Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses strong Congressional support for designating September 2025 as "African Diaspora Heritage Month." It recognizes the significant and diverse contributions of the African diaspora community to American society, culture, and the economy. The bill encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe this month through appropriate programs and activities. Ultimately, it affirms the vital role of the diaspora in strengthening U.S. ties with Africa and enriching the nation's heritage.

This Act officially grants federal recognition to the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, acknowledging its long history and bringing the Tribe and its members under the framework of federal laws and benefits for recognized tribes. The legislation defines tribal membership, confirms the status of existing governing documents, and establishes procedures for placing tribal lands into federal trust status. Furthermore, it explicitly reserves existing hunting, fishing, and water rights while prohibiting gaming operations based on inherent tribal authority or federal gaming laws.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to mandate greater data transparency regarding supplemental benefits offered under Medicare Advantage plans. It requires Medicare Advantage organizations to report detailed information on benefit eligibility, type, utilization, and costs starting in 2029. This data will then be made publicly available annually for research and analysis, while ensuring strict protection of individual member privacy.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions and penalties against knowingly spreading materially false information intended to suppress voting in federal elections, including the use of AI-generated content within 60 days of an election. The bill also criminalizes intimidating election workers involved in ballot tabulation and certification processes. Furthermore, it authorizes the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false voting information and requires detailed reporting on election interference allegations.

This bill mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a comprehensive system for tracking and reporting all instances where U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are detained or removed during immigration enforcement actions. The system requires quarterly reports to Congress detailing these incidents, including those involving individuals transferred from other law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the bill requires DHS to create a formal process allowing detained or removed individuals to submit proof of their citizenship or permanent resident status.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that extreme weather poses unique and severe threats to the health and well-being of children. It urges that solutions to address these escalating dangers must be rapidly and equitably developed and deployed with children's specific vulnerabilities in mind. The bill calls for prioritizing the physical and mental health needs of children in all future climate adaptation and air quality planning efforts.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of qualified education expenses for 529 savings plans. It now permits the use of these tax-advantaged funds for certain transportation and parking costs associated with higher education. Specifically, distributions can cover reasonable travel expenses up to the amount determined by the school's cost of attendance calculation, and similar provisions apply to apprenticeship programs.

The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025 establishes a federal program to issue loans and loan guarantees for building, renovating, and upgrading mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities. This legislation prioritizes underserved areas and sets aside funds specifically for projects serving children and teens. Furthermore, it creates a dedicated Trust Fund to hold surplus revenue from the loan program, which Congress can later use to fund community mental health service block grants.

The RESEARCHER Act establishes new federal guidelines to address the financial instability faced by graduate and postdoctoral researchers supported by federal funding. It mandates agencies to improve stipends, healthcare access, and support for housing and family care for these essential researchers. Furthermore, the bill requires comprehensive data collection and studies by the National Academies and GAO to assess and report on the effectiveness of these new financial support measures.

The Celestial Time Standardization Act directs NASA to develop a standardized time system for use on the Moon and in deep space. This new "coordinated lunar time" must be traceable to Earth's UTC while remaining accurate and independent for off-world operations. NASA is required to coordinate with federal agencies and international partners and report its implementation strategy to Congress within two years.

This bill restricts the use of federal funds to carry out large-scale removals of employees within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Specifically, it prohibits using federal money for terminations if 3% or more of the total HHS workforce, or 3% or more of any individual sub-agency's staff, are removed within a 60-day period. This measure aims to prevent sudden, mass layoffs across the department and its major divisions.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 409 South Hicks Street in Lawrenceville, Virginia, as the "James Solomon Russell Post Office." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new, permanent name for the Lawrenceville post office.

This Act mandates that the Department of Defense (DoD) immediately seek to update its stormwater discharge permits to require quarterly testing for PFAS chemicals at all facilities. Furthermore, the DoD must implement necessary cleanup measures to reduce these discharges. At least one percent of annual PFAS cleanup funding must be dedicated specifically to this required stormwater testing.

The "Teacher and School Leader Quality Partnership Grants Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the preparation, recruitment, and professional development of teachers, school leaders, and other educators, particularly in high-need areas. It emphasizes evidence-based practices, residency programs, and teacher leadership development, while also holding preparation programs accountable for the effectiveness of their graduates. The act also directs the Secretary of Education to establish an advisory committee to study and make recommendations on elevating the education profession. Finally, it extends the authorization of appropriations through 2026.

The "Coordination for Soil Carbon Research and Monitoring Act" establishes an Interagency Committee to coordinate federal research, development, and deployment activities related to soil carbon sequestration. The committee will develop a strategic plan, propose agency roles, oversee working groups, and report to Congress on soil carbon sequestration research and monitoring. It encourages collaboration between federal agencies, soil scientists, and agricultural communities to advance soil carbon sequestration. An appropriation of $10,000,000 is authorized to carry out the Act.