Legislative Activity

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The Veterans with ALS Reporting Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a comprehensive report to Congress on the prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) among veterans. This report must detail current support resources, identify gaps, and propose plans for reducing ALS incidence and improving clinical trial access for affected veterans. The VA will also be required to continuously track ALS rates using the CDC's existing registry.

The VA Work-Study Improvement Act expands approved work-study locations to include state/local government agencies and nonprofits that benefit veterans. It establishes a clear standard for the minimum hourly wage paid to participants and mandates the use of electronic timesheets. Furthermore, the bill requires the VA to annually publish detailed data regarding the work-study program's activities and participants.

The Right to Enroll Act of 2025 extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges specifically for the 2026 plan year. This legislation mandates that the open enrollment period will run from November 1, 2025, through May 1, 2026.

The Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model under Medicare. This legislation specifically blocks the implementation of the prior authorization requirements associated with the WISeR Model. The goal is to prevent the adoption of this particular payment and service delivery model.

The Restoring Access for Detainees Act aims to reinstate and expand free communication services for individuals in civil immigration detention. It mandates the provision of free phone calls, including 200 free outgoing minutes monthly, specifically for contacting family and legal counsel. Furthermore, the bill ensures private, unmonitored communication opportunities with attorneys and certain government officials upon arrival in custody.

This resolution honors the heroic military service and sacrifices of Texas veterans, who represent the largest veteran population in the nation. It acknowledges the significant challenges they face, such as accessing mental health care and securing employment after service. The document expresses the House's appreciation and commits to ensuring veterans receive timely care and benefits. Ultimately, it reaffirms the commitment to supporting veterans in their successful transition back to civilian life.

The Same Day Registration Act of 2025 mandates that all states allow eligible individuals to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day during any federal election, including early voting periods. This requirement applies starting with the November 2026 general election. States without any voter registration requirement for federal elections are exempt from this mandate.

This resolution expresses support for National Adoption Day and Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting permanent families. It highlights the significant number of children in foster care waiting for adoption and encourages all Americans to consider providing a safe, permanent, and well-being-focused home for these children. The resolution supports various avenues for achieving permanency, including reunification, kinship care, and adoption.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

This resolution officially recognizes the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States, honoring its rich cultural significance and traditions of remembrance. It connects the spirit of honoring ancestors to the need for compassion and accountability regarding lives lost in immigration detention. The bill urges federal agencies to protect the dignity and rights of individuals in custody, especially during culturally significant times. Ultimately, it calls for honoring human dignity through remembrance and ensuring humane treatment for all.

This resolution formally recognizes the significant religious and historical importance of the festival of Diwali to Indian-American communities across the nation. Congress acknowledges Diwali as the festival of lights, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains for its symbolism of knowledge, peace, and the triumph of good over evil. By passing this, the House expresses respect for the Indian diaspora and appreciates the strong partnership between the United States and India.

The Every Child Deserves a Head Start Act of 2025 aims to solidify the foundational support for the Head Start program, recognizing its vital role in early childhood development. This bill permanently establishes the structure and staffing levels of the Office of Head Start, including its 12 regional offices, as they existed before January 20, 2025. The legislation strictly limits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from altering this established structure or reducing staff without specific Congressional notification procedures. Ultimately, the Act ensures the consistent delivery of essential educational and support services to eligible children and families nationwide.

The Voter Purge Protection Act establishes strict new evidence requirements for states before they can remove registered voters from the rolls for federal elections. States must have objective proof that a voter is ineligible and cannot remove someone solely for not voting or failing to respond to a notice unless it was returned as undeliverable. If a voter is removed, the state must notify them within 48 hours with instructions on how to re-register.

The No Shame at School Act of 2025 mandates that schools must stop shaming students over unpaid meal debt by prohibiting overt identification or segregation of students who owe fees. This law requires local agencies to actively pursue free meal certification for students with outstanding balances and prevents schools from taking food away after it has been served. Furthermore, it establishes strict rules for debt collection, forbidding communication directed at the child and banning the use of third-party debt collectors.

The Pay Our Military Act ensures that members of the Armed Forces continue to receive their pay and allowances if a full budget for fiscal year 2026 has not been enacted. This continuing appropriation provides necessary funds for active duty, reserves, and essential civilian support staff. This automatic funding remains in effect until a full appropriation is passed or until January 1, 2027.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities initiated after February 20, 2025, against designated terrorist groups or drug trafficking organizations without prior Congressional authorization. It asserts Congress's constitutional power to declare war and finds recent military strikes against vessels lacked proper justification. The bill allows for continued use of forces for self-defense or authorized counternarcotics support, but explicitly states drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This resolution supports designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month" to highlight ongoing threats to fair elections, such as gerrymandering and restrictive voting laws. It urges Congress to pass key legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act. The bill also encourages educational programs about voting history and registration efforts nationwide. Ultimately, it calls for federal action to protect and expand access to the ballot box for all citizens.