Legislative Activity

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 "Expanding Access to School Meals Act of 2025" aims to eliminate reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches, and expand eligibility for free meals. The bill raises the income threshold for free school lunches to 224% of the poverty level and facilitates direct certification for children receiving Medicaid benefits. It also allows schools to retroactively claim reimbursement for eligible students and increases the Community Eligibility Program multiplier to expand access to free meals in high-poverty areas.

This bill expresses support for designating April 7, 2025, as "World Health Day" and recognizes the importance of prioritizing public health. It acknowledges critical healthcare issues such as cost, access, and disparities, particularly affecting marginalized communities. The bill emphasizes the need for accessible, high-quality healthcare for all ages and the importance of interagency coordination to ensure well-being. It supports the WHO's focus on maternal and newborn health under the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures."

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 "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" aims to improve child care access and quality by increasing funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and authorizing grants to address specific needs in underserved areas. It allocates significant funds for fiscal years 2026 and beyond, with dedicated portions for tribal organizations and territories. The act focuses on enhancing the child care workforce through training, wage support, and facility improvements, while also requiring detailed plans, collaboration, and reporting to ensure effective use of resources. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2025.

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

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.

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 "Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025" aims to improve law enforcement responses to mental health crises by providing grants to state, local, and tribal agencies for behavioral health crisis response training. These grants will help equip officers with the tools to de-escalate crisis situations, reduce injuries and fatalities, and better serve individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues. The act requires the Attorney General to set training program standards and mandates annual reporting and auditing of grant fund usage. This program prioritizes training programs developed with healthcare professionals and individuals with lived experiences of mental illness.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods. It broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP and modifies retailer eligibility requirements, permitting more stores to accept SNAP if hot food sales do not exceed 50% of their gross sales. This change also updates the language regarding where SNAP-eligible food can be consumed to include "home or immediate consumption".

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.

The "Transgender Health Care Access Act" aims to improve access to gender-affirming care by expanding medical education and training programs, particularly within community health centers and rural areas. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for developing model curricula, training medical professionals, and supporting community health centers in providing gender-affirming care. The Act prioritizes entities serving transgender populations and areas with limited access to care, and allocates specific funding for these initiatives from 2026 through 2030. Finally, the Act requires a report to Congress detailing the progress and impact of these programs on health equity for transgender individuals.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to expand and update the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to better protect vulnerable households from high energy costs and utility shutoffs. It increases funding, broadens eligibility, and includes assistance for cooling during extreme heat events, alongside heating assistance. The act also prioritizes energy efficiency upgrades, weatherization, and a transition to renewable energy sources, while preventing utility companies from charging late fees or shutting off service to those receiving assistance. Furthermore, it seeks to improve data collection on energy arrears and encourages states to develop plans for retrofitting low-income housing to adapt to rising temperatures.

The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025 aims to restore United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to address humanitarian needs in Gaza and support Palestinian refugees. It repeals previous legislation that prohibited funding to UNRWA and directs the Secretary of State to resume contributions, contingent upon UNRWA's progress in implementing recommendations for accountability and transparency. The Act also requires regular reports to Congress on UNRWA's progress and encourages cooperation between the U.S. and Israel to aid UNRWA in implementing reforms.

The COST of Relocations Act requires federal agencies to conduct a benefit-cost analysis and report to their Inspector General (OIG) before carrying out a "covered relocation" which involves moving or replacing a significant number of employees. The OIG then reviews the agency's report and submits its findings to Congress, assessing the justification for using federal funds and adherence to guidelines. This act aims to ensure transparency and careful evaluation of the financial and operational impacts of agency relocations.

The "Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act" introduces the Affordable Housing Conversion Credit, a tax incentive for converting non-residential buildings into affordable housing units. This credit covers 20% to 35% of qualified conversion costs, depending on the location and project type, with a national cap of $12 billion allocated to states based on population and economic need. To qualify, conversions must meet specific criteria, including affordability requirements and building age, aimed at boosting affordable housing options and revitalizing communities. The credit is transferable and applies to buildings placed in service after the Act's enactment.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate the restriction that prevents striking workers from being eligible for SNAP benefits. This bill ensures that striking workers are not automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance.

The Raise the Age Act of 2025 prohibits licensed firearm dealers from selling certain semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to individuals under 21, with exceptions for active military members and law enforcement officers. It also requires purchasers of these firearms to certify they are at least 21 or a "qualified individual". Additionally, the Act mandates a report from the FBI Director on improving information-sharing protocols for the FBI's public access line.

The "Children's Health Protection Act of 2025" codifies and enhances the EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection and the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee. It ensures the EPA prioritizes the identification, assessment, and reduction of environmental health and safety risks to children, including issues of environmental justice. The Act directs the EPA to coordinate federal efforts, conduct research, and promote community programs aimed at protecting children's health from environmental hazards. It also authorizes specific appropriations for these activities through 2030.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements by redefining "sex," modifying the "bona fide factor" defense for pay disparities, broadening the definition of "same establishment," strengthening non-retaliation protections, and enhancing penalties for employers who violate equal pay provisions. The Act also requires training programs, research, education, and outreach initiatives to eliminate pay disparities, and establishes a National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace. Additionally, the Act directs the EEOC to collect compensation data, reinstates pay equity programs, prohibits the use of wage history in determining salary, and establishes a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve compliance and enforcement of equal pay laws.