Legislative Activity

This bill grants a Federal charter to the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals, officially recognizing it as a nonprofit veterans service organization. The organization is tasked with promoting sustainable homeownership, financial literacy, and economic opportunity for veterans and service members. It must adhere to strict operational rules, including prohibitions on political activity and the distribution of profits to members. The charter remains contingent upon the organization maintaining its tax-exempt status and compliance with California corporate law.

The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act aims to improve support for postsecondary students with disabilities. It standardizes the types of documentation colleges must accept to verify a disability, ensuring clearer access to necessary accommodations. The bill also authorizes increased funding for national technical support centers and requires colleges to report essential data on enrolled students with disabilities. Finally, it clarifies that these changes do not alter existing rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Protect Black Women and Girls Act establishes a new federal Interagency Task Force, led by the Attorney General, to examine and recommend policy improvements across education, economic development, healthcare, justice, and housing for Black women and girls. Additionally, the bill mandates the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to conduct annual studies on critical issues impacting this demographic, including violence, incarceration rates, and health disparities. The legislation aims to coordinate federal efforts and gather data to address systemic challenges and improve outcomes for Black women and girls nationwide.

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase the pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality pay rate. This bill mandates that their pay locality be adjusted to the nearest established locality offering a higher rate, provided it is within 200 miles of their worksite. This change is designed to ensure fairer compensation for these federal correctional staff.

The Helping Student Parents Succeed Act requires colleges receiving federal aid to establish clear policies supporting expectant and parenting students. These institutions must provide comprehensive information regarding academic accommodations, financial aid adjustments like dependent care allowances, and available support services. The bill ensures these students are fully informed of their rights, available resources, and complaint procedures related to pregnancy and parental status.

The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act removes a long-standing federal prohibition that prevented students from receiving certain housing assistance. This legislation allows the Secretary to waive specific requirements for Section 8 housing assistance for college students who live in campus housing and have a history in foster care or are emancipated minors. Crucially, any assistance received through this waiver will not negatively impact a student's eligibility for federal financial aid or other support programs.

The Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution amends House rules to allow public bills and resolutions to have two primary sponsors, provided one is from the majority party and the other from the minority party. This formalizes bipartisan introduction of legislation from the outset. The resolution also adjusts related rules concerning cosponsorship and required submission statements for these jointly sponsored measures.

The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act mandates a comprehensive study by the Comptroller General on improving wildfire mitigation efforts across different land ownership boundaries. This study will examine current federal programs to identify barriers and opportunities for better collaboration and funding among federal, state, local, and Tribal entities. The final report will include recommendations for streamlining cross-boundary wildfire prevention projects.

The Kids on the Go Act of 2025 mandates that every state must designate a Safe Routes to School Coordinator. States that comply with this requirement will receive an increased federal funding share of 95% for eligible Safe Routes to School projects. This aims to boost state efforts in improving safety for students traveling to and from school.

The Mariner Exam Modernization Act updates the process for reviewing and updating merchant mariner credentialing exams. It establishes a "Working group," including recent exam passers, to focus on the relevance and content of current exams. This legislation mandates a comprehensive review of industry standards and technology, leading to a modernization plan for the exams within a set timeframe.

The Post Quantum Cybersecurity Standards Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to promote the voluntary adoption of new post-quantum cryptography standards resistant to quantum computer attacks. The bill also authorizes NIST to establish a grant program to help high-risk entities cover the costs of transitioning to these new standards. Furthermore, it updates the National Science Foundation's research priorities to explicitly include post-quantum cryptography.

The LIHEAP Staffing Support Act establishes minimum staffing requirements for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure effective program administration. It mandates a baseline of at least 20 dedicated employees, with limits on contractor usage during normal operations. Furthermore, the bill requires an emergency staffing boost to at least 30 employees within 45 days of declaring an energy crisis.

The PARTNER with ASEAN Act of 2025 grants the President the authority to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This change amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to recognize ASEAN similarly to other international organizations. Such status would be granted contingent upon U.S. participation in ASEAN through treaty, law, or funding.

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 aims to increase the number of federally funded residency positions by 2,000 annually through 2032 to address physician shortages. It prioritizes distributing these new training slots to hospitals serving underserved populations and those already training above their limits. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on strategies to improve healthcare workforce diversity and establishes new grant programs to develop accredited medical residency programs specifically located in rural areas.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 updates federal programs to better support and protect runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth. This legislation modernizes grant programs to ensure services are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and address critical needs like housing, education, and mental health. It also expands communication channels to include online outreach and strengthens coordination across federal agencies to combat youth homelessness and exploitation.

This resolution strongly condemns the recent rise in ideologically motivated attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions across the United States, including the violent assault in Boulder, Colorado. The House of Representatives reaffirms its commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence in all its forms. It calls for thorough investigation and prosecution of such incidents and urges all sectors of society to speak out against hate.

The Baby Changing on Board Act mandates that Amtrak install baby changing tables in at least one restroom on every car of newly acquired covered passenger rail trains. These tables must be placed in ADA-compliant restrooms when available and clearly marked with signage. This ensures essential amenities are available for passengers with infants on applicable Amtrak services.

The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act establishes a grant program to allow law enforcement agencies to hire retired officers for specialized, non-arrest support roles, such as training and investigative assistance. This funding requires rigorous background checks for the retired personnel and mandates annual audits by the Department of Justice Inspector General to ensure accountability. Agencies with unresolved audit findings face exclusion from future funding, while the Attorney General must report on grant distribution and potential funding overlaps to Congress.

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act of 2025 aims to bolster the security of the nation's critical health infrastructure against rising cyber threats. It mandates increased coordination between CISA and HHS to implement a sector-specific risk management plan and provide necessary training to healthcare operators. The bill also establishes a process for identifying and prioritizing "high-risk" healthcare assets requiring focused federal resources.