Legislative Activity

This bill expresses support for America's Black workers, acknowledging historical injustices and ongoing disparities in the workforce. It emphasizes the need to reduce inequalities by improving access to job training, education, and fair wages, while also advocating for safe working conditions and protection from discrimination. The bill supports legislation like the PRO Act and the Raise the Wage Act to improve labor conditions for Black workers. Ultimately, it aims to promote economic opportunity for Black workers, recognizing its importance for both individual and national prosperity.

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 28 East Airy Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, as the "Charles L. Blockson Post Office Building." Any reference to this facility in any document will now refer to it as the Charles L. Blockson Post Office Building.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

The Social Security Expansion Act aims to increase Social Security benefits, change cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect elderly consumers, and extend eligibility to student children. It also adjusts payroll and self-employment taxes for earnings above $250,000, increases taxes on investment gains, and establishes a new Social Security Trust Fund. These changes are intended to provide greater financial security for beneficiaries and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system.

The Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025 prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning stock or having financial interests in defense contractors to prevent profiting from war. It requires divestment of conflicting assets within a specified timeframe, with exceptions for diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Violators may face civil penalties, and the Act allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required divestments.

This bill redesignates the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It changes all references to the site in law and documentation to reflect the new name. The bill also repeals the previous resolutions that designated the site as a memorial to Robert E. Lee.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.

The CROWN Act of 2025 prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyle if that style is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. This protection extends to federally funded programs, housing, public accommodations, and employment. The act aims to ensure equal opportunity and prevent discrimination based on hair, addressing historical biases and stereotypes. It clarifies that existing civil rights laws should be interpreted to include protection against hair-based discrimination.

The RAISE Act of 2025 introduces a refundable tax credit for eligible teachers, offering $1,000 plus additional amounts for teachers in qualifying schools with high student poverty levels. It also increases the tax deduction for educators' expenses to $500 and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Additionally, the Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide mandatory funding to support local educational agencies that maintain or increase teacher salaries, with a portion reserved for teacher salary incentive grants. These grants can be used for various programs aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving educator skills.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the United States as children and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Title I, the Dream Act of 2025, establishes conditional permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Title II, the American Promise Act of 2025, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to eligible individuals from TPS or DED countries. Title III outlines general provisions, such as background checks, application processes, and fee exemptions, applicable to all seeking to adjust their status under this Act.

The Taxpayer Funds Oversight and Accountability Act enhances financial management and transparency in federal agencies by updating the duties of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to include stronger oversight of financial reporting and internal controls. It replaces the government-wide 5-year financial management plan with a 4-year plan, requiring detailed strategies for improving financial management systems and workforce development. The Act also mandates annual financial management status reports to Congress and the Comptroller General, along with rigorous audits of internal controls to ensure effective financial management across the government.

Ethan's Law establishes federal requirements for the secure storage of firearms to prevent unauthorized access by minors and prohibited persons, making improper storage a civil violation with escalating penalties if injury or death results. The bill also creates a federal grant program to incentivize states and Tribes to adopt matching safe storage laws. Furthermore, Congress declares that failing to comply with these storage requirements constitutes negligence and may be considered the direct cause of resulting firearm injuries.

The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 aims to protect vulnerable communities by creating an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice, defining key environmental justice terms, and establishing a grant program to aid state, local, and tribal governments in enforcing environmental laws. The Office of Environmental Justice will be responsible for developing environmental justice strategies, coordinating related matters, and promoting public participation. A Senior Advisory Council will also be created to advise on environmental justice matters and recommend policies. The grant program will provide funding for training, staffing, and community engagement to help address disproportionate environmental and health impacts on low-income, Tribal, and Indigenous communities.

The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act aims to strengthen U.S. trade laws by addressing unfair subsidies, currency undervaluation, duty evasion, and circumvention of trade remedies. It refines the process for handling successive trade investigations, ensuring that the International Trade Commission considers prior findings and assesses cumulative effects on domestic industries. The act also empowers authorities to counteract cost distortions in foreign countries and prevent importers from avoiding duties. Additionally, it includes provisions related to trade with Canada and Mexico and sets effective dates for new regulations.

Recognizes January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring in improving outcomes for young people. Mentoring programs support academic achievement, social skills, and career exploration, especially for underserved youth. The resolution encourages the expansion of mentoring opportunities through collaboration between various sectors. Ultimately, this helps connect more young people with adult mentors to guide them toward success.

Expresses support for strengthening public schools through community partnerships, mental health resources, and equitable funding. Aims to advance equity and excellence in public education, ensuring high-quality education for every child through evidence-based practices. Designates the week of February 24-28, 2025, as Public Schools Week.

The "IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act" mandates the Social Security Administration to issue free federal identification cards to U.S. residents who apply within 3 years, functioning similarly to a state-issued ID or driver's license. A task force will be established to determine the requirements for producing and providing the identification. The United States Postal Service, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, will develop a process, modeled after the passport application process, allowing individuals to apply for the ID through the Postal Service. The Act also authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to implement the Act.

The Poverty Line Act of 2025 updates the calculation of the federal poverty line to more accurately reflect the true costs of basic needs such as housing, childcare, and healthcare, while also accounting for geographic variations and household spending norms. This updated calculation aims to expand eligibility for federal assistance programs. The Act requires regular evaluations and adjustments to the poverty line, ensuring it keeps pace with economic changes and accurately reflects the needs of households striving for economic mobility. It also mandates a report to Congress on necessary updates to federal laws and regulations that rely on the poverty line for program eligibility.

The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025 amends the Public Health Service Act to improve the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program by expanding the types of healthcare providers who can conduct mental health evaluations, modifying provider credentialing, clarifying enrollment calculations, and extending the time frame for adding health conditions for WTC responders. The act adjusts the funding formula for fiscal years 2026 through 2090 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the program's budget, including projected needs through 2090 and recommendations for changes to the funding formula. It also stipulates that remaining funds in the Supplemental Fund, Special Fund, and Pentagon-Shanksville Fund will revert to the Treasury.

The Black History Matters Act directs the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to study Black history education in public schools. The study will identify which states require Black history education, assess the quality of education, instructional materials, and analyze how schools assess students' knowledge. A report will then be submitted to Congress detailing the findings of the study.