Legislative Activity

The Words Matter Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive update across all federal laws, replacing the outdated terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities." This change is strictly a linguistic update intended to align federal statutes with current, respectful terminology. The Act explicitly states that this language revision does not alter eligibility for benefits, rights, or responsibilities under any existing federal program. Agencies are required to update their regulations to reflect this new terminology while maintaining a record of the previous language used.

This resolution formally honors law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, specifically recognizing the 345 officers whose service ended in 2024. It reaffirms support for all active officers and emphasizes the need to ensure they have the proper resources and training to perform their duties safely. The bill serves as a formal expression of gratitude and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

The Traffic Safety Enhancement Act of 2025 amends federal transportation funding rules to explicitly allow states to use Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds for the construction of roundabouts. This change provides states with greater flexibility to implement modern intersection designs aimed at improving traffic flow and safety.

The Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act establishes a new federal grant program to provide operating support for high-quality public transit services. This funding is specifically targeted to improve mobility and environmental outcomes, with a requirement that the majority of funds benefit underserved communities or areas of persistent poverty. The Act also increases the federal share for rural transit operating assistance up to 80%.

The AGRITOURISM Act establishes a new Office of Agritourism within the Department of Agriculture, led by a dedicated Director. This office is tasked with promoting and supporting farm-based tourism activities across the nation. The goal is to boost rural economies by helping agricultural businesses diversify through educational, recreational, and direct-sale opportunities.

The Chip Security Act mandates the installation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported from the United States. These requirements aim to verify chip location, prevent diversion, and protect U.S. technological leadership. The Secretary of Commerce must also study and implement additional security features to enhance export control enforcement and national security.

The Six Assurances to Taiwan Act codifies the historical U.S. commitments known as the Six Assurances, reinforcing the foundation of U.S. policy toward Taiwan. It explicitly states that the U.S. has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales or to consult with Beijing on those sales. Furthermore, the Act establishes a mandatory Congressional review process before the President can pause arms sales or take actions that significantly alter the U.S. position on Taiwan's sovereignty. This legislation aims to ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait by upholding these long-standing policy guidelines.

The Empty Lots to Housing Act streamlines the process for transferring federally funded, unneeded real property to local entities or qualified private developers. This transfer is contingent upon the recipient agreeing to long-term affordability requirements for the resulting housing. Specifically, at least 40% of new units must be affordable for low-income families, with a portion reserved for extremely low-income households.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month while strongly condemning the recent surge in antisemitism across the nation. It calls upon elected officials and civil society leaders to actively counter hate by educating the public on the significant contributions of the Jewish American community. Furthermore, the bill demands robust action to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of American Jews in all aspects of public life.

The Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act extends the life of the Historic Preservation Fund through the year 2035. This legislation also increases the maximum annual funding available for the program from \$150 million to \$250 million. Essentially, this bill ensures continued and increased financial support for preserving historic sites across the nation.

The HEADs UP Act of 2025 aims to expand access to primary and dental healthcare for individuals with developmental disabilities. It revises federal funding criteria to specifically recognize this population as medically underserved, allowing health centers to qualify for enhanced support. The bill authorizes dedicated federal grants for health centers to establish or expand comprehensive services tailored to this community through 2030. This legislation also updates designations for Health Professional Shortage Areas to include these individuals, incentivizing increased staffing.

The Pathways to Policing Act establishes the Law Enforcement Hiring Support Grant program to help agencies recruit new officers. This grant money can be used for recruitment campaigns and developing programs that support candidates facing barriers to entering law enforcement. The Act prioritizes funding for agencies seeking to increase diversity and hire candidates connected to the communities they will serve. Additionally, it mandates a national marketing effort to encourage diverse individuals to pursue careers in policing.

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It celebrates the significance of him being the first American-born Pope in the Church's history. The measure also commends his lifelong service, missionary spirit, and dedication to truth and mercy. Finally, it offers prayers for his leadership as he begins his papacy.

The FAIR Leave Act eliminates specific time limitations on the combined family and medical leave that spouses working for the same employer can take under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This change removes restrictions on how much leave married couples can jointly use for purposes like caring for a new child or a seriously ill family member.

The Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 streamlines the process for electrical utilities to clear vegetation near power lines on National Forest and BLM lands. This allows utilities to remove trees under existing permits without requiring a separate timber sale permit for the cleared wood. Any revenue generated from selling the cleared material must be returned to the managing federal agency, minus transportation costs.

The MORE Nurses Act mandates a comprehensive, one-year study by the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice to investigate the growing national nursing shortage. This investigation will analyze current workforce capacity, training limitations, and the impact of existing federal policies. The Council is required to deliver a final report to Congress and the President detailing its findings and offering specific legislative recommendations to strengthen nursing education and the workforce.

The Depot Investment Reform Act of 2025 updates how the Department of Defense calculates the minimum capital investment required for certain depots. This reform shortens the look-back period for these investment calculations from three preceding fiscal years to only the preceding, current, and following fiscal years. This change aims to ensure investment levels are based on more current financial data.

The Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a new, realistic, scenario-based training curriculum focused on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and appropriate use of force. It establishes a grant program, funded by existing DOJ resources, to help law enforcement agencies implement this training nationwide. The Act also requires regular reporting to Congress on the reach and effectiveness of the new training programs.

The EAGLE Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help small, local law enforcement agencies cover the costs associated with achieving or renewing official professional accreditation. This funding is specifically designated to pay for accreditation fees, on-site assessments, and related expenses from recognized organizations like CALEA. The program is funded with $10 million for Fiscal Year 2025 to support agencies with fewer than 350 employees.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for required training programs for school food service personnel. This bill mandates that all required training must be paid for by the employer, conducted during regular work hours whenever possible, and offered at no cost to the employee. Furthermore, the Act strictly prohibits employers from penalizing staff who are unable to attend training sessions.