Legislative Activity

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 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 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 Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that hotels and short-term rental platforms must advertise the **total mandatory price** for lodging upfront, including all service fees. This federal law prohibits hidden fees in initial advertisements, requiring the full cost to be clearly displayed throughout the booking process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcement, and the new rules preempt stricter state or local laws regarding lodging price advertising.

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 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.

This concurrent resolution authorizes the use of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the lying in state of the remains of the late James Earl Carter, Jr., the 39th President of the United States. The ceremony is scheduled from January 7 to January 9, 2025, to honor his distinguished service. The resolution also directs the necessary arrangements, including moving the official catafalque into the Rotunda.