Legislative Activity

The "Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act" modifies Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, broadening the definition of "covered individual" to include more employees and modifying the definition of "publicly held corporation." This change prevents companies from deducting excessive employee remuneration, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations and guidance to implement these changes and prevent companies from avoiding the rules.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include state, federal, and local governments as employers, thereby extending OSHA protections to public service workers. This change ensures that public employees receive the same workplace safety standards and protections as those in the private sector. The Act will take effect 90 days after enactment for most entities, and 36 months after enactment for states without an approved state plan.

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 Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in organ transplantation and related services. It ensures that qualified individuals with disabilities are not denied access to organ transplants or related services solely based on their disability and requires reasonable modifications to policies and auxiliary aids to ensure accessibility. The Act allows consideration of a person's disability if medically significant to the transplant's success, but not if a support network can ensure compliance with health requirements. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against can file a claim with the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services for expedited resolution.

The "PROSPER Act of 2025" authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to eligible entities for youth gun violence prevention programs. These evidence-informed, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and inclusive programs will focus on healing, empowerment, mental health support, community engagement, and reintegration. The act allocates \$25,000,000 of juvenile justice program funds from 2026 through 2030 specifically for these youth gun violence prevention grants. Eligible entities include institutions of higher education, Indian Tribe government agencies, community-based organizations, and local government agencies that are not law enforcement.

The Housing for All Act of 2025 aims to combat homelessness and address the housing shortage through increased funding for affordable housing programs, rental assistance, and supportive services. The bill authorizes billions in funding for programs like the Housing Trust Fund, Section 202 (elderly), Section 811 (disabled), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. It also invests in community-driven solutions like safe parking programs, eviction protection, and mobile crisis intervention teams. Additionally, the act establishes a commission to address racial equity in housing and mandates studies on eviction data to inform future policy.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to protect coastal economies and marine environments by preventing offshore drilling in these specified regions.

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 "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The Veterans for Mustangs Act amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, prioritizing humane fertility control methods for managing wild horse and burro populations. It requires the Secretary to immediately take steps to manage population levels when necessary. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is directed to prioritize training and hiring military veterans to administer these fertility controls, offering them compensation and contracting opportunities. Contracted veterans will not be considered federal employees.

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase meal and supplement reimbursement rates by 10 cents for eligible child care facilities. It also updates language regarding consultation and modifies reimbursement calculations for family or group day care home sponsoring organizations.

The Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Act codifies the role of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring they report directly to the Secretary. It also mandates that the Secretary provide adequate staff and resources to support the Officer's work.

The Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act aims to improve mental health support for transitioning service members and veterans. It mandates comprehensive mental health information in the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program and enhances the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program to include mental health and counseling services education. The Act requires a report to Congress detailing the developed information and materials.

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 "Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act" aims to improve the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and related items during airport security screening. It mandates the TSA to update its guidance in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks and ensure hygienic standards are met during additional screenings. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will audit compliance and report on screening technologies' impact on these items.

The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to monitor and counter transnational repression activities, such as harassment and intimidation, targeting individuals in the U.S. by foreign governments. The working group will coordinate with intelligence agencies, review information from various partners, and provide annual reports to Congress on its findings and efforts. The Act also directs research and development into technologies to counter transnational repression, ensuring all activities comply with constitutional and privacy protections.

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 Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to create a public service announcement campaign educating the public and international allies about transnational repression and related terrorism threats, including resources for victims. It also requires research and development of technologies to support law enforcement in countering transnational repression while protecting constitutional rights. "Transnational repression" is defined as actions by a foreign government or its agents to coerce, harass, threaten, or retaliate against a person or their family in the U.S. or against a U.S. person.

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 "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.