Legislative Activity

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act establishes dedicated Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within the VA system to streamline care for eligible women veterans receiving community treatment for these cancers. These coordinators will link veterans with VA and community providers, monitor health outcomes, and ensure comprehensive support. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until September 30, 2032.

The FAIR Act of 2025 invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers for employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights claims. This law restores the right for individuals to pursue these disputes in court or through collective legal action. The provisions apply to all covered disputes arising on or after the date the Act is enacted.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.

The National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 establishes a new, mixed-ownership federal corporation chartered to finance major infrastructure projects across the nation. This legislation authorizes the Bank to raise substantial capital and issue significant loans to spur economic growth while prioritizing projects in disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the bill grants the Bank and its specific investors favorable tax exemptions to encourage participation and operation.

This resolution officially designates the week of September 15 through September 19, 2025, as "National Clean Energy Week." It recognizes the vital role of the growing clean energy sector in creating American jobs and advancing national environmental and economic goals. The bill encourages public and private entities to promote affordable, low-emission energy solutions across the country.

This bill, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the pioneering civil rights attorney and federal judge, Constance Baker Motley. The legislation recognizes her historic achievements, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education* and her service as the first African-American woman appointed as a federal judge. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike the medal, and provisions are made for selling bronze duplicates to cover production costs.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress to observe August 30, 2025, as the 135th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions. It recognizes the vital history and ongoing contributions of these 19 historically Black land-grant universities to education, research, and community extension. The bill encourages federal and state partners to celebrate this milestone and reaffirms commitment to strengthening federal collaboration with these institutions.

The HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 removes a federal payment limitation for certain home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers under Medicaid. This change grants states greater flexibility in receiving federal matching funds for these essential community services.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 9, 2025, as "National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the growing crisis of firearm suicides across the United States. It emphasizes that safe and secure firearm storage is a critical component of suicide prevention efforts. The resolution encourages professionals to discuss gun safety and suicide prevention with their patients.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 aims to combat the nation's leading weather-related killer by establishing a comprehensive federal strategy against extreme heat. The bill creates an Interagency Committee and a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to coordinate research, data sharing, and preparedness efforts across government agencies. Furthermore, it authorizes significant financial assistance for community projects focused on heat resilience, prioritizing historically disadvantaged areas. The Act also mandates a national study to identify critical gaps in current heat response policies and infrastructure.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act seeks to federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, which will retroactively apply to past offenses. The bill establishes an Opportunity Trust Fund, financed by new cannabis taxes, to reinvest in communities harmed by prohibition. Furthermore, it mandates the expungement of non-violent federal cannabis convictions and opens up Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to legitimate cannabis businesses.

This bill mandates that the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) must regularly report detailed statistics on their enforcement activities. These quarterly reports must include the total number of arrests, individuals in custody, and deportations. Furthermore, ICE must break down these figures based on prior criminal convictions and assigned threat levels, and then make this information publicly available on their website.

The Farm Credit Adjustment Act grants the Farm Credit Administration the option to extend mandatory examination cycles for low-risk Farm Credit System institutions from the current frequency to once every 24 months. This change provides regulatory flexibility for institutions deemed stable by the FCA. This new examination option will take effect starting October 1, 2026.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The Shielding Students from Wildfire Smoke Act directs the EPA to commission a comprehensive study on how K-12 schools and childcare facilities currently manage wildfire smoke exposure for children. This review will assess existing policies, identify gaps in protection, and recommend actionable strategies to Congress for improving safeguards, especially for resource-limited settings.

The Youth Voting Rights Act aims to strengthen voting access for young Americans by enforcing the 26th Amendment. This bill mandates that public colleges facilitate voter registration, allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register for federal elections, and requires on-campus polling locations. It also establishes grants to encourage youth civic engagement and strengthens protections against age-based barriers in voting, including ID rules and absentee voting.

The Voters on the Move Registration Act of 2025 mandates that standardized, multilingual voter registration information be provided to individuals applying for certain federally assisted rental housing or residential mortgages. This ensures that tenants and mortgage applicants receive clear instructions on how to register to vote. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is tasked with creating this uniform voter information statement. This requirement focuses solely on providing information, not compelling voter registration.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual grants to states for improving election administration, security, and accessibility, managed by a newly created Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation. This funding is supported by a dedicated ten-year Trust Fund to ensure stable resources for election infrastructure upgrades. The bill imposes strict rules on how states can use the money, including prohibitions against purchasing insecure voting machines or restricting basic voter support. If states fail to comply, the federal Director can bypass state government to fund local election subdivisions directly.