Legislative Activity

The Labor Enforcement to Securely Protect Workers (LETS Protect Workers) Act significantly increases civil penalties for violations across major federal labor laws, including child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety standards. It strengthens enforcement mechanisms for mine safety violations and retaliation against miners, while also establishing new penalties for employer unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, the bill enhances enforcement for health plan parity and makes certain recordkeeping failures under OSHA and FLSA continuing violations.

This concurrent resolution commends state and local governments for championing reproductive rights as human rights following the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. It declares that denying abortion care leads to severe health risks and highlights the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes across the U.S. The resolution urges states to repeal abortion restrictions and affirm that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights.

The Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by reducing massive visa backlogs and prioritizing family reunification across various categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying certain family members as "immediate relatives," and creating new pathways for permanent partners and refugees to join their loved ones. Ultimately, the bill aims to keep families together, speed up legal immigration processes, and address past discrimination in the visa system.

This resolution designates December 8, 2025, as "Jimmy Lai Day" to honor his advocacy for press freedom, religious freedom, and democracy in Hong Kong. It condemns the actions of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities for suppressing fundamental freedoms and calls for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai and all unjustly imprisoned pro-democracy advocates.

The Right to Read Act of 2025 amends federal education law to establish a comprehensive "right to read" for all students, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, effective school libraries, and diverse reading materials. The bill defines key terms like "effective school library" and mandates that states and local agencies detail plans to support these resources and protect students' First Amendment rights regarding information access. Furthermore, it authorizes significant new funding to improve literacy programs, support school librarians, and mandates national data collection on school library resources.

This resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to partnering with Honduras on security and counter-narcotics efforts while strongly condemning the pardon of former President Juan Orlando Hernández. It highlights Hernández's conviction for drug trafficking and argues that the pardon undermines U.S. anti-corruption efforts and justice for victims. The resolution also urges continued cooperation with Honduras on fair elections, security, and development, while rejecting unauthorized military force.

This resolution strongly condemns the Iranian government for its ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority, which violates international human rights laws. It documents systematic abuses, including economic restrictions, denial of education, and arbitrary arrests, noting that these actions may constitute a crime against humanity. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned Bahais and urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to condemn these violations and impose sanctions on responsible officials.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive federal rules to prevent discrimination caused by automated decision-making systems in critical areas like employment, housing, and credit. It mandates independent safety checks, public reporting for high-risk findings, and clear contractual standards between algorithm creators and users. The law empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and grants individuals a private right of action to enforce these new civil rights protections against algorithmic bias.

The College Athletics Reform Act establishes comprehensive federal standards for college athletics, primarily by securing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes and prohibiting restrictions on their ability to earn compensation or obtain professional representation. The bill also introduces new regulations for sports agents, mandates significant expansion of financial and participation data disclosure by institutions, and establishes a new Commission to study and recommend future governance structures for college sports. Finally, it amends broadcasting law to exempt certain large athletic association media agreements from antitrust scrutiny.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The No GOUGE Act prohibits sellers from raising the price of "tariffed goods" by more than the direct costs resulting from a new or planned tariff for five years. This prevents companies from using tariffs as an excuse to charge unreasonably high prices, with specific rules for final goods, assembled products, and components. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcement, while large companies face a presumption of violation following major tariff announcements. The bill also mandates annual reports from the FTC and other agencies detailing price changes and enforcement actions.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the ongoing epidemic of violence targeting transgender people, particularly transgender women of color. It memorializes the lives lost this year and highlights the systemic barriers, including discrimination and lack of healthcare access, faced by the transgender community. The bill calls for urgent action from the government to protect these lives through inclusive legislation and policies that ensure dignity and respect for all individuals.

The Fair Credit for Farmers Act provides immediate financial relief to eligible farmers by deferring loan payments and setting interest rates to 0.125% for two years. It also institutes significant reforms to farm loan programs, improving transparency in adverse decision notifications and restricting the use of a principal residence as collateral. Finally, the bill reforms the National Appeals Division process by shifting the burden of proof to the agency in certain appeals involving lower-income farmers.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Attorney General to publicly release all unclassified Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates within 30 days of the bill becoming law. This release must include materials concerning investigations, flight logs, settlements, and internal communications, with very limited exceptions for victim privacy or active investigations. The Act strictly prohibits withholding documents due to political sensitivity or reputational harm and requires detailed justification for any redactions made.

The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025 amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to bring hydraulic fracturing fluid injection under federal regulation. This bill mandates that operators disclose the specific chemicals used before and after fracturing operations to the relevant state authority. Furthermore, it ensures immediate disclosure of proprietary chemical formulas to medical professionals during emergencies.

The Safe Hydration is an American Right in Energy Development Act of 2025 amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish new testing and reporting requirements for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations. This bill prohibits fracking injection unless operators agree to test nearby underground drinking water sources according to a set schedule and submit results to the EPA. The EPA is required to create a publicly accessible database of all submitted test results.