Legislative Activity

The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to permanently sanction Iran for its weapons programs, support for terrorism, and destabilizing activities in the Middle East. This act repeals the sunset clause of the Iran Sanctions Act, ensuring the sanctions remain in effect indefinitely. The goal of this bill is to fully implement and enforce sanctions against Iran.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 216 Cumberland Street in Rochester, New York, as the "Minister Franklin Florence Memorial Post Office". It ensures that all references to this facility in any legal or official documents of the United States will now reflect this new designation.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 80 Prospect Street in Avon, New York, as the "Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz Memorial Post Office Building." Any reference to this facility will now refer to it as the Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz Memorial Post Office Building.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The ASCEND Act directs NASA to establish a "Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program" to acquire and share commercial Earth remote sensing data, prioritizing U.S. vendors when possible. This program aims to broaden data use for scientific research and applications without restricting the publication of findings. NASA is required to report annually to Congress on its agreements, license terms, and how these agreements advance scientific research.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

This bill expresses support for open water lifeguards, urging Congress and the President to officially recognize them as first responders and emergency response providers. This recognition would make them eligible for federal programs that support first responders.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The "Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025" requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to study and report on recreational vessel operator training programs. This study will review various training programs, course materials, and methodologies to improve boating safety. The report will include recommendations for minimum education standards, harmonization of federal and state programs, and options for experienced boaters. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance boater education and training to reduce risks and improve safety on recreational vessels.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. These grants can be used for de-escalation training, mental health support for officers, officer recruitment and retention, and other community safety programs. The Act prioritizes a streamlined grant application process and emphasizes accountability and transparency in the use of funds, with \$50 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act aims to rectify past errors by establishing a program to identify and properly mark the graves of deceased Jewish members of the Armed Forces buried in military cemeteries outside the U.S. with markers that do not reflect their religion. The American Battle Monuments Commission will manage the program, contracting with a nonprofit organization to identify the servicemembers and contact their families. The program is authorized to receive $500,000 per year for 10 fiscal years.

This bill directs the Coast Guard Commandant to update the Coast Guard's policy on using medication to treat drug overdoses, including opioid and fentanyl overdoses, and ensure naloxone or similar medication is available for Coast Guard members at all Coast Guard installations and in every operational environment. It also requires the Coast Guard to participate in a tracking system for such medications and mandates a briefing to Congress on the use of naloxone and related substance abuse mitigation efforts. Additionally, it amends a section of title 46 of the United States Code to include manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance on board a covered vessel.

The "Protect America's Workforce Act" nullifies a 2025 executive order that limited federal labor-management relations programs. It prevents the enforcement of the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds for its implementation. Additionally, the bill ensures the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor organizations until their original expiration dates.

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive 10-year Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, addressing critical infrastructure and facility upgrades. The plan aims to modernize education practices, enhance training facilities, improve safety and security, and ensure the Academy remains fully operational throughout the process. It also authorizes appropriations totaling $1,020,000,000 from the Maritime Security Trust Fund for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements by redefining "sex," modifying the "bona fide factor" defense for pay disparities, broadening the definition of "same establishment," strengthening non-retaliation protections, and enhancing penalties for employers who violate equal pay provisions. The Act also requires training programs, research, education, and outreach initiatives to eliminate pay disparities, and establishes a National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace. Additionally, the Act directs the EEOC to collect compensation data, reinstates pay equity programs, prohibits the use of wage history in determining salary, and establishes a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve compliance and enforcement of equal pay laws.

This bill validates the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as a valid part of the U.S. Constitution. It asserts that the ERA has been ratified by the required number of states, regardless of any previously set time limits.

The "No Tax on LOSAP Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the amount of qualified payments excluded from gross income for volunteer firefighters and EMS providers from $50 to $1,000. It also clarifies that payments under length of service award programs (LOSAP) are considered qualified payments, ensuring these benefits are not taxed. These changes apply to awards and payments made after the enactment of this bill.

The "Postal Police Reform Act of 2025" expands the authority of USPS police officers to enforce laws related to postal matters. It also clarifies the Postmaster General's authority to create and enforce regulations for Postal Service properties, including setting penalties for violations.