Legislative Activity

The "Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act" aims to enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs' handling of military sexual trauma claims. It mandates annual sensitivity training for VA employees involved in processing these claims, requires reports on training programs, and expands the Secretary's duty to assist claimants by obtaining relevant records. Additionally, it addresses sensitivity training for contracted health care professionals to prevent re-traumatization of veterans during examinations.

The SERVE Act aims to bolster military recruitment by improving access to potential applicants in high schools and colleges, establishing new JROTC affiliation types, creating a pilot program to recognize military-friendly schools, and prioritizing service academy applications from schools with above-average military enlistment rates. The act also designates a National Week of Military Recruitment and mandates several reports to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these initiatives.

This bill aims to increase access to paid family leave by providing grants to states to establish and maintain paid leave programs, with a focus on supporting new parents and low-income families. It also establishes the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (IPLAN) to streamline and coordinate state-level paid leave programs, reducing administrative burdens for employees and employers operating across state lines. IPLAN would create single policy and administrative standards across participating states. The bill authorizes appropriations to fund the grant program and IPLAN.

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 "Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act" aims to enhance the security of international supply chains for critical minerals and rare earth elements by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to create memorandums of understanding with foreign countries to cooperate on mapping these resources. This cooperation seeks to ensure that US and allied companies have priority in developing these resources, facilitate private investment, and protect mapping data from unauthorized access. The Act outlines specific cooperative activities, including data analysis, resource assessment, training, and promotion of collaboration between US entities and those in partner countries. It also requires the Secretary to notify Congress, collaborate with the Secretary of State, and consult with the private sector in prioritizing partner countries and assessing private sector interest.

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 "RESILIENCE Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow utility companies to reduce their adjusted financial statement income by the amount of depreciation and repair/maintenance deductions taken on public utility property. This applies to property that the utility company owns and is treating as depreciation on their financial statements. This change is applicable for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The VA DATA Act of 2025 restricts the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' data with the United States DOGE Service and prohibits special government employees from using veterans' data for commercial gain. It mandates that these employees return all data upon service termination, ensuring no copies are retained. The bill defines "veterans' data" as encompassing personal health, personal identifying, and financial information of veterans. This act aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of veteran data access within the VA.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to improve access to supplemental oxygen therapy for Medicare beneficiaries by removing oxygen equipment from competitive bidding programs, establishing fair payment rates, and ensuring access to respiratory therapists. It mandates specific service standards for oxygen suppliers, requires electronic templates for documenting medical necessity to prevent fraud, and restores clinical inference in claim reviews. The act also establishes a series of beneficiary rights, including the right to choose suppliers, receive clear communication, and have faulty equipment repaired or replaced promptly. Finally, the Act requires annual and monthly notices to beneficiaries regarding their benefits and cost-sharing responsibilities.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act introduces a new tax credit to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of homes in distressed communities. This credit aims to bridge the "value gap" that often hinders development in these areas by incentivizing the creation of affordable homes for qualified low- to moderate-income homebuyers. The credit is allocated to developers through state agencies, with specific requirements for affordability, construction standards, and homeowner protection. If the homeowner sells the home within five years, a portion of the profit must be repaid.

The "Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act" aims to improve the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and related items during airport security screening. It mandates the TSA to update its guidance in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks and ensure hygienic standards are met during additional screenings. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will audit compliance and report on screening technologies' impact on these items.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

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 "National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025" directs the President to establish a coordinated, multi-agency initiative to advance national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness in biotechnology. This initiative will streamline federal activities, support research and development, promote commercialization, and address biosafety, biosecurity, workforce development, and international partnerships. The Act establishes a National Biotechnology Coordination Office and an Interagency Committee to oversee the initiative, requiring them to develop a national strategy, create a public website, and submit annual reports to Congress. The Act also authorizes funding for the National Science Foundation to support the coordination office.

The ELON MUSK Act prohibits special Government employees from holding or benefiting from federal contracts or agreements. Any existing federal contracts held by these employees must be terminated upon the law's enactment. This aims to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure ethical conduct within the government.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

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 "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" aims to eliminate tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees' decisions regarding unionizing and collective bargaining. It defines "labor organization activity" broadly, encompassing elections, disputes, and collective actions. The bill mandates detailed reporting of such activities, with significant penalties for non-compliance, and directs the Treasury Secretary to issue implementing guidance. This would apply to expenses incurred more than 240 days after the bill's enactment.