Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses the support of Congress for recognizing September 29, 2025, as the "International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste." It highlights the severe global impacts of food waste on hunger and climate change, noting that nearly 40% of all food produced is lost annually. By supporting this awareness day, the bill encourages efforts to meet the U.S. goal of halving food loss and waste by 2030.

The "If You See It, Squish It Act of 2025" mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to launch a national awareness campaign about the invasive spotted lanternfly. This campaign must include public service announcements encouraging the public to kill any lanternflies they encounter. The goal is to educate citizens on the threat this pest poses to local agriculture.

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025 mandates that certain new medical devices must be designed to be fully usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This ensures that users can access information and operate life-saving equipment independently and privately, similar to sighted users. The FDA is tasked with establishing specific nonvisual accessibility standards for these covered devices within a set timeline. Devices failing to meet these standards after the effective date will be deemed adulterated.

The Protect Your PIN Act of 2025 updates existing law to ensure local law enforcement receives dedicated funding to combat identity theft. This bill specifically amends the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 to include identity theft within the scope of eligible cybercrime grants. By defining identity theft for grant purposes, the Act broadens how federal funds can be used to investigate and prosecute these crimes at the local level.

The Expanding Seniors’ Access to PFAS Testing Act ensures Medicare beneficiaries will have no out-of-pocket costs for physician-ordered blood tests detecting PFAS "forever chemicals." This section amends the Social Security Act to waive all cost-sharing requirements for this specific screening. Beginning January 1, 2028, Medicare will cover 100% of the cost for PFAS testing.

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.

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act extends the operational deadlines for key federal programs designed to strengthen water infrastructure. Specifically, this bill pushes the expiration dates for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program and two Drinking Water System Resilience and Sustainability Programs from 2026 to 2031. This extension ensures continued funding and support for community projects aimed at improving water system toughness against severe weather and environmental challenges.

The RESIDE Act establishes a temporary Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program to transform vacant commercial or industrial structures into attainable housing units. This pilot program, funded by excess allocations from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, provides grants to eligible entities for property acquisition, cleanup, and conversion. Priority will be given to projects in economically struggling areas or those that streamline local conversion regulations.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

The Ejiao Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing trade, import, and export of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao products within U.S. commerce due to the devastating impact of the ejiao trade on global donkey populations. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including substantial fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, the Act grants enforcement authority to agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and mandates the forfeiture of illegal goods and related equipment.

The Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act aims to address the epidemic of child sexual abuse by eliminating state statutes of limitations for civil and criminal cases involving child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking. The bill incentivizes states to adopt these reforms by offering federal grants to those that eliminate time limits for filing lawsuits or reopen previously time-barred claims. This legislation is designed to ensure survivors have a meaningful opportunity to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of how long it took them to come forward.

The Improving Child Care for Working Families Act of 2025 significantly increases the tax exclusion limit for dependent care assistance programs. This change raises the maximum exclusion from $\$7,500$ to $\$10,500$ for most taxpayers. The bill also adjusts the limit for married individuals filing separately to $\$5,250$. These provisions apply to dependent care expenses incurred in calendar years beginning after the Act's enactment.

This resolution supports the designation of a National Hazing Awareness Week to highlight the serious and often tragic issue of hazing on college campuses. It builds upon existing federal law by emphasizing the need for comprehensive, ongoing prevention education for students, staff, and faculty. Ultimately, the bill encourages nationwide action to promote awareness and prevent hazing incidents.

The Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act ensures that veterans' disability compensation or pension payments are excluded when determining income eligibility for low-income housing tax credits and related rental project bonds. This change prevents veterans from being penalized for their service-related benefits when applying for affordable housing assistance. The Act takes effect immediately upon passage.

The America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 establishes a new pathway to permanent residency for certain individuals who entered the U.S. as children, lived here legally for at least eight years as dependents of work visa holders, and subsequently earned a U.S. college degree. The bill also introduces significant "age-out" protections, allowing long-term dependents to retain their original priority dates for visa processing. Furthermore, it clarifies rules for derivative beneficiaries, potentially granting them work authorization in certain dependent statuses.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

The Child Rescue Act establishes the United States Working Group on Children in Imminent Danger of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to study and recommend strategies for law enforcement to better find and rescue children at risk. This new group, overseen by the Attorney General, must assess the scale of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) distribution and its link to physical abuse. The Working Group is tasked with providing Congress with comprehensive recommendations on necessary resources, investigative priorities, and policy changes within one year.

The HEADACHE Act establishes a comprehensive National Headache Disorders Initiative to improve research, workforce development, and care coordination for all headache disorders. It mandates the creation of an Advisory Council to guide federal efforts and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress detailing progress and recommending actions. This legislation aims to address disparities and reduce the societal and financial burden of these conditions before the Act automatically expires five years after enactment.

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.