Legislative Activity

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

The Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to fund state, local, and tribal governments, as well as eligible gun dealers, to conduct local gun buyback events. These buybacks must utilize specially designed "smart prepaid cards" that are technologically barred from purchasing firearms or ammunition. The bill also creates a new federal crime with significant penalties for anyone using or accepting these specific prepaid cards to illegally acquire or transfer a firearm or ammunition.

The SERVICE Act mandates that federal agencies must undergo a thorough review process before implementing significant workforce reductions. Agencies planning to cut staff by more than 5% must first submit a detailed report to the GAO analyzing the financial and mission impacts of the proposed layoffs. The GAO then reviews this report to ensure the analysis is complete and credible before the agency can proceed with the cuts after a mandatory waiting period.

This bill provides enhanced employment protections and reinstatement options for certain Federal career employees who were serving under a probationary period following a promotion. It grants these employees standard due process rights against unfair removal while on probation. Furthermore, it allows employees removed between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment to elect reinstatement to their former or an equivalent position with back pay. These protections generally exclude those promoted into or removed from political positions.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act aims to combat sophisticated, cross-border criminal organizations driving massive increases in retail and supply chain theft. This bill updates federal laws regarding stolen goods and money laundering to strengthen enforcement tools against these groups. Furthermore, it establishes a new federal Coordination Center within Homeland Security to share intelligence and coordinate efforts between federal, state, and private sector partners. The legislation recognizes that these theft rings often fund other serious criminal activities, threatening national security and the economy.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that all Executive agencies and military departments must adhere strictly to federal job classification standards when hiring personnel. If an agency cannot meet its required staffing levels under these new rules, the agency head must promptly notify relevant Congressional committees within seven days with a detailed explanation. This legislation aims to standardize and enforce federal employment structures across key government bodies.

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 Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

The American Family Act fundamentally overhauls the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with a system of advance, refundable monthly payments delivered directly to families. These monthly allowances vary based on the child's age, with higher amounts provided for younger children. The bill also establishes a separate, smaller credit for other dependents and outlines procedures for annual renewal and reconciliation of advance payments when filing taxes.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to review state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. If a state fails to meet these standards, the FLRA will administer federal labor relations rules for the uncovered employees. The Act also prohibits strikes or lockouts that would measurably disrupt emergency or public safety services.

The Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2025 establishes mandatory, standardized procedures for law enforcement and correctional facilities to promptly and compassionately notify next-of-kin when an individual in custody dies, is seriously injured, or becomes seriously ill. This Act requires detention agencies to collect emergency contact information upon intake and mandates specific timeframes—such as notification within 12 hours of death—for communicating critical medical and death details. Furthermore, it ensures that next-of-kin receive autopsy results and have input regarding the disposition of remains.

The Community First Act establishes a new federal grant program managed by the Attorney General to help local governments significantly reduce their jail populations and the length of pretrial detention. These grants fund both data analysis for planning and the implementation of evidence-based strategies like reducing cash bail and expanding pretrial services. Grantees must meet strict annual goals for incarceration rate reduction, or risk losing their funding. The Act prioritizes ambitious plans from high-incarceration areas while ensuring rural and mid-sized communities receive funding opportunities.

The DART Act of 2025 aims to reduce crime and recidivism by shifting focus toward rehabilitation and diversion programs over incarceration. This legislation expands the use of federal Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to support pre-arrest diversion, specialty courts, and post-release services. Furthermore, it establishes a National Clearinghouse to promote evidence-based, trauma-informed practices in these justice reform efforts.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act restores key federal tax deductions for employees, effective after 2024. This legislation makes union dues fully deductible "above the line," meaning they reduce Adjusted Gross Income without itemizing. Additionally, it allows itemizers to deduct certain other job-related business expenses that were previously limited.

This Act mandates the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and then a final standard requiring comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans for employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. These plans must be developed with employee input and detail risk assessments, hazard controls, reporting procedures, and annual training. Furthermore, the bill amends the Social Security Act to require Medicare-funded hospitals and skilled nursing facilities not covered by OSHA to comply with these new federal workplace violence prevention standards. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for workplace violence and includes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Congress acknowledges the achievements of transgender individuals while highlighting the ongoing discrimination and violence they face. The resolution encourages appropriate ceremonies and activities to observe the day and celebrate the community's leadership and fight for equality.