Legislative Activity

The SNAP SECURE Act of 2025 extends federal funding for states to replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lost due to administrative errors. This legislation pushes the deadline for utilizing these reimbursement funds from 2024 to 2034. The goal is to ensure eligible clients continue to receive benefits lost through state agency mistakes.

The Reconciliation in Place Names Act establishes a new Advisory Committee to systematically review and recommend replacements for offensive geographic names on federal lands. This committee, composed of diverse experts and tribal representatives, will advise the Board on Geographic Names regarding proposed changes. The Board must then approve or reject these renaming proposals within three years, prioritizing changes unless a compelling public interest dictates otherwise. This process aims to foster reconciliation by removing derogatory and prejudiced place names across the United States.

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 "Original Slavery Remembrance Month Resolution" designates August as a time to commemorate the lives of enslaved people and honor the freedom fighters who resisted the institution of slavery. This resolution condemns the history of chattel slavery and its ongoing systemic effects in the United States. It encourages national observance and reflection to ensure the history and legacy of slavery are never forgotten.

The "Original Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2025" establishes a fund to provide a one-time payment of $25,000 to Merchant Mariners who served during World War II and meet specific service requirements. To be eligible, applicants must apply within one year of the bill's enactment and not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. The bill authorizes $125 million for the compensation fund and requires the Secretary to report on the fund's operation and prescribe regulations for its implementation.

The "Original Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) Act" establishes a pilot program managed by the Election Assistance Commission to provide funds to local education agencies for voter registration initiatives targeting 12th-grade students. Participating agencies must consult with election officials and report on the use and effectiveness of the funds. The Election Assistance Commission will then report to Congress on the pilot program's outcomes.

The Fair Lending for All Act strengthens protections against credit discrimination by establishing an Office of Fair Lending Testing to proactively identify and refer violations. The bill expands the scope of prohibited discriminatory practices, mandates more comprehensive demographic data collection for mortgage lending, and introduces significant criminal penalties for willful violations. Additionally, it grants the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enhanced authority to review and regulate loan application processes to ensure compliance with federal law.

The Original Living American Wage (LAW) Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to incrementally raise the federal minimum wage to \$26.59 an hour by 2030. Starting in 2030, the minimum wage will be reassessed every 7 years by the Secretary, using a formula to ensure a wage earner's income is at least 40% above the poverty threshold for a renting family of four. This adjustment aims to address poverty and ensure that minimum wage workers can afford basic needs like housing. The act also states that the federal minimum wage should be adjusted when inflation rises to 5% or more over 2 years.

The "Byron Nash Renal Medullary Carcinoma Awareness Act of 2023" amends the Social Security Act to incentivize education about the risk of renal medullary carcinoma for Medicaid recipients with sickle cell disease. This bill aims to increase awareness of this rare kidney cancer within a high-risk population by expanding the scope of Medicaid-covered educational services.

The Housing Fairness Act of 2025 aims to combat discrimination in the housing and mortgage markets by establishing a nationwide testing program to detect and document unfair treatment. The bill increases funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program to support private enforcement, education, and outreach efforts. Additionally, it creates a competitive grant program for organizations to study the causes and effects of housing discrimination and mandates stricter training standards for fair housing testers.