Legislative Activity

The Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to create detailed, publicly accessible maps forecasting groundwater rise along all U.S. coasts through the year 2100. Following this mapping, the bill mandates a comprehensive two-phase study by the National Academies to assess the resulting impacts on critical infrastructure and public health. This legislation aims to provide necessary data and analysis to help coastal communities prepare for the threats posed by rising groundwater tables.

The Battery and Regenerative Braking Act expands eligibility for federal rail infrastructure and safety funding. It specifically allows commuter rail passenger transportation entities to apply for these funds. This new access is targeted toward projects focused on developing and implementing regenerative braking systems and energy storage technologies to improve energy efficiency.

The FARE Act establishes the Advisory Committee on Rail Electrification, tasked with identifying barriers to electrifying the nation's railroads. This committee will bring together diverse stakeholders to recommend solutions and necessary research and development. The committee's findings and recommendations will be reported regularly to Congress.

The Language Access in Transit Act ensures that recipients of federal transportation funds must provide meaningful language access for individuals with limited English proficiency. This legislation mandates that organizations receiving federal aid actively take steps to help non-English speakers understand and utilize transportation services. It updates existing nondiscrimination rules to explicitly include this requirement for language accessibility.

The SAFE CROSS Act mandates a one-year study by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to evaluate the safety benefits, costs, and best practices for implementing AI-enabled sensors at railroad crossings. This research will compare AI technology against traditional safety measures like grade separations. Upon completion, the findings and recommendations will be publicly shared to guide federal, state, tribal, and local safety initiatives.

The Transit Captions Innovations Act authorizes the Department of Transportation to support the use of real-time transcription and translation technology in public transit systems. This initiative aims to improve accessibility for riders who are deaf, hard of hearing, or limited English proficient. The bill also sets specific funding authorizations through fiscal year 2031 to support these innovative language access projects.

The Empty Lots to Housing Act streamlines the process for transferring federally funded, unneeded real property to local entities or qualified private developers. This transfer is contingent upon the recipient agreeing to long-term affordability requirements for the resulting housing. Specifically, at least 40% of new units must be affordable for low-income families, with a portion reserved for extremely low-income households.

The Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies on how driver-controlled technology, especially touch screens, impacts serious crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. Following the study, the Secretary of Transportation must report findings to Congress and provide actionable recommendations for reducing traffic fatalities. These recommendations must be categorized based on whether they require new legislation or can be implemented immediately by existing agencies.

The Earthquake Resilience Act aims to significantly enhance national preparedness for seismic events. It mandates a comprehensive national assessment of earthquake readiness and updates the existing reduction program to focus on post-disaster recovery goals. Key provisions include developing new standards for lifeline infrastructure resilience and integrating real-time data into hazard reduction planning.

This resolution reaffirms the judiciary's constitutional authority to serve as a check on executive power and emphasizes the obligation of the President to comply with all federal court orders. It calls on the Trump administration to immediately adhere to existing judicial rulings, asserting that defiance of these orders undermines the rule of law and the separation of powers.

The Poverty Line Act of 2025 updates the calculation of the federal poverty line to more accurately reflect the true costs of basic needs such as housing, childcare, and healthcare, while also accounting for geographic variations and household spending norms. This updated calculation aims to expand eligibility for federal assistance programs. The Act requires regular evaluations and adjustments to the poverty line, ensuring it keeps pace with economic changes and accurately reflects the needs of households striving for economic mobility. It also mandates a report to Congress on necessary updates to federal laws and regulations that rely on the poverty line for program eligibility.