Legislative Activity

This bill commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States, recognizing the profound sacrifices and immense contributions of Southeast Asian Americans. It honors the historical alliance and acknowledges the challenges faced by these communities since their arrival. The legislation celebrates the vibrant cultural and economic impact of over three million Southeast Asian Americans today.

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 Ban on Self-Interested Contracting Act (BASIC Act) establishes a new criminal prohibition preventing special Government employees from knowingly receiving large federal awards from their own agencies or related parties. The Act also mandates increased transparency by requiring the publication of certain position data and financial disclosure reports for these employees. Finally, it creates a public, searchable database detailing covered special Government employees.

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 Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by reducing massive visa backlogs and prioritizing family reunification across various categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying certain family members as "immediate relatives," and creating new pathways for permanent partners and refugees to join their loved ones. Ultimately, the bill aims to keep families together, speed up legal immigration processes, and address past discrimination in the visa system.

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act aims to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants by federal law enforcement officers, requiring them to announce their presence before entry. Furthermore, it conditions federal funding for state and local law enforcement agencies on their compliance with the same no-knock warrant prohibition. This legislation seeks to increase accountability and safety during warrant executions.

The Labor Enforcement to Securely Protect Workers (LETS Protect Workers) Act significantly increases civil penalties for violations across major federal labor laws, including child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety standards. It strengthens enforcement mechanisms for mine safety violations and retaliation against miners, while also establishing new penalties for employer unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, the bill enhances enforcement for health plan parity and makes certain recordkeeping failures under OSHA and FLSA continuing violations.

This concurrent resolution commends state and local governments for championing reproductive rights as human rights following the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. It declares that denying abortion care leads to severe health risks and highlights the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes across the U.S. The resolution urges states to repeal abortion restrictions and affirm that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights.

The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act establishes new requirements and strict time limits for the Department of Defense when providing support to civilian law enforcement agencies, requiring prior Congressional notification and justification. It also prohibits Department of Defense personnel from simultaneously serving in civilian law enforcement roles, with limited exceptions for reservists. Furthermore, the bill broadens the circumstances under which military and federal law enforcement can assist civil authorities and creates a private right of action for violations of the Act.

The Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act of 2025 restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining individuals attending or departing from immigration court proceedings or scheduled appointments, unless a judicial warrant is present or an imminent threat exists. The bill mandates specific supervisory approval for arrests during scheduled check-ins. Furthermore, it requires the DHS Inspector General to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance with these new protections.

This bill establishes the **Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act** to authorize the Attorney General to appoint highly qualified, temporary immigration judges for limited terms. These temporary judges are intended to supplement, not replace, permanent judges and must meet specific experience requirements. The legislation mandates rigorous oversight, training protocols, and limits the total service time for these temporary appointments to ensure judicial integrity.

The STOP Scams Against Seniors Act amends existing law to allow federal Byrne JAG grant funds to be used by states and local governments to establish and operate elder justice task forces. These task forces will focus on combating financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting individuals aged 60 and older. The legislation also mandates detailed reporting on the task forces' activities, case outcomes, and victim support provided.

This resolution, the RESPECT Resolution, encourages states and localities to adopt best practices to advance equity in the legal cannabis market and repair harms caused by the War on Drugs, especially for communities of color. It recommends specific actions such as expunging past cannabis convictions, creating equitable licensing priorities, and reinvesting tax revenue into affected communities. Furthermore, the bill directs the President to advocate at the United Nations to remove cannabis from international drug control treaties.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 seeks to reverse harmful provisions affecting unaccompanied children. This bill eliminates various immigration-related fees for current and former unaccompanied children, including those for asylum and employment authorization. It also prohibits physically intrusive medical examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the Act mandates the refunding of previously paid fees.

This resolution strongly condemns the Iranian government for its ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority, which violates international human rights laws. It documents systematic abuses, including economic restrictions, denial of education, and arbitrary arrests, noting that these actions may constitute a crime against humanity. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned Bahais and urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to condemn these violations and impose sanctions on responsible officials.

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 American Decade of Sports Act establishes a "Mega-Decade Sports Diplomacy Strategy" to leverage major international sporting events hosted in the U.S. between 2024 and 2034 to enhance America's global standing. This requires the State Department to create comprehensive 5-year plans detailing diplomatic goals, partnerships, and visa facilitation efforts. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of a dedicated Office of Sports Diplomacy to coordinate and execute these strategy objectives across government and private sectors. The Secretary of State must provide annual progress reports to Congress on the implementation of these goals until the end of 2034.

This Act establishes a competitive grant program to prepare girls and underrepresented minorities for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Qualified local educational agencies serving high-need student populations are eligible to apply for four-year grants of $250,000 annually. Funds must support comprehensive K-12 STEM education activities, including tutoring, mentoring, professional development, and career exposure. Grantees must submit annual evaluations detailing student progress and program effectiveness.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

This resolution commemorates World AIDS Day and recognizes significant progress made in combating HIV/AIDS globally and domestically through programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White Act. It highlights ongoing challenges, particularly disparities in impact, while encouraging continued robust funding for research, prevention, and treatment efforts worldwide. The resolution supports the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 through zero new transmissions and zero discrimination.