Legislative Activity

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

This resolution officially recognizes the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States, honoring its rich cultural significance and traditions of remembrance. It connects the spirit of honoring ancestors to the need for compassion and accountability regarding lives lost in immigration detention. The bill urges federal agencies to protect the dignity and rights of individuals in custody, especially during culturally significant times. Ultimately, it calls for honoring human dignity through remembrance and ensuring humane treatment for all.

This resolution officially designates October 8, 2025, as Latina Equal Pay Day to highlight the significant wage disparity faced by Latina workers. It recognizes that Latinas currently earn only about 58 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men, resulting in substantial lifetime earnings loss. The bill calls attention to systemic factors like workplace policies and harassment that contribute to this ongoing economic injustice. Ultimately, Congress reaffirms its commitment to achieving pay equity for all women.

This resolution expresses deep concern over the growing trend of book banning and threats to freedom of expression in U.S. schools and libraries. It asserts that such censorship undermines democratic values and harms students by restricting access to diverse ideas and histories. The bill urges local entities to follow best practices for book challenges and calls for the immediate reinstatement of books removed from Department of Defense schools. Ultimately, it reaffirms the nation's commitment to First Amendment rights and the freedom to read.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

The No Shame at School Act of 2025 mandates that schools must stop shaming students over unpaid meal debt by prohibiting overt identification or segregation of students who owe fees. This law requires local agencies to actively pursue free meal certification for students with outstanding balances and prevents schools from taking food away after it has been served. Furthermore, it establishes strict rules for debt collection, forbidding communication directed at the child and banning the use of third-party debt collectors.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

This resolution officially expresses support for National Public Lands Day, recognizing the vast spiritual, cultural, and economic value of America's public lands. It encourages all citizens to visit these lands on the designated fee-free day. The measure highlights the significant acreage managed by various federal agencies that support recreation and the national economy.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical disparities in mental health access and treatment for Black youth, citing alarming increases in suicide rates among this population. It calls on the current administration to build upon previous efforts and implement recommendations from the *Ring the Alarm* report. The bill specifically urges increased funding, promotion of community education to reduce stigma, and protection of existing mental health service structures.

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act) explicitly extends the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to job applicants, prohibiting employers from limiting or classifying applicants based on age during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EEOC conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed under the ADEA since 2015. The EEOC must then report these findings, along with recommendations for combating hiring bias, to Congress and the public.

The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025 establishes federal oversight for large entities using complex automated systems, or "covered algorithms," that impact critical consumer decisions like employment or housing. It mandates that these entities conduct rigorous, ongoing impact assessments to test for bias, privacy risks, and performance issues. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with creating detailed regulations and enforcing compliance, including requiring covered entities to submit annual summary reports detailing their assessment findings. This Act ensures that significant algorithmic decisions are scrutinized for fairness and transparency without overriding stricter state or local regulations.

This bill, the Welles Remy Crowther Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther for his extraordinary heroism and sacrifice during the September 11, 2001, attacks. The medal will be presented to his mother, Alison Crowther, on behalf of Congress. The Act also permits the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 (RRLEF Act) amends the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to require state and local agencies to cease firearm transfers with licensed dealers flagged by the ATF. Dealers are placed on a restricted list if a significant number of their traced firearms show a "short time-to-crime." Furthermore, the Act mandates increased public disclosure of firearm tracing data by the ATF, removing previous statutory restrictions on making this information public.

The Future Generations Protection Act aims to combat climate change by immediately banning greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants and halting the approval of most new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals. It also establishes a nationwide ban on hydraulic fracturing starting in 2029 and generally prohibits the export of domestically produced crude oil and natural gas, with limited exceptions for oil swaps and historical trade relationships. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the energy transition prioritize environmental justice, fairness for fossil fuel workers, and strong labor union involvement.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital role of the Latino community in outdoor recreation and natural resource protection across the United States. It expresses support for designating the third week of September as "Latino Conservation Week" to celebrate their ongoing commitment to conservation. The bill highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to nature for all communities.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

This resolution commemorates the eighth anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It honors the thousands of lives lost and acknowledges the ongoing struggles of survivors due to massive infrastructure failure. The bill strongly urges federal agencies to expedite recovery funding and calls on Congress to prioritize building resilient infrastructure for the territories' future.

This resolution expresses strong support for increasing the number of Latino students and young professionals entering high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It highlights the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in these vital fields despite their growing presence in the U.S. workforce. The bill encourages federal investment in programs that address barriers and promote STEM education pathways for the Latino community. Ultimately, this focus aims to strengthen the nation's high-skilled workforce and economic competitiveness.

The National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 establishes a new, mixed-ownership federal corporation chartered to finance major infrastructure projects across the nation. This legislation authorizes the Bank to raise substantial capital and issue significant loans to spur economic growth while prioritizing projects in disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the bill grants the Bank and its specific investors favorable tax exemptions to encourage participation and operation.