Legislative Activity

The Born in the USA Act of 2025 declares that Executive Order 14160, which attempted to restrict birthright citizenship, is unconstitutional and contrary to the 14th Amendment. This Act prohibits the use of any federal funds to implement or enforce that Executive Order. It affirms the established constitutional right to birthright citizenship for nearly everyone born on U.S. soil.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal Trust Fund, financed by an increase in the corporate tax rate, to support water infrastructure and affordability programs nationwide. The bill mandates a comprehensive EPA report analyzing water affordability, civil rights compliance, and public participation in water planning. It also significantly increases funding for household water well systems and revises state revolving loan fund rules to expand eligible projects, including lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup. Finally, the Act creates new job training grants for the water sector and enhances drinking water assistance for colonias.

The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends child labor laws to prohibit individuals under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves. This change ensures that agricultural work involving direct handling of tobacco falls under federal child labor protections. The bill specifically updates exemptions to reflect this new restriction on youth employment in tobacco agriculture.

The Pink Tax Repeal Act prohibits businesses from charging different prices for substantially similar consumer products or services based solely on the buyer's gender. This legislation empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the ban as an unfair business practice. State Attorneys General are also authorized to file lawsuits to stop violations and seek restitution for affected residents.

The Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act significantly increases the maximum financial assistance available to disabled veterans for necessary home improvements and structural alterations provided through home health services, raising certain limits to \$10,000. Furthermore, this legislation mandates that these housing-related benefit amounts be automatically adjusted each year to keep pace with the rate of inflation based on the residential home construction cost index. These new, higher spending limits apply only to veterans who apply for these specific benefits after the Act is enacted.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 declares that practices attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity for payment constitute an unfair and deceptive business practice. Citing professional consensus on the ineffectiveness and harm of such "conversion therapy," the bill prohibits its provision and advertising. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the law allows both the U.S. Attorney General and State Attorneys General to file civil actions against violators.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

Violet's Law mandates that federal research facilities establish procedures to place retired research animals, including dogs, cats, and primates, into new homes. These facilities must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act standards and ensure animals are certified healthy by a veterinarian before adoption. Eligible placements include registered animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or private individuals.

The Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 amends the Lacey Act to prohibit the importation, sale, breeding, and possession of most nonhuman primates across state lines. This sweeping ban includes species like monkeys and lemurs, with limited exceptions for registered research facilities and existing owners who register their animals promptly. The law establishes immediate prohibitions, even before the Secretary of the Interior finalizes all associated regulations.

The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act expands the tax code rules that limit corporate deductions for excessive executive compensation. This bill broadens the definition of "covered individuals" whose high pay is subject to these limits, including certain past top executives. The changes aim to prevent companies from deducting multi-million dollar bonuses for highly compensated employees and grant the IRS authority to issue clarifying regulations.

This bill mandates that certain immigration officers from agencies like CBP and ICE must clearly display large, highly visible identification during all enforcement actions. The identification, at least 12x6 inches, cannot be obscured by external gear like body armor. This ensures clear identification of immigration officers while they are actively carrying out their duties.

The Protect our Public Health Workforce Act addresses the unfair removal of certain CDC federal employees between January 20, 2025, and the enactment of this law. It mandates the reinstatement or placement of these affected employees into equivalent positions, along with providing full backpay. Furthermore, the CDC must regularly report detailed information regarding employee removals to relevant Congressional committees until January 20, 2029.

Anna's Law of 2025 establishes a new grant program to fund trauma-informed training for law enforcement and EMTs responding to sexual assault cases. This training aims to educate first responders on the effects of trauma to improve victim interactions and reduce re-traumatization. Agencies accepting the grants must ensure new recruits receive eight hours of training, while current staff receives four hours annually. The bill also mandates reporting on the program's effectiveness and maintaining a public directory of qualified trainers.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The Victims of Agent Orange Act of 2025 aims to address the ongoing health and environmental damage caused by the use of herbicides, including Agent Orange, during the Vietnam War. This legislation establishes comprehensive assistance programs through USAID for affected individuals and environmental cleanup in Vietnam. Furthermore, it mandates health assessments and the creation of dedicated health centers by HHS to support Vietnamese Americans impacted by the toxic exposure.

The Agent Orange Relief Act of 2025 aims to address the ongoing health crises stemming from the U.S. use of herbicides during the Vietnam War. This legislation expands benefits for children of male veterans born with certain birth defects and mandates new research into intergenerational health effects. Furthermore, the Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to fund health studies and establish treatment centers for affected Vietnamese Americans. Agencies are given 18 months to fully implement these provisions, followed by mandatory quarterly progress reports to Congress.

The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act establishes and protects the right of tenants receiving federal rental assistance, including Section 8 voucher holders and those in LIHTC projects, to form and participate in tenant organizations without fear of retaliation. The bill mandates that Public Housing Agencies and property owners must recognize these legitimate groups, consider their concerns, and respond to their feedback. Furthermore, it creates new enforcement mechanisms, allows tenants to sue for violations, and establishes funding for technical assistance and training for tenant groups.