Legislative Activity

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow the use of 529 education savings accounts for expenses related to postsecondary credential programs. These programs include workforce training, professional certifications, and licenses. This change expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses to include tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and testing fees associated with recognized postsecondary credentials. The bill aims to make workforce training and professional certifications more accessible and affordable.

The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act extends and modifies the Conrad State 30 program, which allows foreign physicians to work in the U.S. in underserved areas in exchange for a waiver of certain visa requirements. It increases the number of available waivers, provides employment protections for participating physicians, and modifies the requirements for physicians seeking waivers, including allowing them to pursue permanent residency and extending their visas in certain circumstances. The Act also requires annual reporting on the program's usage.

The "Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2025" allows individuals to import prescription drugs from approved Canadian pharmacies under specific conditions, including a valid U.S. prescription and adherence to quality and safety standards. The imported drugs must be for personal use, up to a 90-day supply, and must match the U.S.-approved version in active ingredients, dosage, and strength. Certain types of drugs, like controlled substances and biological products, are excluded from importation. The Secretary will establish and maintain a list of approved Canadian pharmacies that meet strict criteria to ensure drug safety and quality.

The "Safe Home Act of 2025" aims to protect children by addressing unregulated custody transfers, which are defined as the abandonment of a child without ensuring their safety or transferring legal rights. It directs the Secretary to improve public awareness to prevent adoption disruption and dissolution, including unregulated custody transfers of adopted children, by updating federal resources and websites to educate state, local, and tribal child welfare employees and prospective adoptive families on preventing and addressing these transfers, and on accessing adoption support services. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the causes, methods, and effects of unregulated custody transfers, along with recommended policies for prevention and response.

The "Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act" aims to improve the well-being of adopted children and their families by providing comprehensive pre- and post-adoption support services. It directs states to utilize savings from reduced foster care payments towards these support services and establishes a federal grant program for post-adoption mental health services. The act also mandates the collection and analysis of data on adoption disruptions and dissolutions to better understand and address the challenges faced by adopted children and their families. Finally, it establishes clear effective dates for the implementation of the Act's various provisions, ensuring a smooth transition and compliance across states and tribal organizations.

The American Apprenticeship Act aims to expand apprenticeship opportunities by providing grants to states for pre-apprenticeship programs and related instruction in qualified apprenticeship programs, particularly in high-demand industries. It requires states to develop strategic plans for utilizing grant funds, emphasizes collaboration between various stakeholders, and promotes apprenticeships in non-traditional sectors while increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups. The Act also directs the Secretary of Labor to identify in-demand occupations that could benefit from apprenticeship programs and report findings to Congress. It authorizes $15 million in appropriations annually from 2026 through 2031 to support these initiatives.

The SHIELD Act of 2023 aims to protect individuals from the non-consensual distribution of intimate visual depictions. It establishes federal offenses for distributing such depictions, especially those obtained in violation of privacy or involving nude minors, with intent to cause harm. The act outlines penalties for violations, including fines and imprisonment, while providing exceptions for law enforcement, legitimate reporting, and service providers who are not intentionally involved. It also extends federal jurisdiction to cases involving U.S. citizens or permanent residents, regardless of where the offense occurs.

The Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025 prohibits unfair and deceptive advertising of hotel and short-term rental prices by requiring all covered entities to clearly display the total price, including all mandatory service fees, upfront. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce the Act, and state attorneys general can bring civil actions for violations. Intermediaries and third-party sellers have an affirmative defense if they relied in good faith on inaccurate pricing information from the hotel or short-term rental. The Act preempts state laws that conflict with its provisions, but it does not preempt state laws relating to contracts, torts, or data breaches.

This resolution designates January 2025 as "National Stalking Awareness Month" to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of stalking. It encourages support for victims, improved criminal justice responses, and increased education about stalking, particularly among young adults and college students. The resolution also urges organizations, businesses, and the media to promote awareness of stalking during the designated month.

The "Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act of 2025" aims to prevent anti-competitive practices and promote transparency in pricing by regulating the use of pricing algorithms. It requires companies to report details about their pricing algorithms, prohibits algorithms from using nonpublic competitor data, and establishes legal assumptions for algorithmic price fixing. The Act also mandates disclosure of algorithm use to customers and employees and directs the FTC to study the impact of pricing algorithms on competition and consumers.

The "Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025" expands benefits and protections for public safety officers and their families. It presumes certain cancers are line-of-duty injuries for officers with at least five years of service, updates the list of cancers covered, and broadens confidentiality protections for information provided to the Office of Justice Programs. The act also clarifies the definition of "line of duty" to include actions officers are directed, authorized, or obligated to perform. Finally, the bill allows a three-year window for filing claims based on these amendments, regardless of other legal provisions.

The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025 aims to increase access to quality child care in child care deserts by providing competitive grants to States and Tribal entities. These grants will support the development and expansion of the child care workforce through education and training programs, as well as the construction, expansion, or renovation of child care facilities, including licensed family child care homes. The act authorizes $100,000,000 to be appropriated for fiscal years 2025 through 2031 to carry out these initiatives.

The Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2025 aims to strengthen antitrust enforcement by updating the Clayton Act to address harmful mergers and exclusionary conduct, enabling civil monetary penalties for Sherman Act violations, and increasing resources for antitrust enforcement agencies. The bill seeks to promote competition by revising standards for unlawful acquisitions, protecting whistleblowers who report anti-competitive behavior, and ensuring fair compensation for those harmed by antitrust violations. It also establishes new offices within the Federal Trade Commission to enhance market analysis and advocate for competition. Finally, the act increases funding for antitrust enforcement and ensures that collected fees are used to further these efforts.

Authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda for the lying in state of former President James Earl Carter, Jr. from January 7-9, 2025. Directs the Architect of the Capitol, under the guidance of congressional leaders, to oversee the arrangements. Further directs the Architect of the Capitol to move the catafalque from the Capitol Visitor Center's Exhibition Hall to the rotunda for use during the services.