Legislative Activity

The "No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act" aims to prevent U.S. taxpayer money from supporting the Taliban by requiring the State Department to actively oppose financial support to the Taliban from foreign countries and NGOs, especially those receiving U.S. aid. It mandates reports to Congress on entities supporting the Taliban, the status of direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan, and the status of the Afghan Fund, including measures to prevent Taliban access to these funds. The Act also requires the development and implementation of a strategy to discourage support to the Taliban, utilizing U.S. foreign assistance as a deterrent.

The "Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025" aims to combat piracy, particularly off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden, by imposing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in these activities. These sanctions include asset blocking and visa restrictions, with exceptions for humanitarian aid and U.S. national security interests. The President is granted the authority to implement these sanctions and may waive them if deemed crucial to U.S. national security.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025 mandates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to complete a high-resolution survey and map of the Great Lakes lakebeds by 2030, coordinating with various stakeholders. The collected data will be made public and integrated into nautical charts. The Act allocates $50 million annually from 2025 to 2029 for this initiative.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The "Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act" mandates a study on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma in Vietnam War veterans, comparing cancer rates and demographics to the general U.S. population. The study, conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the CDC, will inform Congress on potential actions needed to address any identified issues. Additionally, the bill extends the limitation of certain pension payments to December 31, 2031.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 aims to retain foreign graduates with advanced STEM degrees in the United States by adjusting visa requirements and granting lawful permanent resident status to eligible individuals. It mandates stricter vetting procedures for foreign students pursuing master's or higher degrees in STEM fields, while also providing a pathway to permanent residency for those who meet specific education and employment criteria. The Act requires annual reports to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these changes. This legislation seeks to bolster the U.S. STEM workforce by making it easier for talented foreign graduates to remain and contribute to the country's economy.

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The "Protecting Options for Seniors Act of 2025" addresses inconsistencies in Medicare Advantage (MA) plan payments due to hospital wage index reclassifications. Starting in 2026, the Act increases the national per capita MA growth percentage for areas with significant hospital wage index increases, ensuring fair payments to hospitals and maintaining benchmark neutrality. The Act also mandates the separate computation and publication of total payments made to each area hospital under Medicare Parts A and B, promoting transparency.

The Financial Technology Protection Act of 2025 establishes an Independent Financial Technology Working Group to Combat Terrorism and Illicit Financing, tasked with researching and developing proposals to counter illicit uses of digital assets and emerging technologies. It also requires a report and strategy from the President on how these technologies could be used to evade sanctions and finance terrorism, along with measures to prevent such illicit activities. The Act defines key terms related to digital assets, emerging technologies, and illicit activities to provide clarity and ensure effective implementation. The goal of the act is to protect the US financial system and national security.

The "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act" or the "SAVES Act" establishes a five-year pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions such as PTSD. The grants, up to $2,000,000 each, will support the planning, development, and management of service dog programs, ensuring veterans receive these dogs at no cost and are informed of available VA benefits. The VA will also provide veterinary insurance for the service dogs. $10,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each of the five fiscal years following the establishment of the pilot program.

The STABLE Act of 2025 establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, limiting issuance to approved entities and setting standards for reserves, transparency, and risk management. It defines key terms, outlines the approval process for stablecoin issuers, and grants supervisory and enforcement powers to federal regulators, while also allowing state-regulated entities to operate under certain conditions. The act also includes customer protections, interoperability standards, a temporary ban on endogenously collateralized stablecoins, and directs studies on the broader digital asset landscape. Finally, the act clarifies that payment stablecoins are not to be considered securities under existing securities laws.

The "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act" prohibits Federal Reserve Banks from offering financial products or services directly to individuals, maintaining accounts for individuals, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly. It also blocks the Federal Reserve from testing, creating, or implementing a CBDC, or using it to implement monetary policy, without explicit congressional authorization. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to digital versions of the dollar that are open, permissionless, and private, like physical currency.

The "1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act" repeals Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, eliminating requirements for financial institutions to collect and report data on small business loans. This aims to reduce compliance costs for financial institutions, particularly smaller ones like community banks and credit unions. The goal is to alleviate regulatory burdens and improve credit access for small businesses by removing these data collection requirements.

The Baby Changing on Board Act mandates that all new Amtrak passenger trains must include at least one baby changing table in a restroom per car, including an ADA-compliant restroom. These restrooms must have clear signs indicating the presence of the baby changing table. This ensures that passengers have access to diaper-changing facilities while traveling on Amtrak.

The "Promoting New Bank Formation Act" aims to encourage the creation of new banks by easing regulatory burdens during their initial years. It allows for a phased-in approach to meeting capital requirements, simplifies business plan adjustments, and provides a more favorable leverage ratio for new rural community banks. The Act also expands agricultural lending authority for Federal savings associations and mandates a study on the decline of new banks to identify ways to promote their formation in underserved areas.

The "PLAN for School Safety Act of 2025" aims to improve school safety by establishing Regional School Safety Development Centers. These centers will offer customized consulting services to schools for developing and implementing evidence-based school safety plans, focusing on violence and suicide prevention, student mental health, and overall school security. The program will be overseen by a Director who will award grants to eligible entities, provide training and technical assistance, and establish a Youth Advisory Council. This act allocates $25 million annually from 2026-2030 to support these initiatives, ensuring schools receive the resources and guidance needed to create safer learning environments.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act updates the resource limits for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, increasing the individual limit to $10,000 and the couple's limit to $20,000 by 2025. After 2025, these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. This change aims to allow SSI recipients to save more without losing their eligibility for benefits.

The "Armenian Genocide Education Act" directs the Librarian of Congress to develop and implement a program to support Armenian Genocide education by creating resources, offering teacher training, and encouraging the inclusion of these resources in school curriculums. The Act authorizes the Librarian of Congress to collect and manage donations to support these activities and requires an annual report to Congress on the program's progress. It also authorizes $2,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and each of the following four fiscal years to implement the Act.