Legislative Activity

This bill supports the designation of May 4, 2025, as the National Day of Reason to recognize the importance of reason in addressing societal challenges, defending democratic principles, and advancing human rights. It highlights the role of reason and critical thinking in countering disinformation, promoting civil liberties, and upholding the separation of church and state. The bill also recognizes the importance of the scientific method and free inquiry in improving human welfare.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include state, federal, and local governments as employers, thereby extending OSHA protections to public service workers. This change ensures that public employees receive the same workplace safety standards and protections as those in the private sector. The Act will take effect 90 days after enactment for most entities, and 36 months after enactment for states without an approved state plan.

The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025 aims to guarantee legal representation for individuals facing immigration proceedings who cannot afford it, ensuring their rights are protected. It establishes the Office of Immigration Representation to provide these legal services and sets up a structure for local boards and various types of legal defenders to support this mission nationwide. The act also authorizes appropriations from the Treasury to the Office of Immigration Representation as needed to implement the Act. This includes setting up and running the Office, and providing ongoing education and training for legal counsel.

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 Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount withheld from monthly benefits to recover overpayments. For overpayments not caused by fraud, the Social Security Administration cannot reduce benefits by more than 10% of the monthly payment. Individuals can request a higher withholding amount if desired. This change applies to existing and future overpayments under Title II of the Social Security Act.

This resolution expresses support for honoring Earth Day and its role in promoting environmental awareness and action. It recognizes the historical impact of Earth Day on environmental protection and highlights ongoing challenges like climate change. The resolution urges continued action, referencing recent legislation and emphasizing the need to address environmental injustices and promote environmental literacy. It also encourages the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and urges Americans to observe it through various environmental activities.

The "Reconciliation in Place Names Act" establishes a committee to review and propose renaming geographic features and federal land units with offensive names, such as those containing racial slurs or honoring individuals with discriminatory views. This committee will solicit proposals from various groups, including Indian Tribes and the public, and recommend name changes to the Board on Geographic Names and Congress. The Board is generally required to approve the committee's proposals, and the Act aims to create a more equitable and just naming system that reflects the cultural diversity of the United States.

The "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025" prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing or extending leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration and development in the Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to prevent any further drilling in the Arctic region.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the specified planning areas. This prohibition aims to protect the marine environment and coastal economies of the West Coast from the risks associated with offshore drilling. The Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

This bill urges the U.S. to prioritize a world free of nuclear weapons and lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war. It calls for negotiations with other nuclear-armed countries to halt the buildup of nuclear arsenals, reduce/eliminate them, and pursue verifiable arms control agreements. The bill also advocates for policies such as renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons, ending the "hair-trigger" alert posture, and maintaining the global moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to protect communities and workers affected by nuclear weapons through remediation, health monitoring, and economic transition planning.

The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

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 "Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025" prevents any reconciliation bill from reducing Medicaid enrollment or benefits, or SNAP eligibility or benefits, through January 20, 2029. It amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to enforce this protection, ensuring these vital programs remain untouched by budget cuts. Violations of this act will be subject to a point of order.

This bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President in Executive Order 14257 on April 2, 2025. The termination is enacted as per section 202 of the National Emergencies Act.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The "WIPPES Act" requires "Do Not Flush" labeling on certain disposable wipes and similar products to prevent harm to wastewater infrastructure. It mandates a clearly visible symbol and written notice on product packaging, prohibiting any claims of flushability. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing these labeling requirements, and the Act preempts differing state laws.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2025" establishes a rebate program, running through September 30, 2030, for eligible households to receive financial assistance for the purchase and installation of cool roof products. Rebate amounts vary based on the type and performance of the cool roof product installed, with higher rebates for products that meet more stringent solar reflectance and thermal emittance criteria. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the program's impact and authorizes appropriations for both the rebate program and updates to the Cool Roof Calculator. To be eligible, households must have an income less than 200% of their ZIP Code's median income and reside in a high-risk area according to the CDC's Heat and Health Index.