteran's individualized vocational rehabilitation plan if the original goals are no longer achievable due to a change in the veteran's employment handicap. This ensures that veterans have a clear pathway to a new, more suitable plan when their circumstances change. The legislation establishes specific conditions under which the VA must create a revised plan to better support the veteran's employment success.

The Shielding Students from Wildfire Smoke Act directs the EPA to commission a comprehensive study on how K-12 schools and childcare facilities currently manage wildfire smoke exposure for children. This review will assess existing policies, identify gaps in protection, and recommend actionable strategies to Congress for improving safeguards, especially for resource-limited settings.

The Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act of 2025 establishes immediate and permanent occupational safety standards to protect agricultural workers from the dangers of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. This bill mandates that employers provide necessary protective gear, such as respirators and cooling resources, when air quality or temperatures reach dangerous levels. Furthermore, it requires comprehensive training in workers' primary languages and mandates regular rest breaks during hazardous conditions.

The Climate Health Emergency Act of 2025 declares that climate change poses the most significant public health threat of this century, directly driving a majority of recent public health emergencies. This Act mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to officially declare a public health emergency specifically due to the health risks associated with climate change. The goal is to mobilize federal resources and coordinate agencies to build a public health system capable of handling the growing strain of climate-related crises.

The Every Veteran Housed Act expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) homelessness benefits by removing the minimum service length requirement. This change allows veterans who served for any duration, provided they were not dishonorably discharged, to access crucial housing support. The Act streamlines related legal definitions to ensure broader access to these services.

The "Stop Musk Act" protects federal employees from retaliation if they act to stop Elon Musk or those under his direction from taking unlawful or unconstitutional actions against federal agencies. This protection applies to any retaliatory actions taken on or after the date the law is enacted.