Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six lives lost and the thirteen injured. It specifically commends the courage and ongoing advocacy of gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The resolution also recognizes the resilience of the community and reaffirms a commitment to ending political violence.

This resolution observes the one-year anniversary of the devastating 2025 Southern California wildfires. It honors the 31 lives lost, recognizes the heroic efforts of thousands of emergency responders, and affirms commitment to supporting the ongoing rebuilding efforts in affected communities.

The Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 imposes comprehensive sanctions on Russia's financial, military, and energy sectors in response to its war against Ukraine. This legislation cuts off major Russian banks from the U.S. financial system and bans new American investment in Russia. Additionally, the bill makes the existing sanctions authority against Iran permanent by removing its expiration date.

This proposed constitutional amendment seeks to limit the President's pardon power by establishing a congressional review process. Under this system, Congress would have the opportunity to nullify a presidential pardon or reprieve with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Furthermore, a pardon would be void if the President fails to notify Congress within three days of granting it.

Alyssa's Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to help schools develop emergency response maps and comprehensive master plans for preventing and responding to school shootings. The bill also significantly expands the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-based Practices to enhance research, technical assistance, and the development of new safety technologies like panic alarms. Furthermore, it mandates the creation of a National School Safety Data Center to analyze nationwide school safety issues and trends. Finally, the Act sets technical standards for federally funded emergency response maps and requires ongoing reporting on national planning efforts.

The Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to combat rising antisemitism through comprehensive federal action, emphasizing evidence-based strategies consistent with democratic values. The bill establishes new offices within the DOJ and FBI to coordinate counter-efforts and improve hate crime data collection. Furthermore, it mandates specific compliance and reporting requirements for colleges regarding civil rights and prohibits partisan conditions on nonprofit security grants.

The Restore Trust in Government Act establishes strict new federal restrictions on senior government officials and their immediate families regarding the ownership and trading of specific financial investments. Covered individuals must divest existing investments that fall under the law's definition within a set timeframe, with limited exceptions. Violators face significant financial penalties, including a 10% fee on the investment value and disgorgement of any profits earned from prohibited transactions.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 protects the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to designate an essential caregiver who can provide support and companionship. This legislation ensures that these caregivers maintain in-person access to residents even during public health emergencies when general visitation is restricted. By establishing clear protocols and an appeals process, the bill aims to prevent the harmful effects of isolation and ensure residents continue to receive vital care and advocacy.

This bill, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, officially authorizes Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. The medals will be struck by the Treasury and permanently displayed at specific national sports museums. The Act also permits the sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the **Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building**. This change ensures all federal records and documents will use the new name for this specific post office.

This bill, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to convene a technical conference on strategies to shield residential and small commercial utility customers from rising energy costs driven by large loads like AI data centers. Following the conference, FERC must submit a report to Congress detailing recommendations and best practices. The goal is to ensure utility costs remain manageable for everyday families and small businesses.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media Act (FREEDOM Act) mandates the Secretary of State to report on internet freedom in Iran. This report must assess the feasibility of using emerging technologies, like direct-to-cell wireless, to expand internet access. It will also analyze the impact of current drone and jamming technologies on these efforts.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

The Veteran Education Empowerment Act establishes a grant program to help colleges and universities create and operate dedicated Student Veteran Centers. These centers will serve as centralized hubs to coordinate academic support, transition services, and community building for student veterans. The bill authorizes funding for these grants, which can be used for establishing and operating the centers, with specific reporting requirements to track effectiveness.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act of 2025 extends existing protections by imposing a 6% interest rate cap on new loans servicemembers take out to consolidate or refinance pre-existing student debt during their military service. This amendment specifically targets the refinancing of prior student loans, ensuring servicemembers do not face excessive interest rates on this debt while serving. The bill clarifies that this cap only applies when the refinancing exclusively covers eligible student loans.