Legislative Activity

The Expanding Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2025 establishes a new CISA program to actively promote cybersecurity careers to disadvantaged communities across the nation. This initiative specifically targets outreach to older individuals, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and those from nontraditional educational backgrounds. The goal is to diversify and strengthen the U.S. cyber workforce through tailored education and training assistance. The Act authorizes $20 million annually through fiscal year 2031 to support these efforts.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

This Act amends the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to streamline requirements for existing loans and establish a new, tiered cancellation schedule for newer Federal Direct Loans. Borrowers employed in public service will now receive partial loan cancellation after making 24, 48, 72, and 96 qualifying payments. Full cancellation of the remaining balance is granted after 120 qualifying payments, and the bill also simplifies the employment certification process and cancels accrued interest.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act establishes new cost-sharing limits for certain insulin products in health plans starting in 2026. For selected insulin, patients will pay no more than the lesser of \$35 or 25% of the negotiated price for a 30-day supply. These patient payments must count toward the annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The requirements apply across various federal health plan laws, though they generally do not apply to out-of-network pharmacies.

This bill, the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, extends the authorization period for a key water recycling program established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Specifically, it doubles the program's authorization from five years to ten years. This action supports continued investment in large-scale water recycling infrastructure.

The Unlocking Affordable Housing Act modifies federal transportation loan programs, specifically TIFIA and RRIF, to create flexible creditworthiness standards for projects that incorporate residential or mixed-use development. This change aims to encourage the inclusion of housing in transportation infrastructure projects by aligning credit review with standards used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Secretary of Transportation is required to establish these new, tailored credit rules within 180 days of enactment.

The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act of 2025 extends existing protections by imposing a 6% interest rate cap on new loans servicemembers take out to consolidate or refinance pre-existing student debt during their military service. This amendment specifically targets the refinancing of prior student loans, ensuring servicemembers do not face excessive interest rates on this debt while serving. The bill clarifies that this cap only applies when the refinancing exclusively covers eligible student loans.

This bill extends and significantly enhances the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for employers hiring from targeted groups, increasing the credit amount and adjusting it for inflation through 2031. It also removes the age limit for SNAP recipients claiming the credit and adds qualified military spouses as an eligible group. Furthermore, the legislation mandates an inter-agency initiative to promote the hiring of targeted workers in key industries like manufacturing and healthcare.

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.

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 EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

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, 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.

The No Payola Act repeals existing Senate notification requirements concerning legal processes related to the disclosure of Senate data. Furthermore, it mandates that any Senator who received funds through a private right of action under the repealed law must return those awarded funds to the Treasury.

The VA Work-Study Improvement Act expands approved work-study locations to include state/local government agencies and nonprofits that benefit veterans. It establishes a clear standard for the minimum hourly wage paid to participants and mandates the use of electronic timesheets. Furthermore, the bill requires the VA to annually publish detailed data regarding the work-study program's activities and participants.

The VA Care and Benefits Accountability Act ensures that existing collective bargaining agreements within the Department of Veterans Affairs remain in effect until their specified end dates. Furthermore, this bill nullifies Executive Orders 14251 and 14343, preventing their enforcement or implementation within the VA. This action solidifies current labor agreements for VA employees.

The Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act establishes a five-year pilot program to expand eligibility for the VA work-study allowance to veterans pursuing certain educational or training programs at a half-time enrollment level. This allows more student veterans to benefit from work-study opportunities without meeting the current three-quarter-time enrollment requirement. Additionally, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit annual reports detailing participation and outcomes for veterans in the work-study program.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continue to operate without interruption in fiscal year 2026 if standard appropriations are delayed. If funding lapses, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use funds from the Treasury to provide benefits and reimburse state agencies. This special funding remains in effect until full appropriations are enacted or until September 30, 2026.

This Concurrent Resolution expresses the sense of Congress recognizing the heroic military sacrifices and patriotism of Black veterans throughout U.S. history. It acknowledges the significant challenges they faced both during service and upon returning home. The resolution highlights the vital connection between their military service and the ongoing fight for civil rights. Finally, Congress calls attention to the current disparities in health and benefits disproportionately affecting Black veterans.

The Integrated Resource Planning Modernization Act directs the Secretary of Energy to develop updated guidelines and best practices for electric utility planning, focusing on modern resource adequacy analysis and diverse energy solutions. The bill also establishes a grant program to help states align their planning requirements with these new federal standards. This effort aims to ensure the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the future electricity system through comprehensive, forward-looking planning.