Legislative Activity

This resolution urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to withdraw a notice that reduces public input on rulemaking. It expresses the House of Representatives' desire to maintain existing public notice and comment procedures. The resolution aims to ensure continued public participation in the regulatory process of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The "RESEARCHER Act" aims to improve the financial stability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers by directing federal research agencies to develop and implement policies that address issues such as low stipends, healthcare access, housing affordability, food insecurity, and family care costs. It mandates the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to create policy guidelines, requires federal agencies to align with these guidelines, and orders data collection and studies to assess and address financial instability among these researchers. Additionally, the Act requires regular reporting to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these measures.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to limit consumer reporting agencies from sharing credit report information when a person requests a credit report for a residential mortgage loan. Consumer reporting agencies can only furnish this information if the entity has a firm offer of credit or insurance, has the consumer's authorization, or has an existing relationship with the consumer as a mortgage lender, servicer, or financial institution. This act aims to protect consumers' privacy during the home buying process by limiting the amount of entities that get access to their credit information. The changes will take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted.

The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" aims to eliminate tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees' decisions regarding unionizing and collective bargaining. It defines "labor organization activity" broadly, encompassing elections, disputes, and collective actions. The bill mandates detailed reporting of such activities, with significant penalties for non-compliance, and directs the Treasury Secretary to issue implementing guidance. This would apply to expenses incurred more than 240 days after the bill's enactment.

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 "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 "Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act" establishes the Foundation for Standards and Metrology, a nonprofit organization, to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in advancing measurement science, technical standards, and technology. The Foundation will foster collaboration among researchers, universities, industries, and nonprofits to boost U.S. economic security. It is governed by a Board of Directors and will support NIST through various activities, including research, commercialization, and education, and is authorized to receive and use funds to support its activities. The Foundation will develop strategic plans, publish annual reports, and adhere to strict standards of conduct and financial transparency.

The U.S.-European Nuclear Energy Cooperation Act of 2025 aims to bolster energy security in the United States and Europe by reducing reliance on Russian nuclear energy resources. It requires the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to strengthen U.S.-European nuclear energy cooperation and counter Russian influence in Europe's nuclear energy sector. The act prioritizes the use of nuclear products and services from the United States and allied countries for nations developing nuclear power. It also authorizes \$30 million annually from 2025 to 2029 to support engagement in Europe, focusing on countering Russian influence and supporting nuclear power projects.

This resolution requests the President to provide the House of Representatives with documents and communications regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's systems and data. It seeks detailed information on individuals involved, the extent of their access, any data breaches or misuse, and potential conflicts of interest. The resolution also requests data on the Bureau's staffing levels before and after specific dates in 2025.

This bill designates specific federal lands within Utah's red rock canyons, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin Deserts as wilderness areas, incorporating them into the National Wilderness Preservation System. It outlines detailed administrative and management protocols for these areas, including land management, water rights, and the continuation of livestock grazing. The bill seeks to balance conservation with existing rights, protecting tribal interests, and ensuring state authority over fish and wildlife management. This act withdraws these lands from uses like mining and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights, aiming to preserve these natural landscapes for future generations.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 5225 Harrison Avenue in Rockford, Illinois, as the "Jay P. Larson Post Office Building." It also mandates that all references to this facility in any legal or official documents of the United States will now refer to it by this new name.