Legislative Activity

The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025 establishes competitive grant programs to fund comprehensive, evidence-based sex education in schools, colleges, and youth organizations. The bill aims to address historical inequities by ensuring education and sexual health services are medically accurate, culturally responsive, and accessible to all young people, especially underserved populations. It also creates grants specifically for training educators and improving the delivery of youth-friendly sexual health services. Funding is authorized through 2031, with resources redirected from previous abstinence-only programs.

The SMART Prices Act aims to strengthen Medicare by significantly accelerating and expanding the number of drugs eligible for price negotiation. This bill lowers the time requirements for certain single-source drugs to qualify for negotiation and adjusts the maximum fair price ceilings for negotiated drugs starting in 2028. Overall, the legislation seeks to increase price competition and lower costs within the Medicare drug program.

The College for All Act of 2025 establishes a federal-state partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees at public colleges for eligible students, while also creating grants to cover costs at private HBCUs and MSIs. The bill significantly increases funding for Federal Pell Grants, expands eligibility to include "Dreamer students," and introduces new grants to improve student success at underfunded institutions. Overall, this comprehensive legislation aims to make public higher education tuition-free and increase support for students at minority-serving institutions.

The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES Act) mandates clear "Do Not Flush" labeling on specific disposable wipes to prevent sewer system pollution. This legislation requires manufacturers to place a standardized symbol and written notice prominently on packaging, detailing where the wipes should be disposed of. The Act also prohibits any claims suggesting these covered products are safe to flush, with the Federal Trade Commission enforcing these new national labeling standards.

The Safe Routes Improvement Act mandates that every state must designate a dedicated coordinator for its Safe Routes to School program. This coordinator will serve as the primary contact, and their duties will be strictly limited to this role unless otherwise directed by Congress. States can utilize existing staff and funds to support this position, and they must maintain up-to-date contact information online.

This resolution affirms that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental American values necessary to address persistent discrimination. It highlights widespread disparities across housing, employment, education, and healthcare affecting marginalized groups. The bill encourages all sectors of society to adopt policies that promote DEIA to ensure equal opportunity and strengthen the nation.

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025 establishes a formal, publicly accessible code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices and creates a judicial investigation panel to handle related ethics complaints. The bill also mandates stricter disclosure requirements for gifts and income received by Justices, and significantly expands the circumstances under which a federal judge must recuse themselves due to financial ties or lobbying influence. Finally, it institutes new disclosure rules for parties and *amici curiae* in cases before the Court, alongside studies to monitor judicial compliance.

This resolution officially designates May 2025 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month to honor those affected by brain tumors. It highlights the serious impact of these tumors, which are the leading cause of cancer death in children. The designation aims to increase public awareness, support ongoing research efforts, and encourage collaboration to find better treatments and improve survival rates.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 establishes a presumption that certain cancers leading to death or disability in public safety officers were caused by on-duty exposure to recognized carcinogens. This law defines specific exposure-related cancers and sets conditions, such as five years of service, for the presumption to apply. It also updates review processes for adding new cancers to the list and grants retroactive application and filing extensions for eligible past and present claims.

The Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act establishes a new, non-regulatory program to coordinate restoration and protection efforts across the five-state watershed. This initiative will develop a comprehensive strategy and support it through a competitive, voluntary grant program to fund projects benefiting ecology, water quality, and climate resilience. The law specifically mandates outreach to environmental justice communities and requires annual reporting to Congress on funded projects. Funding is authorized through fiscal year 2030, with at least 75% of appropriations dedicated to the grant program.

The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends child labor laws to significantly restrict the employment of minors in tobacco agriculture. This legislation prohibits individuals under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves while working on farms. The goal is to strengthen child labor protections specifically within the tobacco industry.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 significantly increases federal funding allocations for clean water, drinking water, and rural water infrastructure programs. It mandates comprehensive reporting on water affordability and discrimination issues while allowing states greater flexibility in using revolving funds, including purchasing private water systems. The Act also establishes new grant opportunities for lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup, and institutes requirements for Project Labor Agreements on funded construction projects. Finally, it updates definitions to expand drinking water assistance eligibility for underserved border communities known as colonias.

This resolution calls for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the severe crisis facing civilians in Gaza, highlighting widespread hunger and the collapse of essential services due to blocked aid. It urges the Administration to immediately use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of hostages, lift the blockade on aid, and work toward a lasting end to the fighting.

This bill establishes federal minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals to improve patient safety and quality of care. It mandates that hospitals create transparent staffing plans developed with input from direct care nurses and sets strict enforcement mechanisms, including civil penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the Act supports the nursing profession by expanding scholarship and stipend programs and funding new nurse retention and mentorship initiatives.

The Due Process Continuity of Care Act aims to ensure that individuals held in custody awaiting the disposition of their charges maintain access to Medicaid coverage. This legislation removes the current automatic ban on Medicaid payments for pre-trial detainees. Furthermore, the bill establishes federal planning grants to help states prepare their systems for this change, focusing on assessing needs and building provider networks.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that health plans cover medically necessary diagnosis and treatment for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must apply to outpatient and inpatient care, including necessary dental and orthodontic support, unless the procedure is purely cosmetic. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This resolution supports designating May 10, 2025, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day." It highlights the urgent mental health crisis facing AANHPI communities, noting significant barriers to care and high rates of untreated mental health needs. The bill calls for better data collection, increased access to culturally competent providers, and efforts to combat stigma. Ultimately, it encourages federal, state, and local agencies to improve mental health services for these vital communities.

The Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 strictly limits the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) use of facial recognition technology during airport security screening. This bill establishes a default ban on collecting or storing passenger biometric data, requiring explicit opt-in consent for general passengers and clear opt-out rights for Trusted Traveler members. Furthermore, it imposes strict data minimization and storage limits, and prohibits the use of this technology for surveillance outside of the screening process.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 bans the practice of paid conversion therapy aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, deeming it ineffective and harmful. This Act treats the provision or advertisement of such therapy as an unfair or deceptive business practice under the FTC Act. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Attorney General, and State Attorneys General. The law includes a severability clause ensuring that the invalidation of one provision does not void the entire Act.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the rules governing collective bargaining for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This legislation repeals outdated subsections detailing specific collective bargaining procedures for VHA staff. Crucially, this change preserves the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay and expedited hiring processes.