Legislative Activity

The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act establishes new requirements and strict time limits for the Department of Defense when providing support to civilian law enforcement agencies, requiring prior Congressional notification and justification. It also prohibits Department of Defense personnel from simultaneously serving in civilian law enforcement roles, with limited exceptions for reservists. Furthermore, the bill broadens the circumstances under which military and federal law enforcement can assist civil authorities and creates a private right of action for violations of the Act.

The Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act exempts certain earnings made by healthcare professionals and first responders from the Social Security retirement earnings test. This exemption specifically covers wages earned during the COVID-19 pandemic period (January 31, 2020, to May 11, 2023). Furthermore, the bill establishes a mechanism to exclude similar pandemic-related earnings from benefit calculations during future declared public health emergencies. This aims to provide financial fairness to essential workers who continued working while collecting Social Security benefits.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The Independence Investment Fund Act establishes a $\$5$ billion Treasury-managed fund to make equity and debt investments in U.S. companies developing critical and emerging technologies. This initiative aims to strengthen national security by countering adversarial foreign investments, particularly in sectors like biotechnology. The Fund will operate for 10 years under the oversight of an independent managing entity and requires regular reporting to Congress on its performance and objectives.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 seeks to reverse harmful provisions affecting unaccompanied children. This bill eliminates various immigration-related fees for current and former unaccompanied children, including those for asylum and employment authorization. It also prohibits physically intrusive medical examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the Act mandates the refunding of previously paid fees.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility at 3570 Olney Laytonsville Road in Olney, Maryland, as the "Edward L. Ramsey Olney Post Office Building." This change ensures all federal references to the location will use the new, named designation.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

The Algorithm Accountability Act amends Section 230 to impose a duty of care on social media platforms regarding their recommendation algorithms, requiring them to prevent foreseeable bodily injury or death caused by these systems. Failure to meet this standard results in the loss of existing liability protections under Section 230. The Act also establishes a private right of action, allowing victims to sue platforms for damages resulting from algorithmic harm. This new duty specifically excludes simple chronological sorting or initial search result curation, while upholding First Amendment protections.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the ongoing epidemic of violence targeting transgender people, particularly transgender women of color. It memorializes the lives lost this year and highlights the systemic barriers, including discrimination and lack of healthcare access, faced by the transgender community. The bill calls for urgent action from the government to protect these lives through inclusive legislation and policies that ensure dignity and respect for all individuals.

The Find It Early Act mandates that certain individuals at increased risk for breast cancer receive additional, recommended screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. This coverage requirement applies across private health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. These provisions are set to take effect starting January 1, 2026.

This bill mandates that the FEMA Administrator administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program. It requires the immediate disbursement of obligated 2022 funds and the initiation of grant awards for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the bill calls for research and development to improve the accessibility, resiliency, and security of emergency warning systems.

The Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act establishes grant programs to build pipelines that train and place more mental health providers in low-income schools. It also creates a student loan repayment program for providers who commit to working in these underserved districts for five years. The bill aims to improve student support ratios by increasing the number of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers in high-need areas. Finally, it mandates a study to develop future criteria for identifying areas with mental health provider shortages.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

This resolution officially recognizes and supports the goals of National Rural Health Day to honor the vital role of rural communities and their healthcare providers. It acknowledges the unique challenges faced by rural residents, such as limited access to care and hospital closures. The bill expresses a commitment to advancing policies that improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in rural America.

The Biomanufacturing Excellence Act of 2025 aims to bolster U.S. leadership in biotechnology by establishing a National Biopharmaceutical Center of Excellence. This Center will accelerate manufacturing innovation, strengthen domestic supply chains, and ensure adherence to quality standards. It will also facilitate crucial workforce training to support the growing biomanufacturing sector.

The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act establishes new grant programs to coordinate federal, nonprofit, and private investments in rural areas. It creates the Rural Partnership Program to fund comprehensive development projects and a separate Technical Assistance Grant program to help rural organizations manage grants and plan development. Furthermore, the Act reforms the existing Rural Partners Network to streamline federal assistance and reduce administrative burdens for rural communities.

The Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act designates services provided by the Farm Services Agency (FSA) as essential during a government shutdown. This ensures that FSA officers and employees can continue their work, recognizing their services as necessary for protecting human life and property.