Legislative Activity

The Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026 eliminates qualified immunity as a legal defense for law enforcement officers in civil rights lawsuits. This legislation prevents officers from claiming good faith or unclear law as justification when facing claims of constitutional rights violations. Furthermore, it establishes a direct civil cause of action against federal law enforcement officers who violate constitutional rights while acting under federal authority.

The Public Health Nursing Act establishes a new federal program to strengthen the public health nursing workforce. This initiative provides grants to state, local, and territorial health departments to recruit, hire, and train registered nurses for public health roles, especially in underserved areas. Funds will support direct nursing services, necessary supplies, and administrative costs, prioritizing areas with high rates of chronic disease and poor maternal/infant outcomes.

The Naturalization and Oath Ceremony Protection Act establishes a clear right for approved citizenship applicants to complete their naturalization process by taking the oath of allegiance. This bill strictly limits the circumstances under which an approved applicant can be barred from their scheduled ceremony, requiring specific findings of ineligibility or fraud. It also prohibits exclusion based on nationality or categorical reviews, ensuring due process and judicial review for any denial or postponement.

This Act, titled the "States' Right to Regulate AI Act," prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce a specific Executive Order concerning a national policy framework for Artificial Intelligence. Essentially, it prevents the federal government from using its money to enforce that particular AI regulation order.

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the USDA to prioritize purchasing food that supports regional economies, worker well-being, environmental health, and equity for specific producers. The bill mandates detailed reporting on current spending and sets future targets to increase procurement in these four key areas. It also establishes pilot programs and grants to help smaller and underserved producers meet USDA standards and participate in federal food contracts.

The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent program within the Department of State, led by a dedicated Special Envoy, to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. Global Strategy to address international discrimination and violence against this community. Furthermore, it authorizes foreign assistance to support local organizations and requires detailed reporting on LGBTQI human rights abuses in annual State Department reports.

The Hastening Arms Limitations Talks (HALT) Act of 2025 establishes a U.S. policy to lead international negotiations toward a comprehensive and verifiable global nuclear freeze on testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons. The bill outlines specific goals, including resuming inspections, negotiating future arms control agreements, and pursuing a Fissile Material Treaty. Furthermore, it prohibits the use of federal funds for nuclear test explosions beginning in fiscal year 2026 unless specific conditions regarding stockpile reporting and Congressional approval are met.

The Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive rules to prevent discrimination by automated decision-making systems in critical areas like hiring, housing, and credit. It mandates that companies rigorously test, audit, and report on their algorithms for fairness and safety before and after deployment. The bill empowers the FTC, state attorneys general, and private citizens to enforce these standards, while also creating a dedicated federal workforce to oversee AI compliance. Ultimately, this legislation aims to increase accountability and ensure fairness when algorithms make consequential decisions about people's lives.

The Targeting Environmental and Climate Recklessness Act of 2025 establishes U.S. policy to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities whose actions significantly worsen climate change, illegal deforestation, or harm environmental defenders. This authority allows the President to block assets and restrict visas for those undermining global climate goals or committing related corruption and human rights abuses. The Act emphasizes that these targeted measures are part of a broader strategy that also includes international cooperation and financing. It also directs the consideration of sanctions against those involved in environment-linked corruption and human rights violations against climate advocates.

The Respite CARE Act amends the Older Americans Act to establish grants for eligible organizations to create or expand integrated caregiver support services. These grants fund programs that combine respite care with other supportive services for family caregivers. Funds must ensure accessibility through technology, translation, and appropriate formats.

The Family Caregiver Peer Support Act establishes a grant program to develop and expand peer support services for family caregivers, available both in-person and virtually. These grants will fund programs that offer emotional support and assistance with administrative tasks, while prioritizing underserved populations. The legislation also supports training for peer support specialists and ensures language access for diverse caregiver communities.

The FINANCE Act establishes a new grant program to provide essential financial planning services specifically for family caregivers under the Older Americans Act. This program aims to support those who informally care for older adults or individuals with Alzheimer's or related disorders. Eligible entities will receive funding to offer comprehensive guidance on benefits, budgeting, long-term care costs, and legal planning resources. The services must be delivered in an accessible manner, accommodating diverse needs including language and technology barriers.

The DINE Act, or Disease Intervention through Nutrition Education Act, aims to integrate "food is medicine" and food-based interventions into services for older adults under the Older Americans Act. This legislation mandates screening and referrals for federal and non-federal food-based programs during routine health assessments. It also encourages states to use innovative nutrition delivery systems, such as produce prescriptions, to improve health outcomes for seniors.

The Convenient Care for Caregivers Act establishes a pilot program to support family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. This program will provide grants to qualified entities to offer integrated health care services and support to both the caregiver and the care recipient in accessible locations. The goal is to improve health outcomes for both parties through services like screenings, education, and support groups. The bill also mandates data collection on payments and health indicators to report on the program's effectiveness to Congress.

This Act, the Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act, allocates significant funding through 2030 to support research and evidence-based practices for family caregivers under the Older Americans Act. It also updates and clarifies the definitions of "family caregiver" and introduces a definition for "older relative caregiver." Finally, the bill amends the National Family Caregiver Support Program to focus its support services on family caregivers.

This Act enhances safety and wellness in the commercial fishing industry by expanding federal grant programs for safety training and research. It specifically directs funding toward addressing behavioral and physical health risks, such as worker fatigue and substance use disorder, for vessel operators and crew. The legislation also updates the grant award process and increases authorized funding through fiscal year 2029.

This resolution expresses support for designating November 20 to December 20, 2025, as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month." It recognizes the profound trauma and ongoing needs of families who lose loved ones to homicide. The bill affirms the importance of providing holistic support services to survivors and honors their leadership in working to end violence. Ultimately, it calls upon the nation to raise awareness and respond to grieving families with compassion and competence.

The Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act recommends a nationwide moratorium on electric and natural gas utility disconnections when the federal government experiences a funding lapse affecting the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill specifically prohibits electric utilities from terminating service during these funding gaps. It also outlines procedures for how utilities can recover costs incurred from maintaining service during the shutdown period.

The Transgender Health Care Access Act aims to ensure equitable access to gender-affirming care by prohibiting insurance discrimination and establishing federal nondiscrimination protections. The bill also invests significantly in improving the healthcare workforce by creating grant programs to enhance medical education and training in gender-affirming and culturally competent care. Finally, it supports community health centers in building their capacity to deliver these essential services, particularly in rural areas.

The Veteran Entrepreneurship Empowerment Act aims to support veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs by addressing capital access barriers. This legislation waives specific guarantee and upfront fees for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans up to $1,000,000 made to veteran-owned small businesses. Additionally, the Act reduces the minimum required equity injection percentage for these qualifying loans. The SBA is also mandated to collect and publish data on veteran participation in key lending programs.