Legislative Activity

This resolution recognizes and honors teachers who have achieved or maintained National Board Certification, highlighting their significant contributions to student learning and leadership. It acknowledges the rigorous standards required for certification and the positive impact these teachers have, especially in addressing learning loss. The resolution encourages increased support for teachers pursuing National Board Certification to further enhance educational quality. As of March 2025, there are 141,464 National Board Certified teachers.

The "District of Columbia Local Funds Act, 2025" appropriates local funds from the District's General Fund for the current fiscal year, in accordance with the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024. The total appropriation for the District's operating expenses in fiscal year 2025 cannot exceed the estimates in the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024 or the total revenues of the District for that year, with specific exceptions. The appropriated amount can be increased by proceeds from one-time transactions used for emergency or unanticipated needs, provided these increases are approved by local District law and comply with reserve requirements in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The Chief Financial Officer must ensure the District meets these requirements but cannot reprogram funds from bonds, notes, or other obligations issued for capital projects for operating expenses.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

This bill aims to prioritize veterans and military families by amending titles 5 and 38 of the United States Code to provide protections for employees, benefits, and programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It focuses on safeguarding the rights and job security of VA employees and civil servants, ensuring transparency in VA operations, and restoring services and programs that may have been reduced or eliminated. The bill also seeks to enhance employment opportunities for veterans, military spouses, and caregivers, while improving the security and integrity of VA data and systems. Additionally, it addresses financial oversight of VA contracts and mandates increased reporting requirements to improve transparency and accountability.

The "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act" transitions TSA personnel to standard federal employment rules under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, ensuring they receive similar rights and protections as other federal employees, while maintaining current pay and benefits. It enhances collective bargaining rights for screening agents, requires reports on recruitment, implementation, and workplace safety, and addresses specific concerns within the Federal Air Marshal Service. The Act aims to improve job security, morale, and overall working conditions for TSA employees.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to bolster women's financial security in retirement by increasing spousal protection under defined contribution plans, ensuring access to independent consumer information, and providing grants to promote financial literacy and assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders. The bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require spousal consent for certain distributions from individual account plans, with specific exceptions. It also mandates financial service providers to offer links to the CFPB's retirement planning resources and allocates funds for community-based organizations to enhance women's financial literacy and assist with qualified domestic relations orders.

The "Stop Comstock Act" amends several sections of title 18 of the United States Code and the Tariff Act of 1930 to address and restrict the distribution and importation of obscene materials. It removes references to "indecent" materials and those related to abortion or immoral use, focusing on the prohibition of "obscene" content. The Act revises language concerning commerce and importation to align with its objectives, updating references and definitions accordingly.

The "Tariff Transparency Act of 2025" directs the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate and report on the economic impact of duties and the threat of duties on imports from Mexico and Canada on U.S. businesses and consumers. The report will assess the effects on consumer prices, various sectors, and the overall stability of trade relations. It requires a detailed analysis of how these tariffs and potential tariffs affect business investment, job creation, and economic stability, providing transparency on the consequences of trade policies.

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2025 aims to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed through various initiatives. It establishes partnerships to support agricultural producers in implementing conservation activities, expands the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and creates a pilot program for landowners to establish and manage conservation practices. The act also invests in workforce development for food and agricultural sciences and streamlines the hiring process for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Finally, it transfers regulatory oversight of invasive catfish species to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

The "Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025" aims to address historical inequities in homeownership by providing down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers. The bill establishes a grant program for states and eligible entities to offer down payment assistance, closing costs assistance, and interest rate reductions to qualified homebuyers. It prioritizes those with incomes up to 120% of the area median income, or 140% in high-cost areas, with a focus on ensuring fair housing practices. The bill also mandates housing counseling for recipients and requires detailed reporting to Congress on the program's impact and demographic reach.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act allows for the reinstatement of veteran Federal employees who were involuntarily dismissed without cause between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment. It also mandates Executive agencies to report to Congress every 90 days on the number and reasons for veteran employee dismissals until January 20, 2029.

The "Protect Our Probationary Employees Act" allows certain federal employees who were involuntarily separated from their positions between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2029, while serving a probationary period, to resume that probationary period if reappointed to a similar position within their former agency. The resumed probationary period will last for the remaining duration of the original probationary period. This provision is set to expire on January 20, 2029.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025 aims to reduce firearm-related deaths and injuries by establishing a grant program for states, Indian Tribes, and local governments to implement extreme risk protection orders, which temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The act also amends federal firearms prohibitions to include individuals subject to these orders and mandates the inclusion of extreme risk protection orders in national crime information databases. Furthermore, it requires states and Indian Tribes to recognize and enforce extreme risk protection orders issued by other jurisdictions and affirms Tribal court jurisdiction to issue and enforce these orders within their Indian country.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 amends the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws to strengthen protections for employees engaging in labor disputes and collective bargaining. It redefines employer and employee status, addresses unfair labor practices, streamlines collective bargaining, and increases penalties for employers who violate labor laws. The Act also updates strike/lockout notification procedures and clarifies reporting requirements for employer-employee communication. Finally, it ensures the law's provisions are severable and authorizes necessary appropriations for implementation and enforcement.

This resolution supports designating March 3-7, 2025, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week" to highlight the role of social and emotional learning in academic success and well-being. It recognizes SEL's impact on students' mental health and career readiness while advocating for expanded access to SEL programs for students and teachers. The resolution also encourages federal agencies to identify opportunities to promote social and emotional learning.

The HELP Copays Act ensures that financial assistance from non-profits and drug manufacturers counts towards a person's deductible, coinsurance, and copay limits for health insurance plans. Beginning in 2026, this includes a "safe harbor" provision to protect high-deductible health plans. These changes apply to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management, while still allowing the use of tools like prior authorization. The Act is effective for health plans starting on or after January 1, 2026.

The Child Care Workforce Act aims to improve child care quality and affordability by establishing a pilot program that provides grants to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations. These grants will be used to supplement the wages of child care workers, with the goal of attracting and retaining qualified staff, improving worker well-being, enhancing the quality of care, and increasing access to affordable child care options. The Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to Congress. It also authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years.

The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act aims to make child care more accessible and affordable for families by expanding employer-provided child care credits, increasing tax-free dependent care assistance, and creating a refundable household and dependent care tax credit. The employer-provided child care credit is expanded by increasing the amount of qualified child care expenditures and the maximum credit amount, with special rules for small businesses. The amount excludable for dependent care assistance programs is increased from $5,000 to $7,500 (or $2,500 to $3,750). A new refundable tax credit is created for employment-related expenses paid for household services and care of qualifying individuals, with the credit amount varying based on income and the number of qualifying individuals.

This bill designates the outdoor amphitheater at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Virginia, as the "Rick Boucher Amphitheater." Henceforth, any reference to the outdoor amphitheater at the Blue Ridge Music Center will refer to it as the Rick Boucher Amphitheater.

The EARLY Minds Act amends the Public Health Service Act to prioritize early intervention for youth mental health. States can use up to 5% of federal mental health funds for evidence-based prevention programs for children and adolescents, regardless of diagnosis. The Secretary must report to Congress on the implementation and outcomes of these programs, focusing on access to care and reduced mental illness severity.