Legislative Activity

The Head Start for Our Future Act amends federal work-study rules to explicitly allow students to use their funds for child development and early learning services, such as supporting Head Start programs. This legislation ensures that institutions placing work-study students in these roles guarantee program compliance with existing Head Start Act requirements. Furthermore, it establishes specific supervision rules for work-study students in Head Start and Early Head Start, mandating that they must always be supervised by paid staff and cannot count toward required staff-to-child ratios.

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 secures dedicated funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through fiscal year 2029 and beyond. This bill authorizes the Secretary to allocate increasing amounts, starting at \$25 million in 2025 and stabilizing at \$50 million annually from 2029 onward. The funding will be sourced from the Commodity Credit Corporation.

The Training and Nutrition Stability Act of 2025 ensures that income received from specific job training, educational, and vocational rehabilitation programs will not count against an individual's eligibility for federal food assistance. This change aims to encourage participation in workforce development activities without jeopardizing necessary nutritional support. The bill also includes minor technical updates to existing law to accommodate this new exclusion.

The Strengthening America’s Turning Point Act officially renames the Saratoga National Historical Park to the Saratoga National Battlefield Park. This change ensures all federal documents and references use the new official title moving forward.

This Act authorizes the minting and issuance of special commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins must be paid directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations.

This bill officially establishes the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area, incorporating fourteen counties in New York State into the national system. The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance is designated as the local coordinating entity responsible for developing and submitting a management plan for the area. The Act authorizes federal financial assistance for the Heritage Area for a period of 15 years following its enactment.

This Act authorizes the Pines Foundation to establish the Fire Island AIDS Memorial within the Fire Island National Seashore to honor residents lost to the AIDS epidemic. The law mandates that the memorial must be entirely privately funded, with no federal dollars used for its creation or maintenance. The Secretary of the Interior must approve the final design and location of the tribute.

The Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive new program to restructure forest conservation easements under existing farm law. This Act creates two primary easement types: Forest Land Easements for working forests and Forest Reserve Easements for species protection. The bill also repeals the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program but ensures all prior agreements under that program remain fully honored. Funding is authorized through 2029 to support sustainable forest management and habitat restoration across eligible private and tribal lands.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act mandates that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopt specific industry standards as mandatory safety rules for lithium-ion batteries in personal electric transportation within 180 days of enactment. These rules will automatically update when the underlying industry standards are revised, unless the CPSC determines the update does not improve safety. The CPSC must also report to Congress five years after enactment regarding battery-related incidents involving these consumer products.

The "Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2025" reauthorizes key programs dedicated to the Long Island Sound's health. It extends the Long Island Sound Grants program and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006 through 2029, ensuring continued support for restoration and conservation efforts. The bill also corrects a technical error in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act related to the Long Island Sound.

The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025 expands access to mental health evaluations, refines the criteria for healthcare provider credentialing, and clarifies enrollment calculations for the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. It also adjusts the funding formula for fiscal years 2026-2090, ensuring adequate resources for the program by considering enrollment numbers and increasing funding by 7% annually, with a possible 25% increase in 2026. Finally, the Act mandates a report to Congress on the program's long-term budget needs and potential funding adjustments.

The African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act facilitates the establishment of a museum at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. This museum will serve as a memorial and educational center dedicated to those enslaved and buried at the site, as well as other enslaved Africans and African Americans. The Act outlines the acquisition of property, the planning, design, and construction of the museum, and its operation in collaboration with the National Park Service and other entities. It also establishes an Advisory Council to guide the museum's development and administration.

The African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a museum and educational center at the African Burial Ground National Monument. The study will assess the suitability of the museum to serve as a memorial to enslaved Africans, examine African cultural traditions, explore the history of slavery, and provide space for exhibits and research. It will also analyze potential collections, community support, and the best entity to operate the museum, and consider the optimal location within the National Monument. A report on the study's findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress within three years of funding availability.

The First Responders Wellness Act aims to improve mental health support for first responders by establishing a national hotline providing peer support, crisis intervention, and referrals for mental health and substance use issues. It also expands crisis counseling and training to emergency responders during major disasters and requires a report on best practices for on-site mobile healthcare services for responders during national disasters.

The "Tax Fairness for Survivors Act" exempts from federal income taxes any monetary judgments, awards, or settlements received relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment claims. This includes both lump sum and periodic payments. The bill ensures survivors are not further burdened by taxes on compensation intended to help them recover. These amendments will apply to taxable years beginning after the enactment of this Act.

The "Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act" mandates that dairy manufacturers report detailed production costs and product yield information to the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture will then publish a report, starting three years after the Act's enactment and every two years thereafter, containing the collected production cost data. This aims to provide greater transparency in milk pricing.

The "Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025" aims to protect postal workers by allocating funds for high-security collection boxes and electronic mailbox keys. It mandates the appointment of dedicated attorneys to prosecute crimes against postal employees and directs the Sentencing Commission to update guidelines to ensure that assaulting or robbing a postal worker is treated as severely as assaulting a law enforcement officer.

The "Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act" establishes a new National Historical Park to preserve and interpret the story of the Fort Ontario refugee shelter. The park will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior, who can acquire land through donation, purchase, or exchange, and is required to create a management plan for the park within 3 fiscal years. Cooperative agreements with state, public, and private entities may be formed to aid in the park's interpretive and educational services.