Legislative Activity

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to reduce bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states to establish policies prohibiting such conduct based on various characteristics, including race, sex, religion, and disability. It mandates annual notifications, data collection on incidents, biennial evaluations of programs, and regular reports to Congress to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This act does not infringe on existing nondiscrimination laws or freedom of speech but seeks to create a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

The "Original Black History Month Resolution of 2025" officially recognizes February 2025 as Black History Month with the theme "African Americans and Labor." The resolution honors the essential contributions of Black workers to the U.S. economy from enslavement to the present day while highlighting the ongoing struggle for labor equality. It encourages all Americans to celebrate these achievements and acknowledge the historical and systemic challenges still faced by Black workers today.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 bans cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and restricts the use of animal testing data for cosmetic safety, with certain exceptions. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to impose civil penalties for non-compliance and preempts states from enacting conflicting regulations. The Act defines key terms related to cosmetic animal testing and cosmetics.

The GUARD VA Benefits Act establishes criminal penalties for individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees for assisting with claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation amends existing law to prohibit soliciting, contracting for, or receiving compensation for preparing or prosecuting VA benefit claims, except where explicitly authorized by other statutes.

This resolution reaffirms the Twenty-second Amendment’s constitutional mandate that limits any individual to two terms as President of the United States. It specifically cites a series of public statements made by Donald Trump as evidence of a disregard for these term limits and formally declares that he is prohibited from seeking or serving an additional term.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

This bill, the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to increase public oversight of how the Office of Special Counsel enforces political activity restrictions for federal employees. It mandates new, detailed reporting to Congress regarding investigations and disciplinary actions against both career and non-career appointees. Furthermore, the legislation requires the OSC to publish anonymized, demographic statistics on Hatch Act allegations on its website.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act directs the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule on the U.S. Capitol grounds to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Curated by congressional leadership, the capsule will contain historical items and legislative milestones to be preserved for future generations. It is scheduled to be sealed on July 4, 2026, and reopened by Congress on July 4, 2276.

The RAISE Act of 2025 introduces a refundable tax credit for eligible teachers, offering $1,000 plus additional amounts for teachers in qualifying schools with high student poverty levels. It also increases the tax deduction for educators' expenses to $500 and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Additionally, the Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide mandatory funding to support local educational agencies that maintain or increase teacher salaries, with a portion reserved for teacher salary incentive grants. These grants can be used for various programs aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving educator skills.

This bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the "Black Panthers," in recognition of their courageous service and crucial contributions during World War II. The medal will be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display, honoring the 761st as the first Black soldiers to serve in an American armored unit and their significant role in the Allied victory in Europe. The bill also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to support the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the United States as children and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Title I, the Dream Act of 2025, establishes conditional permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Title II, the American Promise Act of 2025, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to eligible individuals from TPS or DED countries. Title III outlines general provisions, such as background checks, application processes, and fee exemptions, applicable to all seeking to adjust their status under this Act.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act allows wrongly fired or dismissed veterans in civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date to be reinstated to their previous position or a similar one. It mandates executive branch agencies to report to Congress every three months on all veteran employees who were fired or dismissed and the reasons for their termination, effective until January 20, 2029. The Act relies on existing U.S. Code definitions for key terms like "veteran" and "civil service."

Ethan's Law establishes federal requirements for the secure storage of firearms to prevent unauthorized access by minors and prohibited persons, making improper storage a civil violation with escalating penalties if injury or death results. The bill also creates a federal grant program to incentivize states and Tribes to adopt matching safe storage laws. Furthermore, Congress declares that failing to comply with these storage requirements constitutes negligence and may be considered the direct cause of resulting firearm injuries.

This resolution reaffirms the vital strategic partnership between the United States and Canada, emphasizing the deep ties that bolster North American economic prosperity and national security. It highlights the two nations' commitment to shared goals in energy independence, critical mineral supply chains, border management, and global defense. By strengthening this alliance, the bill aims to enhance regional competitiveness and ensure a unified front against common security threats.

The Federal Retirement Fairness Act amends title 5 of the United States Code, allowing civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, to be creditable under the Federal Employees Retirement System. This change applies to current employees and Members of the United States Postal Service, and requires the Office of Personnel Management to notify eligible individuals and issue implementing regulations.

The "Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act of 2025" streamlines the enrollment process for out-of-state healthcare providers in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring children under 21 have access to care from eligible providers across state lines. By reducing administrative burdens and unnecessary screening requirements, the Act aims to improve healthcare access for children while maintaining necessary safeguards against fraud and abuse. Participating providers will be enrolled for a 5-year period, and the changes will take effect three years after the Act's enactment.

The Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, recognizing their dedicated service to the United States. Following the award ceremony, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. The Secretary of the Treasury is permitted to create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. Funds from the sales will be deposited back into the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act authorizes the creation of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall. It ensures the museum's exhibits and programs accurately represent the diverse cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic and Latino communities, seeking guidance from diverse sources. The Act also mandates regular reports to Congress on the museum's efforts to meet these diversity requirements.