Legislative Activity

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

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.

This resolution supports designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month" to highlight ongoing threats to fair elections, such as gerrymandering and restrictive voting laws. It urges Congress to pass key legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act. The bill also encourages educational programs about voting history and registration efforts nationwide. Ultimately, it calls for federal action to protect and expand access to the ballot box for all citizens.

The Mortgage Insurance Freedom Act aims to eliminate the collection of annual mortgage insurance premiums once a homeowner's loan balance drops to 78% or less of the original value. This change applies only to newly insured mortgages, though the government can resume collecting premiums if the insurance fund's capital ratio falls below 2%. The Secretary of HUD must establish rules and inform homeowners on how to verify their eligibility to stop paying.

The Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states recruit and retain school paraprofessionals. Funds will be distributed to states based on their existing Title I allocations to support local districts. States must use these competitive subgrants to improve paraprofessional wages, offer professional development, and support credentialing, prioritizing high-need and rural schools. The law requires annual reporting on compensation improvements and retention efforts.

The Fed Integrity and Independence Act of 2025 reinforces the Federal Reserve's separation from political influence by prohibiting members of the Board of Governors and regional Federal Reserve Bank leaders from holding any other position requiring a Presidential appointment. This measure aims to ensure monetary policy decisions remain focused on long-term stability rather than short-term political pressures. Any current officeholder who violates this new dual-appointment restriction will have their Fed service terminated immediately upon the Act's enactment.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve federal support for state-level stillbirth research and data collection. It authorizes grants for states to enhance surveillance, track risk factors, and build local capacity for analyzing stillbirth data, provided the information remains de-identified. Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of standardized guidelines and educational materials regarding stillbirth awareness and risk factors, developed in consultation with experts and bereaved families.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

This constitutional amendment seeks to grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate contributions and expenditures in political campaigns. It specifically allows for the establishment of public financing systems to offset the influence of private money in elections. The amendment ensures that any regulations enacted must not infringe upon the freedom of the press.

The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2025 allows registered investment companies to temporarily postpone the redemption of securities for "specified adults" if they reasonably suspect financial exploitation is occurring. This measure requires companies to collect emergency contact information for these accounts and establish internal procedures for handling potential exploitation cases. The Act mandates the SEC to report to Congress with recommendations for further legislative changes to protect vulnerable security holders.

The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act establishes a new grant program to boost arts education at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). These funds are intended to increase access to the arts for minority students through financial aid, mentorship, and career development. The bill aims to address the lack of diversity in arts leadership by supporting institutions well-positioned to train diverse arts professionals. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to preserve and promote the work of artists of color while strengthening arts programs nationwide.

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 expresses strong support for designating a specific week as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week." The bill highlights the critical need to address low literacy rates among millions of adults, which impacts the economy, workforce readiness, and family success. It encourages communities nationwide to recognize and support local programs that provide essential education, job skills, and family literacy services.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

The Firefighter Learning And Management Education (FLAME) Act establishes new notification requirements for the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration when large-scale cancellations of National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control courses occur. It mandates timely notification to Congress and affected students regarding any significant course reductions. Furthermore, the bill allows fire departments to seek reimbursement for incurred expenses if a course is cancelled for reasons other than "good cause" and requires a GAO study on the impact of these cancellations.

The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act establishes a pathway for certain individuals who provided essential services during the rescue and cleanup efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. This relief is available to workers and volunteers who meet specific service hour requirements at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or Shanksville sites, or those who maintained contaminated vehicles. The bill also mandates fee waivers for eligible applicants and protects their privacy regarding public benefit usage and future immigration enforcement actions.

The Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce patient out-of-pocket costs for essential prescription inhalers and nebulizers used to treat conditions like asthma and COPD. This bill caps patient cost-sharing for these products at a maximum of \$15 per 30-day supply for most private insurance and Medicare beneficiaries, effective in 2026. Additionally, it establishes a new program to provide similar cost relief for uninsured individuals. The legislation ensures that payments made toward these caps count toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

The Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025 aims to stop companies from secretly shrinking the size or quantity of consumer products while keeping the packaging the same, a practice known as "deceptive downsizing." This Act prohibits manufacturers from misleading consumers through this practice unless they provide clear, conspicuous notice of the reduced size on the product's principal display panel. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with writing the necessary regulations and enforcing compliance using its existing authority against unfair or deceptive business practices.