Legislative Activity

The Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act of 2025 enhances cosmetic regulation by requiring detailed ingredient and supply chain information sharing between brand owners and suppliers. This law mandates the FDA to create a public list of harmful, nonfunctional chemical traces that suppliers must eventually test for and certify. Importantly, this federal legislation preserves the right of states to enact stricter ingredient or transparency rules than those established here.

The Child Care for Working Families Act establishes comprehensive federal programs to ensure access to high-quality, affordable child care and universal preschool for young children. The legislation creates an entitlement program for child care, mandates that provider reimbursement rates cover actual costs and ensure living wages for staff, and establishes free, universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Additionally, it provides dedicated funding to stabilize childcare providers and extend the operating hours and compensation for Head Start staff.

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research, public education, and provider awareness regarding uterine fibroids. The bill mandates expanded research coordination across federal agencies and authorizes funding to study the condition, which disproportionately affects minority women. It also requires the creation of public awareness campaigns detailing non-hysterectomy treatment options and mandates data collection on Medicaid/CHIP spending for fibroid treatments.

The Cool Corridors Act of 2025 aims to combat extreme heat and improve transportation safety by funding the installation of green infrastructure, like trees, along walking, biking, and transit routes. This legislation reauthorizes and updates the Healthy Streets program to prioritize these cooling projects in the most vulnerable and underserved communities. The Act defines "cool corridors" and establishes clear criteria for demonstration projects focused on heat mitigation and long-term maintenance.

The Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act establishes strict new rules for businesses using automatic renewals and free-to-paid trial conversions. It mandates clear upfront disclosures, requires express consent for annual renewals, and demands easy, comparable cancellation methods for consumers. The Federal Trade Commission is empowered to enforce these provisions, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices and specifically targeting the use of "dark patterns."

This resolution recognizes that climate change poses a severe and growing threat to public health across the United States, exacerbating issues like poor air quality, extreme heat, and disease spread. It directs federal agencies, particularly the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to rapidly deploy climate resilience funding and technical assistance, prioritizing underserved communities. Furthermore, the bill calls for strengthening key public health offices, improving data collection, and ensuring worker safety through new heat standards. Ultimately, it mandates coordinated federal action to prepare the healthcare system and protect vulnerable populations from climate-related health crises.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes mandatory, phased-in standards to drastically reduce the carbon intensity of marine fuels used by large vessels on voyages involving U.S. ports, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires the EPA to set standards ensuring that ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters achieve zero greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions by 2035, or the maximum feasible reduction if that goal proves impossible. The legislation also mandates annual public reporting on fuel usage and emissions data for compliance monitoring.

This bill establishes new pilot projects and a dedicated program to significantly improve subseasonal to seasonal forecasts for atmospheric rivers, which are crucial for water management in the West. The legislation directs NOAA to advance the science behind these moisture-laden storms, focusing on better modeling for mountainous terrain and storm track prediction. The ultimate goal is to create more accurate, actionable forecasts and warnings to reduce the damage caused by these major weather events.

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 aims to combat the growing obesity epidemic, particularly among older adults, by expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy under Medicare. This bill mandates that Medicare Part D plans begin covering FDA-approved medications for obesity and weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, it requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of these new obesity treatment strategies.

The No Secret Police Act of 2025 mandates that federal officers engaged in border security or immigration enforcement must clearly display identification, wear visible badges or uniforms, and refrain from wearing face coverings during detentions or arrests. This ensures accountability by requiring clear identification from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on current tactical gear policies and research methods to improve officer visibility.

This resolution formally recognizes the history, achievements, and ongoing struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States. It serves as a declaration by Congress affirming that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights and encouraging the celebration of Pride Month. The bill highlights key historical milestones, legal victories, and acknowledges the persistent challenges and violence faced by the community. Ultimately, it commits the U.S. to continuing the pursuit of full equality for all citizens.

The Saving Hazardous And Declining Environments (SHADE) Act establishes a new, federally funded grant program to support tree planting initiatives. Administered by HUD and the Forest Service, this program prioritizes projects in historically redlined or urban heat island areas. Applicants must submit detailed 5-year plans that include community involvement and strategies to prevent resident displacement. The program is authorized to receive $50 million annually from fiscal year 2026 through 2036.

The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act modernizes the Internal Revenue Code by replacing gendered language with gender-neutral terms for all legally married couples. This sweeping update ensures consistency across tax rules regarding filing status, deductions, and credits, regardless of the spouses' genders. The bill clarifies that married couples are often treated as a single entity for specific tax purposes. Ultimately, this legislation updates terminology to reflect equal dignity for all married taxpayers.

The PRIDE Act of 2025 aims to update the Internal Revenue Code to ensure equal treatment and inclusive language for all married couples. It extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to file amended joint tax returns following past recognition changes. Furthermore, the bill systematically replaces gendered terms like "husband," "wife," and "his" with gender-neutral language such as "spouse" and "individual" across numerous tax provisions. These changes ensure consistent, equitable application of tax law regardless of gender identity.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 significantly expands and permanently secures access to Medicare telehealth services by eliminating outdated geographic restrictions and allowing more practitioners to offer remote care. The bill also strengthens program integrity by dedicating funds for telehealth oversight while clarifying rules around providing necessary technology to patients. Finally, it mandates the creation of tailored educational resources and public reporting to improve quality measurement and transparency in remote care delivery.

The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to expand access to community solar, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income individuals and governments. It mandates that standard electric utilities must offer community solar programs to ensure fair access for all customers. Furthermore, the bill sets strict deadlines for states to review and implement these new community solar standards. Finally, it extends the maximum length for federal contracts for public utility services up to 30 years.

This resolution formally recognizes the constitutional right to peaceful protest while strongly condemning violence and illegal acts committed during demonstrations. It criticizes the federal government's deployment of military forces during recent events, arguing the actions were an overreach that bypassed proper legal and state authority. Ultimately, the bill asserts the importance of transparency in law enforcement and denounces rhetoric that escalates community tensions.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal statutory right to access abortion services, prohibiting medically unnecessary restrictions that impede care before fetal viability. This Act protects the right of patients to travel across state lines to receive reproductive healthcare and allows providers to offer services free from state interference that conflicts with established medical standards. It preempts conflicting state and local laws and provides robust enforcement mechanisms for individuals and the Attorney General to challenge violations.

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act aims to improve national recycling and composting efforts by requiring the EPA to gather comprehensive data on current infrastructure capabilities and material flows. This legislation mandates detailed reports on composting facilities, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and the development of standardized national recycling rates. Furthermore, it directs studies to measure how much recyclable material is lost from the circular market and ensures federal agencies report on their own waste diversion activities.

The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2025 mandates that group health plans treat the cost-sharing for oral (take-at-home) anticancer drugs the same as they treat cost-sharing for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This ensures patients do not face higher out-of-pocket expenses for necessary oral chemotherapy medications. The Act also requires the GAO to study the financial impact of this new parity requirement on patients.