Legislative Activity

This resolution urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to withdraw a notice that reduces public input on rulemaking. It expresses the House of Representatives' desire to maintain existing public notice and comment procedures. The resolution aims to ensure continued public participation in the regulatory process of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Reduction in Force Review Act requires federal agencies to provide detailed justifications to Congress for any planned workforce reductions. These justifications must include the reasons for the reduction, its impact on employees and operations (including veterans), considered alternatives, and summaries of consultations with employees. The bill also broadens the definition of "rule" to include significant agency actions like workforce restructuring or office closures that affect employees.

The "Protect our Public Health Workforce Act" allows for the reinstatement of CDC employees who were involuntarily terminated without cause between January 20, 2025, and the enactment date of this act, with backpay. It also mandates the CDC Director to report to specific congressional committees every three months on employee dismissals, including job details and reasons for dismissal, until January 20, 2029.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes the NTIA, allocating \$57 million for both fiscal years 2025 and 2026, and establishes a Deputy Under Secretary position. The act also creates an Office of Spectrum Management and an Office of International Affairs within the NTIA to manage spectrum allocation and international telecommunications policy, respectively. Additionally, the bill eliminates several outdated reporting requirements and consolidates others into a single annual report to Congress. Finally, the act updates titles, replacing "Assistant Secretary" with "Under Secretary" in various acts to reflect the current organizational structure.

The YOUNG Act of 2025 establishes a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Commerce, to fund youth biodiversity monitoring projects that educate students about advanced technologies. Grants will be awarded to nonprofits, schools, higher education institutions, and state, local, or tribal governments, with priority given to projects focused on underserved communities. The grant program is authorized to receive appropriations of $1,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2032. Within two years, the Secretary must report to Congress on the grant program.

The Protect National Service Act prohibits the use of federal funds to eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service, emphasizing the importance of national service programs like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. It affirms that any changes to the Corporation must be done through congressional action and in accordance with existing laws. The CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service is required to certify compliance with these provisions to Congress.

Hammers' Law amends title 46 of the United States Code to extend liability limitations regarding damages to include cruise ship voyages. It defines "cruise ship" and "nonpecuniary damages" within the context of these limitations. The law modifies section 30307 of title 46, changing the title to "Limitations in certain cases" to reflect these updates.

The Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2025 directs the Treasury Secretary to issue Clean Energy Victory Bonds to fund clean energy projects at the federal, state, and local levels. Bond proceeds will support a variety of initiatives, including energy efficiency programs, grid enhancements, clean energy tax incentives, and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. A minimum of 40% of the funds will be dedicated to clean energy projects benefiting disadvantaged communities. The bonds will accrue interest, with an additional return based on savings from reduced federal energy spending and interest collected on loans financed by the bond proceeds.

The California Clean Coast Act of 2025 permanently prohibits any new oil and gas leasing activities in federal waters off the coast of California. This amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act aims to protect California's coastal environment and economy. Existing leases issued before the enactment of this law are not affected.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the specified planning areas. This prohibition aims to protect the marine environment and coastal economies of the West Coast from the risks associated with offshore drilling. The Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The DIGITAL Applications Act aims to streamline the process for communications companies seeking to build infrastructure on federal lands. It mandates the creation of online portals by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture for submitting and processing Form 299s, which are required for communications use authorizations. These portals will improve efficiency and transparency, and links to them will be available on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's website. The Act defines key terms related to communications facilities and land use to ensure clarity in implementation.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Protect America's Workforce Act" nullifies a 2025 executive order that limited federal labor-management relations programs. It prevents the enforcement of the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds for its implementation. Additionally, the bill ensures the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor organizations until their original expiration dates.

The Support UNFPA Funding Act aims to reinstate U.S. financial support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency. It authorizes appropriations of at least $50 million for fiscal year 2026 and $55 million for fiscal year 2027 to support UNFPA's work in reducing maternal deaths, preventing gender-based violence, and promoting voluntary family planning. The Act asserts that supporting UNFPA aligns with U.S. interests by improving global health, fostering development, and promoting stability.