Legislative Activity

This bill recognizes the 60th anniversary of SkillsUSA and its contributions to workforce development through career and technical education. It acknowledges SkillsUSA's role in equipping students with essential skills through partnerships between education, government, business, and industry. The bill supports SkillsUSA's mission to empower students as skilled professionals and leaders.

This bill designates May 5-9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week," recognizing the contributions of public school teachers and their support for various educational initiatives. It acknowledges teachers' dedication to improving education through innovative methods and emphasizes the importance of their involvement in shaping education policies. The bill encourages leaders to engage with teachers, ensuring their insights are included in classroom policies.

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 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 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.

This bill requests the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit documents to the House of Representatives regarding potential changes to the Administration for Community Living. The requested documents pertain to potential elimination, staff reductions, changes in responsibilities, dismissal of career staff, and grant terminations within the Administration for Community Living. The aim is to provide oversight regarding the sufficiency of staff to enforce laws and the impact of the "HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again" communication. The requested documents must be submitted within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

This bill recognizes April 2025 as "Community College Month" to celebrate the significant role of community colleges in providing accessible higher education, workforce training, and economic support across the United States. It acknowledges the extensive contributions of over 1,000 community colleges, which serve millions of students and contribute significantly to the national GDP. The resolution highlights the importance of these institutions in fostering economic prosperity and community vitality.

Recognizes the crucial role of linemen in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure and public safety. It also supports designating April 18, 2025, as National Lineman Appreciation Day to honor their contributions and dangerous work.

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025 aims to improve workforce readiness for youth aged 6-18 through out-of-school programs. It establishes a grant program for community-based organizations and partnerships to develop and implement comprehensive workforce readiness programs, including career pathway support, work experiences, and occupational skill training. The Act also reestablishes youth councils within local workforce development boards to represent youth interests and advise on youth workforce development strategies. Finally, the Act allocates $100,000,000 annually from 2026-2030 to fund the program.

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.

This bill requests the President and Secretary of Education to provide the House of Representatives with all documents and communications relating to the closure of the Department of Education, workforce reductions, and the impact of downsizing on the department's ability to enforce federal education laws. The request includes all records pertaining to the Secretary of Education's March 3, 2025, communication to staff, "Our Department's Final Mission," and any presidential executive order directing the department's closure. All documents must be submitted to the House within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The "Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. This study, to be completed within one year and in consultation with relevant groups, will evaluate the trail's suitability for inclusion in the National Trails System. The bill acknowledges the trail's scenic value, economic benefits, and existing management by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.

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 "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 Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

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 "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" aims to eliminate tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees' decisions regarding unionizing and collective bargaining. It defines "labor organization activity" broadly, encompassing elections, disputes, and collective actions. The bill mandates detailed reporting of such activities, with significant penalties for non-compliance, and directs the Treasury Secretary to issue implementing guidance. This would apply to expenses incurred more than 240 days after the bill's enactment.

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

This bill expresses support for designating April 2025 as "Second Chance Month" to raise awareness about the barriers faced by individuals with criminal records. It recognizes the importance of redemption and removing obstacles to employment, education, and housing for those seeking to reintegrate into society. The bill encourages public support for these individuals, promoting their successful return as productive members of their communities.

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.