Legislative Activity

The Insurance Fraud Accountability Act aims to combat fraudulent enrollment in qualified health plans by increasing penalties for agents and brokers who provide false information, enhancing consumer protections through verification processes and access to account information, and regulating field marketing organizations. It also increases transparency through mandatory audits and the creation of a list of suspended or terminated agents and brokers.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to bolster women's financial security in retirement by increasing spousal protection under defined contribution plans, ensuring access to independent consumer information, and providing grants to promote financial literacy and assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders. The bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require spousal consent for certain distributions from individual account plans, with specific exceptions. It also mandates financial service providers to offer links to the CFPB's retirement planning resources and allocates funds for community-based organizations to enhance women's financial literacy and assist with qualified domestic relations orders.

The "Safe Schools Improvement Act" aims to prevent bullying and harassment in public schools by requiring states to establish and enforce policies that prohibit bullying and harassment based on various characteristics, including race, sex, disability, and religion. It mandates the collection and reporting of data on bullying incidents and requires biennial evaluations of programs and policies to combat bullying. The Act ensures that schools provide annual notice of prohibited conduct and grievance procedures to students, parents, and educational professionals. This bill seeks to create a safer and more inclusive learning environment for all students.

This bill aims to make housing more affordable by reforming land use regulations, investing in housing infrastructure, and ensuring fair practices in real estate transactions. It also seeks to address historical housing discrimination through down payment assistance, community revitalization, and strengthened financial regulations. The bill expands protections against housing discrimination and improves housing assistance programs to promote access to higher-opportunity neighborhoods, while reforming estate tax laws to ensure fairer taxation of estates and transfers. Finally, the bill increases accessibility in housing for individuals with disabilities by mandating more accessible units in HUD-funded projects.

The "Stop Comstock Act" amends several sections of title 18 of the United States Code and the Tariff Act of 1930 to address and restrict the distribution and importation of obscene materials. It removes references to "indecent" materials and those related to abortion or immoral use, focusing on the prohibition of "obscene" content. The Act revises language concerning commerce and importation to align with its objectives, updating references and definitions accordingly.

This resolution recognizes AmeriCorps Week (March 9-15, 2025) to honor AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on communities. It celebrates 30 years of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs and encourages public awareness of national and community service. The resolution also acknowledges the significant contributions of these volunteers and encourages people of all ages to explore service opportunities within these programs.

The "Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act" seeks to protect the health and safety of pregnant, lactating, and postpartum individuals in immigration detention by limiting their detention and restricting the use of restraints. It mandates pregnancy testing upon intake, generally prohibits detention unless the individual poses an immediate and serious risk, and ensures access to comprehensive healthcare services. The Act also requires detailed reporting on the detention and treatment of pregnant individuals and mandates training for DHS employees.

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act extends medical care coverage for veteran caregivers and provides them with employment assistance, including reimbursement for certification fees, access to training modules, and support through various programs. It expands services to include retirement planning and assistance for returning to the workforce, while also mandating bereavement counseling. The Act further requires studies on returnship programs and hiring incentives for former caregivers, as well as a report on the feasibility of establishing retirement plans for them.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025 aims to reduce firearm-related deaths and injuries by establishing a grant program for states, Indian Tribes, and local governments to implement extreme risk protection orders, which temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The act also amends federal firearms prohibitions to include individuals subject to these orders and mandates the inclusion of extreme risk protection orders in national crime information databases. Furthermore, it requires states and Indian Tribes to recognize and enforce extreme risk protection orders issued by other jurisdictions and affirms Tribal court jurisdiction to issue and enforce these orders within their Indian country.

The "Do No Harm Act" amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to clarify that religious freedom cannot be used to justify discrimination, deny access to healthcare, or violate labor protections. It ensures the RFRA only applies to lawsuits involving the government, preventing its use in disputes between private parties. This bill aims to protect civil rights and ensure equal access to services, benefits, and opportunities.

This bill establishes the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States to investigate the historical and ongoing effects of these policies on Native American communities, including forming advisory committees and addressing the handling of Native American cultural items and remains. The commission will conduct a comprehensive review, gather testimony, and recommend actions for the federal government to acknowledge its role and promote public awareness. It also ensures the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act applies to cultural items from Indian Boarding Schools. The bill allocates \$90 million to fund the activities of the Commission and Subcommittee.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 amends the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws to strengthen protections for employees engaging in labor disputes and collective bargaining. It redefines employer and employee status, addresses unfair labor practices, streamlines collective bargaining, and increases penalties for employers who violate labor laws. The Act also updates strike/lockout notification procedures and clarifies reporting requirements for employer-employee communication. Finally, it ensures the law's provisions are severable and authorizes necessary appropriations for implementation and enforcement.

The Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to fund projects that protect and restore native Hawaiian species and their habitats. This program will provide financial assistance to eligible entities, including state and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, and nonprofits, for initiatives such as invasive species control, climate change adaptation, habitat restoration, and scientific capacity building. The Act authorizes $30 million annually for 10 years, with a focus on supporting Native Hawaiian organizations and youth workforce development. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee the program and report annually to Congress on its progress.

This resolution affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, emphasizing the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the law. It supports the established precedent that the executive branch must comply with Federal court rulings. The resolution expresses concern over statements suggesting the executive branch may disregard the authority of the Federal Judiciary.

The "REP VA Act" aims to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) telephone communication by requiring a single, recognizable phone number and clear caller ID for all VA-related calls to veterans by January 1, 2026. It also mandates the Veterans Health Administration to establish call centers in multiple time zones to address healthcare appointment and referral inquiries, enhancing accessibility for veterans nationwide.

The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act aims to combat the spread of misinformation regarding election administration on social media platforms. It amends Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, removing immunity for platforms that knowingly host false information about the time, place, or manner of holding an election, or about voter qualifications. The Act mandates a process for removing such false information within specified timeframes, with penalties for non-compliance, and allows Attorneys General, Secretaries of State, and candidates to sue platforms that fail to remove the false information. A safe harbor is provided for platforms that remove false information in a timely manner.

The "Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act of 2025" repeals four executive orders related to energy policy issued on January 20, 2025. It prevents federal funds from being used to implement these orders, while ensuring the law does not diminish any existing presidential powers. The four executive orders that are repealed involve American energy, international environmental agreements, declaring a national energy emergency, and offshore wind leasing.

The "End Tobacco Loopholes Act" aims to equalize and increase excise taxes across all tobacco products, including setting specific rates for roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco, cigars, and creating a new tax for nicotine. It adjusts tax rates for inflation starting in 2025 and imposes floor stock taxes on existing inventories. The act also provides a transition rule for businesses manufacturing or importing taxable nicotine, allowing them to continue operating while their permit application is pending if submitted within 90 days of enactment.

The VetPAC Act of 2025 establishes the Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission to assess and provide recommendations to Congress regarding the Veterans Health Administration's operations. The commission, composed of experts appointed by the Comptroller General, will evaluate areas such as healthcare quality, IT, staffing, and budget management. It will then submit annual reports to Congress with its findings and proposed improvements. The Act authorizes funding for the commission's activities and mandates transparency by granting access to information to key congressional entities.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency concerning energy declared by the President in January 2025. The resolution nullifies Executive Order 14156, effectively ending the emergency powers invoked under the National Emergencies Act.