Legislative Activity

This resolution acknowledges the 50th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon, honoring the Vietnamese American community's contributions to the U.S. and their pursuit of freedom and democracy. It recognizes the sacrifices of the South Vietnamese and U.S. militaries during the Vietnam War, while reaffirming the U.S. commitment to human rights and freedom for all, including in Vietnam. The resolution encourages Americans to remember Black April and celebrate the Vietnamese American community.

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 Medical Manufacturing, Economic Development, and Sustainability Act of 2025 (MMEDS Act of 2025) aims to incentivize domestic medical manufacturing in economically distressed zones through tax credits for wages, benefits, and qualified products/services. It prioritizes strengthening the national supply chain by increasing credits for facilities that move production from countries posing a risk to facilities producing population health products. The Act also amends the Public Health Service Act to support the development and accessibility of population health products, especially for vulnerable populations, during public health emergencies. Finally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the disproportionate harm to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and prior epidemics and pandemics.

The Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Act codifies the role of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring they report directly to the Secretary. It also mandates that the Secretary provide adequate staff and resources to support the Officer's work.

This bill supports the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to recognize her lifelong commitment to activism, including co-founding the United Farm Workers Union and advocating for civil rights. It celebrates her achievements in improving Latino voting access, ensuring safer working conditions, and promoting feminism and women's equality. The bill also acknowledges her numerous awards and ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

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 "Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act" directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop and implement strategies to counter threats posed by ghost guns. This includes assessing cross-border trafficking, researching prevention methods, tracking firearm violations at TSA checkpoints, analyzing data on U.S.-sourced firearms recovered in Mexico, and evaluating threats associated with foreign terrorist organizations. The Act aims to enhance prevention, preparedness, and response to terrorism and violence involving ghost guns.

This bill recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas in the United States across various sectors. It acknowledges their achievements in business, education, science, arts, public service, and more, while also addressing the economic disparities they face. The bill emphasizes the importance of investing in the future of Latinas to overcome existing barriers and enable them to reach their full potential.

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.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims, and to update which states and political subdivisions are subject to federal oversight based on a history of voting rights violations. It broadens the types of violations that allow a court to retain jurisdiction over a case, clarifies the Attorney General's authority to assign observers, and ensures transparency in voting-related changes. The Act also authorizes the Attorney General to demand documents and information to enforce voting rights and provides grants to small jurisdictions to assist with notification requirements.

The MERIT Act requires federal agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were terminated as part of a mass termination event between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date, providing them with back pay and benefits. The Act also mandates reports on government employee terminations and the reinstatement process. It defines key terms such as "affected probationary employee" and "mass termination" to clarify the scope and applicability of the Act. This act ensures that affected employees are treated as involuntarily separated without cause and outlines the process for determining back pay and providing notice to eligible employees.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the United States as children and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Title I, the Dream Act of 2025, establishes conditional permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Title II, the American Promise Act of 2025, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to eligible individuals from TPS or DED countries. Title III outlines general provisions, such as background checks, application processes, and fee exemptions, applicable to all seeking to adjust their status under this Act.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act allows wrongly fired or dismissed veterans in civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date to be reinstated to their previous position or a similar one. It mandates executive branch agencies to report to Congress every three months on all veteran employees who were fired or dismissed and the reasons for their termination, effective until January 20, 2029. The Act relies on existing U.S. Code definitions for key terms like "veteran" and "civil service."

This bill extends the temporary increase in the limitation on the cover over of distilled spirits taxes to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, pushing the expiration date from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2032. This extension applies to distilled spirits brought into the United States after December 31, 2021.

The "Supply Chain Security and Growth Act of 2025" introduces a 40% tax credit for investments in critical supply chain facilities located in U.S. possessions or Puerto Rico, aimed at encouraging reshoring. This credit applies to facilities manufacturing essential items like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, aerospace equipment and artificial nanomaterials. The bill also increases the deemed credit for taxes paid to a U.S. possession from 80% to 100%. It allows taxpayers to elect to receive direct payments from the IRS for the credit or transfer the credit to unrelated parties.

The Taxpayer Data Protection Act limits access to the Treasury Department's payment systems to Treasury employees or contractors with satisfactory performance reviews and security clearances. It sets specific criteria for individuals accessing the system, including conflict of interest restrictions, training, and ethics agreements. The Act also mandates the Treasury Department's Inspector General to investigate and report to Congress on any unauthorized system use.

The "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship, except in exigent circumstances. It mandates training, reporting, and oversight for enforcement activities near these locations, and invalidates evidence obtained in violation of the Act. The Act aims to ensure discretion and limit enforcement impact on sensitive community spaces, while also requiring annual reports to Congress on enforcement actions taken in sensitive locations.

The "Report on Grant Consolidation Authority for Puerto Rico Act" mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the feasibility of consolidating federal grants for Puerto Rico, similar to other insular areas, to ease the burden on its public sector and improve access to federal funding. This study will analyze current funding processes, identify challenges, and provide recommendations for potential changes, including extending consolidated funding access to Puerto Rico. The goal is to streamline federal funding and address the unique challenges Puerto Rico faces in accessing and managing grant programs.

This bill recognizes the 96th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth and reaffirms his teachings on diversity, tolerance, and civil rights. It condemns hate, discrimination, and prejudice against minority groups and individuals based on gender or sexual orientation. The bill honors Dr. King's legacy and calls for upholding his values of justice, equality, and peace.

The "Affordable Shipping for All Act" ensures fair shipping rates by preventing shipping services from charging higher fees to or excluding shipments to noncontiguous U.S. areas like Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. This act mandates that shipping costs to these areas must be the same as within the contiguous United States for products valued under $10,000. By standardizing shipping costs, the bill aims to provide economic parity for residents and businesses in these regions.