Legislative Activity

This bill amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993, expanding background check eligibility to include contractors, employees of contractors, and individuals seeking licenses or certifications from organizations working with vulnerable populations. This ensures a broader scope of individuals undergo background checks to protect vulnerable populations.

This bill mandates the United States Postal Service to assign unique ZIP Codes to specific communities across 22 states within 270 days of enactment. This aims to provide these communities with distinct postal identities.

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.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to foster growth in the "Blue Economy" by designating at least seven Ocean Innovation Clusters across the country. These clusters will be partnerships led by not-for-profit organizations, focusing on cross-sector collaboration and sustainable development in ocean-related industries. The Act directs federal agencies to support these clusters through partnership managers, technical knowledge exchange, and measurement of their economic impact. Furthermore, it authorizes grants to support the operation and administration of these Ocean Innovation Clusters, promoting innovation, workforce development, and economic opportunity in coastal communities.

The DISASTER Act of 2025 requires the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress detailing all federal disaster-related assistance spending, including obligations for response, recovery, and mitigation, starting with the fiscal year 2027 budget. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of disaster spending by agency, account, specific disaster, and type of assistance, and will be publicly available in a searchable format. The goal of this act is to improve transparency and inform budget decisions related to disaster relief.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act allows FEMA to provide financial aid to local governments or electric cooperatives to reimburse interest paid on loans used for disaster relief activities. The amount reimbursed will be the lesser of the actual interest paid or the interest calculated using the prime rate. This applies to interest incurred up to 9 years before the Act's enactment, using only funds appropriated after the enactment date. The Act also establishes procedures for states to be reimbursed for qualifying loan interest for projects awaiting obligation.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) financing authority and program expiration date to December 31, 2026. It ensures the continuation of the NFIP, allowing it to continue providing flood insurance coverage to communities.

The "Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025" establishes an advisory council led by the Department of Health and Human Services to assess the needs of gun violence victims and victim assistance professionals, identify effective support practices, and improve access to resources. The council will gather public input, share findings with Congress, state agencies, and the public, and provide recommendations for legislative action. The goal is to improve support for victims of gun violence by identifying and disseminating information about available resources and best practices. The council will terminate 5 years after the enactment of this Act.

The "CATCH Fentanyl Act" directs the Department of Homeland Security to launch pilot projects at land ports of entry to test new technologies, including AI, for detecting contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling in vehicles and cargo. It requires detailed reports to Congress on the technologies' effectiveness, costs, and impact on privacy and civil liberties, while also outlining plans for broader implementation and protecting personal data. The Act emphasizes using existing resources, prohibiting new funding appropriations for these activities.

The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 expresses the sense of Congress regarding China's treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities, and it outlines several actions for the U.S. government to take, including coordinating with allies, supporting human rights advocates, and ensuring access to language training for Foreign Service officers. The Act requires the Secretary of State to develop strategies to address human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, advocate for access to detention facilities, and promote the release of prisoners detained for their ethnic or religious identities. It also directs the President to advocate for Uyghur rights within the United Nations.

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 "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

The Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 requires the State Department to report on links between Haitian political and economic elites and criminal gangs, and it mandates sanctions on foreign individuals identified as being involved in this collusion. The President can block transactions, deny visas, and revoke existing visas of those sanctioned, with exceptions for humanitarian aid and national interest waivers. This act aims to address how collusion between elites and gangs threatens the Haitian people and U.S. interests, but will terminate 5 years after enactment.

The "No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act" aims to deter Iran and other hostile entities from taking U.S. nationals hostage by imposing strict penalties and increasing oversight of Iranian assets. It mandates detailed reports on the use of restricted Iranian funds, requires reviews of sanctions for hostage-takers, and seeks to limit travel for Iranian diplomats at the United Nations. The Act also directs the creation of a strategy to deter hostage-taking and wrongful detention, and calls for assessing the invalidation of U.S. passports for travel to Iran. Finally, the act seeks to freeze and seize Iranian assets internationally.

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 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 "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 CAPE Canaveral Act would move NASA headquarters to Brevard County, Florida. The move must be completed within one year of the Act's enactment.