Legislative Activity

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The "Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025" expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for individuals without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, eliminating the maximum age, and increasing credit and phaseout percentages. It also makes permanent the application of the EITC to U.S. possessions and allows taxpayers to elect to use prior year earned income when calculating the EITC if it results in a larger credit. These changes aim to provide additional tax relief to low- and moderate-income workers.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act amends Title 18 to restrict the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of specific gas-operated semi-automatic firearms, devices that increase a firearm's rate of fire, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill provides exceptions for governmental use, certain transfers to family members, and firearms lawfully possessed before enactment, and it allows Byrne grants to be used for buy-back programs for gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. It also tasks the Attorney General and ATF with publishing a list of prohibited firearms, reviewing applications for new firearms, and establishing a Firearm Safety Trust Fund to cover associated costs. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for violations of the Act.

The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. It requires individuals who legally owned modified firearms before the enactment of the BUMP Act to register them. The act amends both title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Internal Revenue Code to include these devices under the regulatory scope of machine guns.

This resolution supports the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It addresses the alarming rise of discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQI+ students and the negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The resolution encourages states and localities to enact inclusive policies that prevent victimization and promote positive school climates for all students.

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 each state's laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining rights in that state. The Act outlines the rights of public employees and employers, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, and prohibits lockouts and strikes that would disrupt emergency or public safety services. This law does not invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements and certifications and includes exceptions for certain state laws and political subdivisions.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over a five-year period, after which it will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees and newly hired employees under 20, eventually eliminating the separate wage tiers. Additionally, it increases the minimum wage for individuals with disabilities and promotes their economic self-sufficiency by phasing out special certificates that allow employers to pay them a subminimum wage.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Louisiana Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr., recognizing his contributions to energy policy, natural resource conservation, and Louisiana's cultural heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to Senator Johnston's family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in his honor.

The "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees regarding union activities, including union elections and collective bargaining. It requires detailed reporting of such expenditures on tax returns, with significant penalties for non-compliance, while providing exemptions for certain communications and activities. The Act aims to prevent taxpayer subsidization of employer interference in workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.

The IDEA Full Funding Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to authorize and appropriate specific funding amounts for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It aims to increase federal funding for special education, gradually working towards full federal funding by fiscal year 2035. The funding is calculated based on the number of children with disabilities receiving special education and the average per-pupil expenditure in public schools. This act ensures that funds are available to states to support special education and related services for children with disabilities.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" allows above-the-line tax deductions for union dues and other employee-related business expenses. This amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure these deductions are not subject to certain limitations, providing tax relief for workers. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that unaccompanied children have legal representation in immigration proceedings by providing government-funded counsel. It mandates that these children receive complete copies of their immigration files and have sufficient time to review them, and it also requires the Department of Homeland Security to allow counsel access to detained non-citizens. The Act directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop guidelines for legal representation and requires annual reports on the provision of counsel to unaccompanied children. Additionally, it allows unaccompanied children to reopen their immigration cases if they were not provided with appointed counsel, and it authorizes the necessary appropriations for implementation.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act introduces a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan (SOAR) with lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness. SOAR caps payments at 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans and 10% for other loans, and forgives remaining balances after 10 or 15 years, depending on the loan type. The bill phases out the existing PAYE and ICR plans, restricting eligibility to borrowers already enrolled or those meeting specific hardship requirements. It also ensures that unpaid interest does not capitalize and mandates automatic loan cancellation for eligible borrowers.

The "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and final standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. These plans must include risk assessments, hazard prevention measures, incident reporting procedures, and employee training. The Act also requires employers to maintain detailed records of violent incidents and submit annual summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Finally, facilities receiving Medicare funds must comply with the workplace violence prevention standard.

The "Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025" introduces a new tax on high-income taxpayers with an adjusted gross income exceeding $1,000,000, referred to as the "fair share tax". This tax aims to ensure wealthy individuals pay a minimum level of tax and contribute to deficit reduction. The tax is calculated based on a percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income above a certain threshold, taking into account charitable contributions and other tax liabilities. The Act expresses the Senate's intention for broader tax system reforms, including eliminating loopholes and simplifying the tax code.

The "Privacy Act Modernization Act of 2025" amends Title 5 of the United States Code to modernize the Privacy Act by updating definitions, strengthening protections for individuals' personally identifiable information, and increasing penalties for violations. It broadens the definition of "records" and "system of records" to include any personally identifiable information processed by an agency and includes data from matching programs. The bill also introduces stricter rules for data collection, use, and disclosure, and enhances civil remedies and criminal penalties for non-compliance, including felony charges for selling or misusing records for malicious purposes. Certain provisions of the Act take effect immediately for specific government entities and programs, while the remaining amendments will be implemented two years after enactment.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot, ready-to-eat foods. It sets a limit on restaurants accepting SNAP benefits, where no more than 50% of their sales can come from hot foods. This act broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP to include hot food products.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, recognizing the achievements and contributions of the transgender community while raising awareness of the discrimination and violence they face. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression faced by transgender individuals in various areas, celebrates their progress in political representation and media, and urges Americans to observe the day with events that honor transgender individuals and their advocacy for equality.

America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act designates specific areas in Utah as wilderness, providing them the highest level of federal protection to preserve their natural state, diverse ecosystems, and historical and cultural resources. The Act outlines administrative provisions for managing these wilderness areas, including land management, water rights, road setbacks, and the continuation of livestock grazing, while also protecting state and tribal rights. It ensures the preservation of these lands for future generations, balancing recreational opportunities with ecological conservation. The Act also removes the land from being subject to public use, mining, and mineral leasing, subject to valid rights existing when the Act is enacted.