Legislative Activity

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the National Labor Relations Act to bolster worker organizing rights and impose stricter penalties on employers who violate labor laws. It redefines joint employment, makes it harder to classify workers as independent contractors, and bans class action waivers. The bill also establishes mandatory arbitration for first contracts and allows employees to sue employers directly for serious unfair labor practices.

The Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2025 (ACRE Act) creates a new federal tax incentive for qualified lenders. This incentive excludes interest earned on certain loans secured by rural or agricultural real property from taxable income. The goal is to encourage lending for agricultural, rural housing, and related property by reducing the cost of capital for lenders.

The Child Care Workforce Act establishes a pilot program to address child care shortages by providing federal grants to States, Tribes, and Tribal organizations. These funds are specifically designated to supplement the wages of eligible child care workers to improve recruitment, retention, and overall service quality. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will oversee the program, evaluate its impact on staffing and access to care, and report findings to Congress.

The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act aims to lower childcare costs for families and incentivize employers to offer benefits. It significantly expands the employer tax credit for providing childcare and increases the tax-free exclusion amount for employee Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs). Furthermore, the bill introduces a new, refundable tax credit for working families based on their household and dependent care expenses.

The SHOPP Act of 2025 expands nutrition incentives under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) by allowing states to include fresh or fresh frozen fruits and vegetables as eligible items for year-round matching funds. This legislation also broadens the definition of "produce" within the program to explicitly include legumes alongside fruits and vegetables. The goal is to increase access to a wider variety of healthy food options for program participants.

This bill ensures that veterans have the option to receive and submit a physical, paper copy of the VA travel reimbursement form (Form 10-3452) by mail or at any VA medical facility. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide these physical copies upon request to accommodate veterans who cannot or prefer not to use digital submission methods. This guarantees accessible avenues for veterans seeking reimbursement for travel expenses related to their VA care.

This resolution supports the Local Radio Freedom Act, opposing any new performance fees on local radio stations for playing music. It emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship between the radio and recording industries, where radio provides free publicity and essential local services. The resolution warns that new fees would harm local radio stations, small businesses, and the communities they serve. Ultimately, it asserts that Congress should not impose any new charges on local radio for broadcasting sound recordings.

The "Critical Minerals Security Act of 2025" mandates the Secretary of the Interior to regularly report to Congress on the state of global critical mineral and rare earth element resources, including identifying resources controlled by foreign entities of concern. It also requires establishing a process for U.S. individuals to notify the government when divesting stock in foreign critical mineral operations, and directs the development of a strategy to collaborate with allied countries on advanced mining and processing technologies. The goal is to ensure the U.S. and its allies have secure access to these critical resources.

The Keep Americans Safe Act generally bans the sale, transfer, and possession of ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds, with exceptions for current and retired law enforcement, government use, and existing lawful possession. The bill mandates serial numbers and manufacturing dates on newly produced devices. Furthermore, it permits states to use federal Byrne grant funds for buy-back programs targeting these large-capacity magazines.

The HOPE for Homeownership Act imposes new federal excise taxes on large investment entities, such as hedge funds, that own excess single-family residences. These taxes apply both at the time of purchase and annually based on the number of homes owned above a set limit. Furthermore, taxpayers subject to these new taxes are disallowed from claiming mortgage interest deductions or depreciation on those residential properties. The goal is to discourage large-scale corporate ownership of single-family homes.

The Pay Our Coast Guard Act ensures that Coast Guard members receive equitable pay and benefits compared to other Armed Forces. Crucially, it establishes automatic appropriations to continue paying active and essential civilian personnel during a funding lapse that specifically affects only the Coast Guard while the Department of Defense remains funded. This measure guarantees essential operational continuity and support for service members and their families during such shutdowns.

The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025 expands access to mental health evaluations, refines the criteria for healthcare provider credentialing, and clarifies enrollment calculations for the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. It also adjusts the funding formula for fiscal years 2026-2090, ensuring adequate resources for the program by considering enrollment numbers and increasing funding by 7% annually, with a possible 25% increase in 2026. Finally, the Act mandates a report to Congress on the program's long-term budget needs and potential funding adjustments.

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 "Affordable College Textbook Act" aims to lower the cost of college textbooks for students by expanding the use of open educational resources. It authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to higher education institutions to create and expand the use of open textbooks. The act also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions to disclose textbook price information, including whether the material is an open educational resource, on online course schedules. Finally, it directs the Comptroller General to prepare a report on the cost of textbooks and the implementation of these provisions.

This resolution condemns the U.S. delegation's vote against a UN resolution supporting Ukraine, which aligned the U.S. with Russia and other autocratic regimes. It criticizes the failure to identify Russia as the aggressor and demands collaboration with Ukraine and European allies in future UN efforts. The resolution reaffirms support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This resolution celebrates Black History Month, acknowledging the historical injustices and significant contributions of African Americans to the United States. It recognizes Black History Month as a time for reflection, commemoration, and learning from the past. The resolution encourages the celebration of Black History Month and emphasizes the importance of moving forward as a united nation with liberty and justice for all.

The Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African-American astronaut candidate, in recognition of his achievements and contributions to art and Black history. The Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal. It also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicates to the public and specifies that these medals are national and numismatic items.

This resolution affirms the Senate's position that the NIH's operations and funding should not be disrupted, as they are crucial for medical advancements and addressing public health challenges. It emphasizes that the NIH workforce is essential for sustaining medical progress and protecting national health, security, and the economy. Any interference with NIH operations or its workforce undermines biomedical research and the nation's ability to respond to public health issues.

This resolution designates the week of February 24-28, 2025, as "Public Schools Week," to recognize the importance of public education. It expresses Congress's support for strengthening public schools through various measures, including empowering educators, supporting student well-being, and promoting equal opportunities. The resolution emphasizes the vital roles of educators, parents, and community stakeholders in ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education. It also acknowledges the importance of federal funding in supporting public schools.

Ethan's Law aims to reduce gun violence by promoting responsible firearm storage. It establishes a federal requirement for gun owners to securely store firearms, especially in homes with minors or individuals prohibited from owning firearms, with penalties for improper storage. The law also creates a grant program to assist states and Indian Tribes in implementing similar safe storage laws. Additionally, it expresses the sense of Congress that failing to securely store a firearm constitutes negligence and can establish legal causation for harm resulting from its discharge.