Legislative Activity

This bill, the Improving SBA Engagement on Employee Ownership Act, mandates that the Small Business Administrator must attend federal meetings focused on cooperatives and employee ownership. It also requires the SBA to expand outreach for its investment company program to include current partners. Finally, the legislation requires the SBA to quickly implement existing duties related to promoting employee ownership and cooperatives.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 514 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. The facility will now be known as the "Mildred Joyce Coleman Crump Post Office Building." This action ensures all official records reflect the new name for the Newark post office.

This resolution officially honors the memory of the victims of the 1967 Newark riots and acknowledges the enduring impact of the civil unrest on the community. It recognizes the historical context, causes, and consequences of the events, including systemic inequality and police misconduct. Furthermore, the resolution commits to supporting ongoing efforts to address racial and economic disparities to prevent future unrest.

The Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to fund state, local, and tribal governments, as well as eligible gun dealers, to conduct local gun buyback events. These buybacks must utilize specially designed "smart prepaid cards" that are technologically barred from purchasing firearms or ammunition. The bill also creates a new federal crime with significant penalties for anyone using or accepting these specific prepaid cards to illegally acquire or transfer a firearm or ammunition.

The MERIT Act requires federal agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were terminated as part of a mass termination event between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date, providing them with back pay and benefits. The Act also mandates reports on government employee terminations and the reinstatement process. It defines key terms such as "affected probationary employee" and "mass termination" to clarify the scope and applicability of the Act. This act ensures that affected employees are treated as involuntarily separated without cause and outlines the process for determining back pay and providing notice to eligible employees.

The SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to remove the cap on the maximum deduction for shelter expenses when determining SNAP benefits, allowing for a more accurate reflection of recipients' actual costs. This change will take effect on January 1 of the year following the bill's enactment.

The Amputation Reduction and Compassion Act of 2025 aims to reduce preventable amputations due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) through increased education, expanded Medicare and Medicaid coverage of PAD screening tests for at-risk individuals, and the development of quality measures focused on amputation prevention. This act establishes a PAD education program, waives cost-sharing for PAD screening tests for at-risk beneficiaries, and promotes amputation prevention programs. Ultimately, the goal is to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and address disparities in amputation rates.