Legislative Activity

The Migrant Due Process Protection Act grants non-citizens in removal proceedings the right to request that their hearings be conducted virtually via video or telephone conference. Immigration judges are required to grant these requests, provided the virtual format does not prejudice the non-citizen's case. This legislation amends existing immigration law to expand access to remote hearings.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 1200 William Street, Room 200, in Buffalo, New York, as the "William J. Donovan Post Office Building." It also mandates that any reference to this facility in U.S. records shall reflect this new designation.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This Act, the Indo-Pacific Partner and Ally Tariff Repeal Act, terminates tariffs imposed on goods from 40 specific Indo-Pacific allies and partners. Congress finds that these tariffs undermine collective efforts against the Chinese Communist Party's coercive actions. The bill immediately repeals the tariffs established under Executive Orders 14257 and 14326.

The Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualified small businesses from duties imposed under Executive Order 14257. It also mandates that the President refund any such duties already paid by small businesses within 90 days of enactment. This legislation aims to provide economic fairness and relief to small importers.

The Find It Early Act mandates that certain individuals at increased risk for breast cancer receive additional, recommended screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. This coverage requirement applies across private health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. These provisions are set to take effect starting January 1, 2026.

The Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act aims to significantly reduce prescription drug expenses for consumers. It expands the federal drug price negotiation program to cover more drugs and extends negotiated prices to most private health insurance plans. Furthermore, the bill applies inflation rebates to the commercial market and establishes new annual out-of-pocket spending caps for prescription drugs under private insurance starting in 2027. It also sets specific, lower cost-sharing requirements for covered insulin products.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

This bill mandates that the FEMA Administrator administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program. It requires the immediate disbursement of obligated 2022 funds and the initiation of grant awards for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the bill calls for research and development to improve the accessibility, resiliency, and security of emergency warning systems.

This bill, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, establishes temporary economic recovery payments for eligible recipients of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement, and Veterans benefits. It provides an additional $200 payment monthly to these individuals from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. These payments are designed to be non-taxable and will not affect eligibility for other federal benefits.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the ongoing epidemic of violence targeting transgender people, particularly transgender women of color. It memorializes the lives lost this year and highlights the systemic barriers, including discrimination and lack of healthcare access, faced by the transgender community. The bill calls for urgent action from the government to protect these lives through inclusive legislation and policies that ensure dignity and respect for all individuals.

The Clean Cloud Act of 2025 addresses the rapidly increasing energy consumption of data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. This bill mandates annual data collection on the energy use and sources for these facilities, which are currently lacking transparency. Furthermore, it establishes an emissions performance standard, imposing fees on electricity consumption that exceeds regional clean energy baselines, with collected funds supporting consumer energy cost relief and clean firm energy development.

The Communities Before Air Tourism Act expands the Secretary of Transportation's authority to restrict or prohibit commercial air tours over national parks and tribal lands. This expansion specifically includes protecting the well-being of nearby communities. The bill mandates consultation with affected communities and Indian tribes when making these decisions.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 2200 South Salina Street in Syracuse, New York, as the "Wallie Howard Jr. Post Office Building." This renaming standardizes all future references to the building across federal documents and records.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

This Act mandates the inclusion of Puerto Rico in the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, starting in fiscal year 2026. This ensures that vital substance use and health data is collected specifically for the territory.

The National Resilience and Recovery Fund Act establishes a dedicated federal fund, financed by new excise taxes on crude oil and imported petroleum products, to support FEMA's disaster mitigation and resilience grant programs. The bill also imposes a new windfall profits tax on large oil extractors and importers when oil prices exceed historical averages. Finally, it introduces a new 13% severance tax on crude oil and natural gas extracted from the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, offset by a credit for federal royalties paid.

The Restoring Access for Detainees Act aims to reinstate and expand free communication services for individuals in civil immigration detention. It mandates the provision of free phone calls, including 200 free outgoing minutes monthly, specifically for contacting family and legal counsel. Furthermore, the bill ensures private, unmonitored communication opportunities with attorneys and certain government officials upon arrival in custody.