Legislative Activity

The "Expanding Labor Representation in the Workforce System Act" increases the funds available to state and local workforce development boards for administrative costs, raising the limit from 20% to 30%. It also broadens the definition of "labor organization" to include federations and bodies of labor organizations, as well as organizations representing certain groups of public and other-sector employees.

The 911 SAVES Act of 2025 aims to recognize the critical role of public safety telecommunicators by potentially reclassifying them within the Standard Occupational Classification system as Protective Service Occupations. This reclassification would acknowledge their life-saving work and align the system with the duties they perform. The Act mandates a report to Congress explaining the reasoning if the Director of the Office of Management and Budget decides against creating a separate code for these telecommunicators.

The No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 prohibits colleges and universities that receive federal funding from accepting gifts from countries that support foreign terrorist organizations, as determined by the Secretary of State, or from China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. Institutions must report any gift offers from these countries to the Secretary to remain eligible for federal funding.

The "Saving the Civil Service Act" limits the ability to reclassify civil service positions, maintaining competitive service standards. It requires OPM approval for certain position changes and sets restrictions on the number of employees that can be moved between service types during a presidential term. Employee consent is mandated for transfers between different service schedules. The Office of Personnel Management is tasked with creating regulations to implement the provisions of this act.

The "Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025" seeks to modernize Medicare coverage for chiropractic services. It expands coverage to include all services provided by licensed Doctors of Chiropractic, not just manual spinal manipulation. Doctors of Chiropractic are required to attend an educational webinar to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. This aims to align Medicare with other healthcare systems and private insurance in recognizing the full scope of chiropractic care.

The "No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act" imposes sanctions on foreign individuals or entities involved in the construction or maintenance of tunnels or bridges between Russia and Crimea. Sanctions include asset blocking and visa restrictions, with exceptions for humanitarian aid and U.S. national security activities. The President may waive these sanctions for U.S. national security interests, with Congressional notification.

The "Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Interior to establish a program for identifying and prioritizing reforestation and restoration projects on federal and Indian lands impacted by disasters where natural recovery is unlikely. The program will utilize grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to carry out these projects. The Act also mandates annual reporting to Congress on project progress, outreach efforts, and any gaps in seed availability or funding. It aims to support ecosystem recovery following events like wildfires and insect infestations.

The Veterans Member Business Loan Act amends the Federal Credit Union Act to include loans to veterans as member business loans. The term "veteran" will be defined according to title 38, section 101 of the U.S. Code. This change aims to support veteran entrepreneurship by increasing their access to capital through credit unions. The changes will be effective six months after the enactment of this Act.

The FAIR Act mandates a 3.3% increase in basic pay for federal employees under statutory pay systems and prevailing rate employees in 2026. Additionally, it increases locality pay for federal employees by 1% in 2026.

The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act establishes a grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. Grants, up to $250,000, will be awarded to eligible entities like nonprofits and veteran service organizations to operate programs that meet specific standards, hire veteran peer specialists, and provide 24/7 mental health support. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will establish an advisory committee to set program standards and best practices. The bill allocates $25,000,000 over three years to carry out the program.

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to support or facilitate the participation of the Russian Federation in any Group of Seven (G7) proceeding. It also blocks federal funding for reconstituting a Group of Eight (G8) that includes Russia. The goal of the bill is to restrict the Russian Federation's involvement in these international forums.

The "Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act" directs the Department of Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2028 to honor the women who contributed to the World War II Home Front. The coin designs will represent the legacy of these women, with input from the Rosie the Riveter Trust, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. Surcharges from the coin sales will go to the Rosie the Riveter Trust to support the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. This act ensures that the coin minting incurs no net cost to the government and recognizes the invaluable contributions of women during WWII.

This bill formally acknowledges the sacrifices and courage of Vietnam War veterans, recognizing their service and the challenges they faced, including exposure to Agent Orange and the loss of over 58,000 American lives. It urges the President to address the mistreatment of these veterans and issues a formal apology on behalf of the American people for the lack of support they received both during and after the war. The bill also supports enhanced education in schools to accurately reflect the experiences of Vietnam War veterans.

The "Thin Blue Line Act" amends the US Code to include the killing or targeting of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder as a new aggravating factor for the death penalty. This applies if the victim was targeted because of their official duties or status as a public official.

The Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025 seeks to expedite payments to local fire departments for fire suppression cost share agreements. It mandates federal agencies to establish standard payment timelines, revise existing agreements for compliance, and ensure alignment with cooperative fire protection agreements. The bill aims to reimburse local fire departments promptly, ideally within one year of fire suppression activities.

The "Every Drop Counts Act" amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand the eligibility criteria for water storage projects to include those with smaller storage capacities and those focused on groundwater recharge. It increases the number of eligible projects from 5 to 10. The act ensures compliance with existing water laws and does not infringe on established water rights.

The Goldie's Act seeks to strengthen the USDA's enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by mandating annual inspections, requiring humane treatment of suffering animals, and imposing significant penalties for violations. It ensures transparency through mandated sharing of violation records and sets firm guidelines for determining penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The Act also enables legal action to recover unpaid penalties and penalizes the disobedience of "cease and desist" orders.

This bill allocates $3 million annually from 2026 to 2031 to support projects focused on groundwater recharge, aquifer storage, and water source substitution. The funds will be used to provide technical and financial assistance for these water management projects.

The "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" allows Members of the House, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner who have recently given birth or whose spouse has given birth to designate another Member to vote on their behalf in the House, in committee, and in the Committee of the Whole for a period of 12 weeks. This proxy voting authority can begin before the birth if a doctor advises that the pregnancy presents a serious medical condition or that she is unable to travel safely. The resolution outlines specific procedures for designating, changing, and revoking proxy designations, ensuring transparency and adherence to instructions. Members whose votes are cast by proxy will not be counted for quorum purposes.

The "Justice for 9/11 Act" ensures that individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, specifically Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, can still face trial for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, regardless of any prior plea agreements. It allows for a death sentence in any trial for the attack, and mandates that if sentenced, these individuals will be held at Guantanamo Bay in solitary confinement with restricted contact and treatment. The bill prohibits their transfer to the continental United States or any other country.