Legislative Activity

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.

The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act establishes a pathway for certain individuals who provided essential services during the rescue and cleanup efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. This relief is available to workers and volunteers who meet specific service hour requirements at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or Shanksville sites, or those who maintained contaminated vehicles. The bill also mandates fee waivers for eligible applicants and protects their privacy regarding public benefit usage and future immigration enforcement actions.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

This bill establishes a new Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the Department of State, led by a Special Representative. This office will coordinate federal support for U.S. state and local governments engaging internationally. Its primary goals are to help local entities attract foreign investment, counter foreign influence, and align local diplomacy with broader U.S. foreign policy objectives.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act limits how consumer reporting agencies can share a consumer's report when it is requested in connection with a residential mortgage loan. Reports can only be shared with entities directly involved in the consumer's current mortgage or those providing a firm offer of credit or insurance. The Act also mandates a study by the GAO regarding the use and impact of "trigger leads" derived from credit checks.

The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 formally condemns the People's Republic of China's repression and cultural erasure of Uyghurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It directs the U.S. government to prioritize protecting Uyghur identity, demanding immediate access to detention facilities, and coordinating international pressure to secure the release of political prisoners. Furthermore, the Act mandates strengthening State Department efforts, including Uyghur language training and public diplomacy funding, to counter transnational harassment and raise global awareness of these human rights abuses.

The PARTNER Act grants the President the authority to extend specific privileges and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act to several key international bodies. This legislation specifically targets the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), CERN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union Mission. Ultimately, the bill standardizes the legal status and protections afforded to these organizations, aligning them with other international groups the U.S. cooperates with.

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 establishes a permanent Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the State Department to streamline and support the resettlement of Afghan allies. This Act mandates the creation of a secure, centralized database to track all applicants, beneficiaries, and relocation progress, ensuring accountability to Congress. The Coordinator will manage interagency efforts, resolve family reunification roadblocks, and provide integration support for covered persons. This entire framework is set to automatically expire five years after enactment unless otherwise specified.

The Voters on the Move Registration Act of 2025 mandates that standardized, multilingual voter registration information be provided to individuals applying for certain federally assisted rental housing or residential mortgages. This ensures that tenants and mortgage applicants receive clear instructions on how to register to vote. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is tasked with creating this uniform voter information statement. This requirement focuses solely on providing information, not compelling voter registration.

The Expanding the VOTE Act updates language assistance requirements under the Voting Rights Act by modernizing the definition of "voting materials" to include digital information. It also establishes new state responsibilities for providing language assistance and creates a grant program to incentivize voluntary language support beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill includes special provisions for unwritten American Indian and Alaska Native languages and mandates a study on lowering thresholds for language assistance coverage.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over when this paid leave is taken, which can include early voting periods if permitted by state law. This Act prohibits employers from penalizing employees for utilizing this required voting leave.

The Election Mail Act aims to ensure the timely and secure delivery of federal election mail through the U.S. Postal Service. It mandates same-day processing of received absentee ballots and requires the use of intelligent mail barcodes for tracking mailed ballots starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill establishes protections against operational changes that would slow election mail delivery and sets a national standard to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within seven days after the election.

The People Over Long Lines Act (POLL Act) aims to protect the fundamental right to vote by establishing a national standard that no eligible citizen should wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot in a federal election. To achieve this, the bill mandates that states submit plans detailing how they will ensure fair wait times and requires the Attorney General to set minimum standards for voting resources like poll workers and equipment. Furthermore, the Act authorizes federal funding to help states comply and creates a private right of action allowing citizens to sue over excessive wait times.

The Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce homelessness by making housing choice vouchers an entitlement program starting in 2029 and immediately expanding the voucher supply for extremely low-income families. The bill also prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income and establishes new, dedicated funding streams for emergency relief and supportive services under the McKinney-Vento Act. Finally, it repeals certain ineligibility criteria for housing assistance and sets priorities for funding based on local policies that encourage affordable housing and decriminalize homelessness.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions and penalties against knowingly spreading materially false information intended to suppress voting in federal elections, including the use of AI-generated content within 60 days of an election. The bill also criminalizes intimidating election workers involved in ballot tabulation and certification processes. Furthermore, it authorizes the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false voting information and requires detailed reporting on election interference allegations.

The Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act aims to secure and expand the right to vote for citizens experiencing homelessness by prohibiting residency-based disenfranchisement. It mandates accessible registration methods, requires outreach from service providers, and establishes federal grants to help local governments implement these protections. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure that where a person sleeps cannot be a barrier to their participation in federal elections.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual grants to states for improving election administration, security, and accessibility, managed by a newly created Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation. This funding is supported by a dedicated ten-year Trust Fund to ensure stable resources for election infrastructure upgrades. The bill imposes strict rules on how states can use the money, including prohibitions against purchasing insecure voting machines or restricting basic voter support. If states fail to comply, the federal Director can bypass state government to fund local election subdivisions directly.

This resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cabo Verde and celebrates the deep, historical ties between the U.S. and Cabo Verde. It honors the significant contributions of Cabo Verdean-Americans to both nations and acknowledges Cabo Verde's commitment to democracy and good governance. The document also commends Cabo Verde's role in international affairs, including its support for Ukraine.