Legislative Activity

The Texture Positive Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Labor to improve specialized training for cosmetologists. States can apply for these grants to award subgrants to qualified, established, minority- or women-owned training providers. These subgrants must fund the integration of comprehensive textured hair care techniques into cosmetology school curricula.

The DIGNIDAD Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill that significantly overhauls U.S. immigration policy across five major divisions. Division A focuses on aggressive border security enhancements, infrastructure modernization, and increased criminal penalties for immigration offenses, while Division B establishes pathways to legal status for long-term residents who entered as children and creates a temporary protection program for others. Finally, Division C aims to improve legal immigration by reducing green card backlogs, streamlining employment and student visas, and providing new discretionary relief for family separation cases.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes mandatory, phased-in standards to drastically reduce the carbon intensity of marine fuels used by large vessels on voyages involving U.S. ports, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to set standards ensuring that ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters achieve zero greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions by 2035, or the maximum feasible reduction if that goal proves impossible. The legislation also mandates annual public reporting on fuel usage and emissions data for compliance monitoring.

This resolution formally censures Representative Andy Ogles for using racist and anti-Muslim language against political opponents, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. The measure condemns his specific rhetoric as divisive and contrary to the dignity of the House. As a result, Representative Ogles is required to stand in the well of the House while the resolution is read aloud by the Speaker.

This resolution formally recognizes the significant and persistent wage disparity faced by Black women in the United States. It highlights that despite existing equal pay laws, Black women earn substantially less than their male counterparts, leading to massive lifetime earnings losses. Congress uses this measure to emphasize the urgent need to address both racial and gender discrimination to achieve true pay equity.

The REMIT Act of 2025 aims to protect the integrity of international money transfers while minimizing burdens on legal remittance services. This legislation restricts the federal government's ability to impose new excise taxes or fees on money transmitting businesses. Before any such tax or fee can be implemented, the Treasury Secretary must certify that it will not aid criminal money laundering or place an excessive burden on these businesses. This framework seeks to prevent regulatory changes from inadvertently benefiting informal and illicit transfer systems.

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to increase the number of mental health professionals in high-need school districts. This funding is specifically designed to help eligible agencies recruit, hire, and retain school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Grantees must demonstrate a plan to improve student-to-provider ratios and report annually on staffing improvements and provider retention.

The Appropriations Compliance and Training Act mandates annual training on federal appropriations law for certain high-level government employees in covered positions. This ensures employees handling federal funds understand key spending rules, such as the bona fide needs rule and relevant statutes. Agencies must track completion, and non-compliant employees face escalating penalties, including loss of spending authority and IT access.

The AMMO Act modernizes federal oversight of ammunition by requiring federal licenses for all ammunition dealers and mandating background checks through NICS for transfers by licensed sellers to non-licensees. The bill also prohibits straw purchases of ammunition and establishes new federal limits on bulk ammunition sales, requiring recordkeeping and reporting for these transactions. These provisions will take effect 120 days after the date of enactment.

The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act modernizes the Internal Revenue Code by replacing gendered language with gender-neutral terms for all legally married couples. This sweeping update ensures consistency across tax rules regarding filing status, deductions, and credits, regardless of the spouses' genders. The bill clarifies that married couples are often treated as a single entity for specific tax purposes. Ultimately, this legislation updates terminology to reflect equal dignity for all married taxpayers.

This resolution formally recognizes the history, achievements, and ongoing struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States. It serves as a declaration by Congress affirming that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights and encouraging the celebration of Pride Month. The bill highlights key historical milestones, legal victories, and acknowledges the persistent challenges and violence faced by the community. Ultimately, it commits the U.S. to continuing the pursuit of full equality for all citizens.

The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to expand access to community solar, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income individuals and governments. It mandates that standard electric utilities must offer community solar programs to ensure fair access for all customers. Furthermore, the bill sets strict deadlines for states to review and implement these new community solar standards. Finally, it extends the maximum length for federal contracts for public utility services up to 30 years.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.

This resolution encourages Members of Congress to conduct unannounced visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities within their states. Congress feels this direct oversight is necessary due to perceived failures in internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) monitoring. The goal is for members to gain firsthand knowledge of detention conditions to inform necessary reforms.

The Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025 makes technical corrections to the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act to clarify standards for proving harm and venue for trials. This legislation sets specific caps on attorney fees and retroactively applies these changes to all existing and future claims filed under the original 2022 Act. The bill ensures that existing statutes of limitations for filing claims remain unchanged.

This resolution formally recognizes the constitutional right to peaceful protest while strongly condemning violence and illegal acts committed during demonstrations. It criticizes the federal government's deployment of military forces during recent events, arguing the actions were an overreach that bypassed proper legal and state authority. Ultimately, the bill asserts the importance of transparency in law enforcement and denounces rhetoric that escalates community tensions.

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal frameworks within HHS and the Department of Labor to address community violence through prevention and economic opportunity. Title I creates grants for community-based violence intervention programs focused on evidence-based, trauma-responsive care, while Title II funds job training for opportunity youth in high-violence areas. Overall, the bill aims to reduce violence by investing in local services and creating pathways to employment rather than relying solely on incarceration.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal statutory right to access abortion services, prohibiting medically unnecessary restrictions that impede care before fetal viability. This Act protects the right of patients to travel across state lines to receive reproductive healthcare and allows providers to offer services free from state interference that conflicts with established medical standards. It preempts conflicting state and local laws and provides robust enforcement mechanisms for individuals and the Attorney General to challenge violations.

The Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act prohibits states from interfering with or retaliating against individuals who provide or receive abortion services that are legal in the state where the service occurs. This protection extends to interstate travel for legal abortion care and the movement of FDA-approved abortion-related drugs across state lines. Individuals harmed by violations can sue in federal court for damages and legal fees.

The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand healthcare access for immigrants legally residing in the U.S. by ensuring eligibility for federal health programs like Medicaid and CHIP, removing state restrictions for permanent residents, and treating federally authorized presence as lawful presence for coverage purposes. The bill also provides states the option to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage to individuals without lawful status. Furthermore, it removes citizenship barriers preventing certain non-citizens from accessing ACA marketplace subsidies and updates Medicare eligibility rules.