Legislative Activity

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for unaccompanied children navigating the immigration system. This bill exempts these children from various immigration-related fees, including those for asylum and employment authorization. Furthermore, it places limitations on body examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. The Act also mandates the refund of previously paid fees that are now waived.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from any hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been explicitly authorized by Congress. It affirms Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and mandates expedited procedures for considering this measure. The resolution ensures that any ongoing military action against Venezuela ceases unless Congress provides a specific authorization for the use of force.

The Strategic Plan for Aging Act establishes a new grant program under the Older Americans Act to help states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations develop comprehensive, multisector plans for supporting older adults and people aging with disabilities. These competitive grants will fund the creation and implementation of long-term strategic resources designed to improve health, well-being, and quality of life through coordinated cross-sector efforts. The legislation aims to guide policy and funding over a 10-year horizon by addressing 11 key aging issues, such as housing, healthcare access, and economic security.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 enhances the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for new molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the priority review voucher program designed to incentivize the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases until September 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates studies to assess the effectiveness of these new drug investigation requirements and the existing voucher program.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a previous law (Public Law 11921). This repeal effectively reinstates the original statutes that were previously altered by those sections.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to establish a committee to review and recommend updates to policies regarding the medical certification of pilots and air traffic controllers with mental health conditions. The bill mandates regulatory updates to encourage aviation personnel to seek mental health care without fear of penalty. Furthermore, it allocates funding to enhance the FAA's capacity to process reviews and launches a public campaign to reduce mental health stigma within the industry.

This Act, the Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act, allocates significant funding through 2030 to support research and evidence-based practices for family caregivers under the Older Americans Act. It also updates and clarifies the definitions of "family caregiver" and introduces a definition for "older relative caregiver." Finally, the bill amends the National Family Caregiver Support Program to focus its support services on family caregivers.

The Family Caregiver Peer Support Act establishes a grant program to develop and expand peer support services for family caregivers, available both in-person and virtually. These grants will fund programs that offer emotional support and assistance with administrative tasks, while prioritizing underserved populations. The legislation also supports training for peer support specialists and ensures language access for diverse caregiver communities.

The FINANCE Act establishes a new grant program to provide essential financial planning services specifically for family caregivers under the Older Americans Act. This program aims to support those who informally care for older adults or individuals with Alzheimer's or related disorders. Eligible entities will receive funding to offer comprehensive guidance on benefits, budgeting, long-term care costs, and legal planning resources. The services must be delivered in an accessible manner, accommodating diverse needs including language and technology barriers.

The In-Home CARE Act establishes a new grant program to support home visiting services for family caregivers. These grants aim to enhance the ability of family members to provide care at home, thereby helping individuals remain in their homes longer and reducing institutionalization. Programs funded under this Act will conduct caregiver assessments and provide essential education, training, and referrals to necessary support services.

The DINE Act, or Disease Intervention through Nutrition Education Act, aims to integrate "food is medicine" and food-based interventions into services for older adults under the Older Americans Act. This legislation mandates screening and referrals for federal and non-federal food-based programs during routine health assessments. It also encourages states to use innovative nutrition delivery systems, such as produce prescriptions, to improve health outcomes for seniors.

The Convenient Care for Caregivers Act establishes a pilot program to support family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. This program will provide grants to qualified entities to offer integrated health care services and support to both the caregiver and the care recipient in accessible locations. The goal is to improve health outcomes for both parties through services like screenings, education, and support groups. The bill also mandates data collection on payments and health indicators to report on the program's effectiveness to Congress.

The Respite CARE Act amends the Older Americans Act to establish grants for eligible organizations to create or expand integrated caregiver support services. These grants fund programs that combine respite care with other supportive services for family caregivers. Funds must ensure accessibility through technology, translation, and appropriate formats.

The End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 prohibits rental property owners from using coordinators to gather and analyze rental data to recommend prices or terms. This bill makes paying for or performing such "coordinating functions" illegal under federal antitrust law. Enforcement is granted to the FTC, the Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General, and allows harmed individuals to sue for treble damages.

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to reform the federal rulemaking process by increasing transparency and accountability across executive agencies. It mandates extensive disclosure requirements for studies and funding sources submitted during public comment periods and establishes new standards for judicial review of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill creates an Office of the Public Advocate to focus on social equity in regulations and streamlines the review timeline for significant regulatory actions by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

The Stop Ballroom Bribery Act establishes strict rules and prohibitions on accepting donations for projects connected to the President or Vice President, including property near the White House. It bars donations from individuals or entities currently involved in litigation, seeking federal contracts, or lobbying the executive branch. The bill mandates public disclosure of donor meetings and imposes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including straw donations and coercion.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This resolution officially recognizes November 2025 as National Family Caregivers Month. It honors the millions of Americans who provide essential, unpaid care to loved ones facing illness or aging. The resolution also encourages public awareness and support for policies that assist these vital caregivers.

The Securing Assurance for Federal Employees Act (SAFE Act) prohibits Executive agencies from initiating or carrying out any reduction in force (RIF) during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in funding. Any RIF action taken during such a period will be considered legally void. This provision is designed to protect federal employees from job loss during funding crises.