Legislative Activity

The COURSE Credit Act mandates that the Department of Education collect and report data on how colleges award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams on the College Scorecard website. Furthermore, the bill requires participating colleges and universities to publicly post detailed information about their specific AP and IB credit policies on their websites. This aims to increase transparency regarding how these standardized exam scores translate into college credit.

The Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a public online mapping tool within one year to identify communities disproportionately burdened by environmental, climate, health, economic, and social factors. This tool will use specific thresholds across various categories to flag census tracts needing attention. Federal agencies must then adopt this tool to prioritize funding and resources for the identified communities.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act strictly prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools, establishing national safety standards and requiring immediate parental notification after any restraint incident. It mandates that states create detailed plans, publicly report incident data broken down by student demographics, and utilize federal grants to fund training and prevention strategies. The bill creates a private right of action for families harmed by violations and ensures oversight across various federal school systems.

The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act amends the Higher Education Act to eliminate specific annual and aggregate loan limits for Federal Direct PLUS Loans made to graduate and professional students. This action removes previous restrictions on the maximum amount graduate students can borrow through these federal loan programs.

The Endometriosis CARE Act aims to improve the understanding and management of endometriosis through increased research funding and data collection at the NIH. The bill also mandates studies to identify barriers to treatment access and requires the development of public education campaigns and provider information resources. Furthermore, it calls for a comprehensive study on disparities in endometriosis prevalence, detection, and treatment outcomes.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to support the creation and operation of statewide senior legal hotlines. These grants, administered under the Older Americans Act, will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide free legal advice, counseling, and referrals to older individuals across an entire state. Grantees must meet specific operational requirements, including ensuring adequate staffing and coordinating services with existing legal and aging networks.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The Securing Americas Fuels (SAF) Act extends and significantly increases the clean fuel production tax credit specifically for sustainable aviation fuel. This legislation establishes higher credit rates per gallon based on carbon capture technology used in production. The bill also extends the applicability of this credit through 2033 for qualifying sustainable aviation fuels.

The Territories Health Equity Act of 2025 fundamentally restructures federal healthcare funding for U.S. territories by eliminating Medicaid funding caps and establishing new hospital support. It also reforms Medicare payment formulas in territories, particularly Puerto Rico, and creates pathways for residents to access affordable health insurance coverage. Overall, the bill aims to increase financial stability for territorial healthcare systems and improve access and affordability for residents.

This bill, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act of 2025, mandates the establishment of a health insurance Exchange in Puerto Rico. It ensures that key federal health insurance market reforms apply to coverage offered on the island. Furthermore, the legislation amends tax code provisions to allow residents of Puerto Rico to access premium tax credits for health insurance coverage.

The Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act ensures public broadcasting entities have an annual opportunity to apply for FEMA's Next Generation Warning System grants. This legislation mandates that the application period for these critical warning system grants remains open for at least 30 days each year.

The Right to Read Act of 2025 amends federal education law to establish a comprehensive "right to read" for all students, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, effective school libraries, and diverse reading materials. The bill defines key terms like "effective school library" and mandates that states and local agencies detail plans to support these resources and protect students' First Amendment rights regarding information access. Furthermore, it authorizes significant new funding to improve literacy programs, support school librarians, and mandates national data collection on school library resources.

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.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act of 2025 aims to expand healthcare access by establishing Medicare coverage for genetic counseling services starting in 2027. This legislation defines qualified genetic counselors and sets specific payment rules for these covered services under Medicare. The bill ensures that Medicare beneficiaries can receive essential genetic counseling from licensed or certified professionals.

This bill, the Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act, mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continuously improve outreach, technical assistance, and support for recipients of the Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program grants. This includes conducting annual stakeholder surveys to gather feedback on the grant process. The legislation also requires a review by the Comptroller General and a subsequent report from the DHS Administrator detailing actions taken based on the new outreach requirements.

The Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act provides liability protections for individuals, manufacturers, and nonprofit organizations that donate or distribute menstrual products in good faith to those in need. This protection covers the nature, age, or condition of apparently usable donated products. However, these protections do not apply in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

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 Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualified small businesses from duties imposed under Executive Order 14257. It also mandates that the President refund any such duties already paid by small businesses within 90 days of enactment. This legislation aims to provide economic fairness and relief to small importers.