Legislative Activity

The Double Dependents Relief Act establishes a new, refundable tax credit for working family caregivers who incur significant expenses caring for a qualifying relative with long-term care needs. This credit equals 30% of qualified expenses exceeding $2,000, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. To qualify, caregivers must have earned income over $7,500 and meet specific certification requirements regarding the care recipient's functional limitations. The provisions of this Act are set to take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Curb Private Utilities Corruption Act (CPUC Act) mandates that state utility regulatory boards publicly disclose meetings held with lobbyists or representatives from electric companies. This aims to increase transparency regarding who is influencing utility regulation decisions. States must review and make a final decision on adopting this public disclosure standard within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Lower Internet Costs Act mandates that broadband providers must clearly display the total, final price of internet service in both advertisements and on monthly bills. This legislation also prohibits providers from charging certain specified fees, such as those related to network maintenance or regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the bill requires clear disclosure of future price increases for customers on introductory internet plans.

The No Bribes for Politicians Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and reduce conflicts of interest for high-ranking officials. This bill mandates biannual financial disclosures for certain employees and expands disclosure requirements to include relatives of the President, Vice President, and Cabinet secretaries. Furthermore, it prohibits the President and Vice President from owning for-profit businesses or using their office for commercial gain while in office. The Act also establishes immediate disposal rules for certain official gifts received by federal employees.

The Stop the Rate Hikes Act limits electric utilities to requesting a retail rate increase only once per year. This measure aims to provide consumers with greater stability by restricting how frequently utility companies can seek to raise electricity rates.

The Apprenticeships for Small Businesses Act of 2025 establishes a new Career and Technical Education Credit to support small businesses. This credit allows eligible employers to claim up to $10,000 annually based on 50% of qualified wages and workers' compensation costs for employees under 21 or those in approved training programs. The goal is to incentivize small businesses to invest in the training and development of young or newly skilled workers.

The Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance national readiness for wildfires and wildland-urban interface fires. It establishes a national training plan and grant program for structural firefighters, creates a new high-level Under Secretary for Fire Coordination within the Department of Agriculture, and boosts firefighter health and safety research. Furthermore, the Act authorizes supplemental funding for local departments to purchase protective gear and receive specialized training.

The Ban Corporate PACs Act restricts the ability of corporations to establish separate segregated funds for political purposes. Under this bill, only nonprofit corporations will be permitted to set up these political action committees. Furthermore, these funds will be prohibited from soliciting contributions from stockholders and their families. Existing non-nonprofit corporate political funds must dissolve within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Ensuring Casualty Assistance for our Firefighters Act establishes the Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program to support the next-of-kin of firefighters or staff seriously injured, critically ill, or killed during wildland fire incidents. This program mandates comprehensive support, including travel assistance for families, immediate access to case management and counseling, and clear information on all available federal benefits. It ensures a structured, coordinated federal response to provide timely and thorough assistance to survivors without altering existing death benefits.

This bill updates the definition of a federal firefighter under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to potentially include those with wildland firefighting experience or those who transitioned into supervisory roles. It allows current federal firefighters to receive credit for past service time that previously didn't count due to stricter definitions, provided they meet new criteria and repay the required retirement contributions with interest. This aims to ensure more federal firefighters receive accurate service credit toward their retirement benefits.

The Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025 seeks to expedite payments to local fire departments for fire suppression cost share agreements. It mandates federal agencies to establish standard payment timelines, revise existing agreements for compliance, and ensure alignment with cooperative fire protection agreements. The bill aims to reimburse local fire departments promptly, ideally within one year of fire suppression activities.

The Safer Response Act of 2025 aims to enhance first responder preparedness by updating the Public Health Service Act. This legislation modifies existing training programs to include broader medical countermeasures and increases funding for these critical services through fiscal year 2030. The bill focuses on ensuring first responders have access to necessary, legally marketed treatments for overdose situations.

The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act establishes a grant program to allow law enforcement agencies to hire retired officers for specialized, non-arrest support roles, such as training and investigative assistance. This funding requires rigorous background checks for the retired personnel and mandates annual audits by the Department of Justice Inspector General to ensure accountability. Agencies with unresolved audit findings face exclusion from future funding, while the Attorney General must report on grant distribution and potential funding overlaps to Congress.

The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2025 institutes a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax, including the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate, for the entirety of 2025. To maintain the solvency of related trust funds, the Treasury will transfer equivalent amounts from the general fund into the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. This legislation strongly directs that the resulting savings must be immediately passed on to consumers at the pump.

The Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025 establishes a new Demonstration Program to combat the invasive golden mussel through prevention, control, and eradication efforts across infested waters. This Act mandates the creation of comprehensive management plans and sets up a competitive grant program to fund research and develop new removal technologies. The goal is to coordinate federal, state, and local partners to effectively manage and contain the spread of this aquatic nuisance.

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025 establishes a competitive grant program to fund national organizations in developing comprehensive, out-of-school workforce readiness programs for youth aged 6 to 18. This Act aims to boost employment opportunities by connecting youth education and training with employer needs through community partnerships. Furthermore, it strengthens youth voices by mandating the reestablishment and integration of Youth Councils within local workforce boards to advise on training and readiness initiatives.

The Safeguarding Our Levees Act mandates a strict 180-day deadline for the government to begin emergency repairs on flood control projects following a natural disaster, upon request from local sponsors. This legislation also modifies the cost-sharing formula for these emergency restoration efforts between federal and local entities. The goal is to significantly speed up the restoration of vital flood defenses.

The Abandoned Vessel Prevention Act establishes liability for sellers of certain decommissioned commercial vessels that sink after being transferred for recreational use. Generally, the seller is responsible for cleanup and related expenses if the vessel sinks in U.S. waters. This liability does not apply if the vessel is small/new or if the buyer secures insurance covering the initial 12 months post-sale.

The Ending Drug Trafficking in Our Communities Act extends critical funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program through fiscal year 2031. This legislation also mandates that the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy actively identify and implement promising, evidence-based practices to improve drug trafficking investigations and inter-agency information sharing. The goal is to ensure the HIDTA program utilizes the most effective strategies nationwide to combat drug trafficking.

The Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to bolster the nation's wildfire response capabilities. It focuses on increasing the skilled workforce through new training academies and grants, improving federal firefighter support and retirement benefits, and enhancing public health protections against wildfire smoke via a new national alert system. Finally, the Act streamlines disaster recovery aid and advances predictive technology through centralized risk mapping and data centers.