Legislative Activity

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Health Share Transparency Act of 2025 requires health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) to significantly increase public and governmental disclosure regarding their finances, operations, and claim practices. Ministries must provide detailed annual reports to federal agencies and give clear, prominent disclosures to prospective and current members about coverage limitations and appeal processes. The bill also mandates that enrollment contractors educate potential members on the differences between HCSMs and traditional insurance plans.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

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 Arctic Refuge Protection Act officially repeals the previous law authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation simultaneously designates approximately 1.56 million acres within the Refuge as protected wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of the Interior is now required to manage this newly designated land according to strict wilderness preservation standards.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a universal, nationwide health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage for all U.S. residents with no out-of-pocket costs. It fundamentally restructures healthcare financing by implementing global budgets for institutions and a new fee schedule for individuals, while phasing out existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation also sets strict quality standards for providers and creates a dedicated Trust Fund to manage the system's finances.

The Consent is Key Act increases federal grant funding for states that enact laws allowing civil lawsuits against individuals who remove sexual protection barriers without consent. To receive this increased funding, states must apply to the Attorney General, detailing their compliance with the new law. This funding boost, capped at 20% of recent averages, is available for a four-year period.

The Stealthing Act of 2025 establishes a federal civil right of action against individuals who remove a sexual protection barrier, such as a condom, during sexual contact without the partner's consent. This law recognizes the non-consensual removal of protection as a serious violation exposing victims to risks like STIs and pregnancy. Victims can sue for damages if the act involved interstate travel, commerce, or communication.

This bill reauthorizes the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection program, ensuring its continued operation to gather historical documents related to unsolved civil rights investigations. It strengthens the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board's authority to obtain and expedite the public release of federal, state, and local records, removing previous opt-out exceptions for state and local entities. Furthermore, the legislation extends the tenure of the Review Board from seven to eleven years to complete its review process.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act mandates the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rapidly adopt key industry standards as federal safety rules for lithium-ion batteries in small electric vehicles and personal mobility devices. This legislation ensures these standards automatically update to the newest industry revisions unless the CPSC finds a revision compromises safety. Furthermore, the CPSC must report to Congress five years after enactment regarding battery hazards and compliance.

The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act establishes and protects the right of tenants receiving federal rental assistance, including Section 8 voucher holders and those in LIHTC projects, to form and participate in tenant organizations without fear of retaliation. The bill mandates that Public Housing Agencies and property owners must recognize these legitimate groups, consider their concerns, and respond to their feedback. Furthermore, it creates new enforcement mechanisms, allows tenants to sue for violations, and establishes funding for technical assistance and training for tenant groups.

The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025 ensures that group health plans and insurers must cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. This means no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance will apply to these necessary exams. These provisions take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The **Protecting America’s Workers Act** significantly expands OSHA coverage to include public employees, strengthens whistleblower protections by lowering the burden of proof for workers and increasing remedies for retaliation, and mandates stricter reporting, increased penalties, and greater transparency for workplace safety violations. The bill also tightens federal oversight of state-run safety plans and enhances NIOSH's role in hazard evaluation and safety training.

The Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act prohibits the use of federal funds for medical research or experiments involving live vertebrate animals conducted in or controlled by designated foreign countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. This legislation prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from directly funding or supporting any entity in these nations that conducts such animal testing. The Secretary of HHS is also granted the authority to add other "countries of concern" to this banned list, subject to reporting requirements to Congress.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 declares extreme settler violence and displacement in the West Bank a threat to U.S. national security interests. This Act mandates the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals responsible for undermining peace and stability in the region. The Treasury Department must report to Congress on the implementation of these sanctions every 90 days.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount the Social Security Administration can withhold from a person's monthly benefit to recover an overpayment. Unless the individual agrees to a higher rate, the SSA can withhold no more than 10 percent of a monthly benefit payment to recoup accidental overpayments. This new limit applies to existing and future unrecovered overpayments under Title II benefits.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for recognizing April as National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). It celebrates the rich history, diverse culture, and significant contributions of Arab Americans across all sectors of U.S. society. The measure encourages communities nationwide to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

This Act mandates the creation of a new federal protocol to assess the cumulative health risks posed by combined environmental stressors, including pollution and climate change impacts. It also establishes a targeted enforcement program to identify and address communities overburdened by repeated environmental law violations. The goal is to ensure public health is protected by considering total environmental exposure and actively reducing pollution in the most affected areas.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 significantly increases the maximum expenses eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to \$8,000 for one child and \$16,000 for two or more. This legislation also modifies the income-based calculation for the credit percentage and makes the credit partially or fully refundable for eligible taxpayers. Furthermore, key dollar limits will be adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2026.

The Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act amends the TRICARE program to guarantee comprehensive coverage for assisted reproductive services for active-duty service members and their dependents. This new benefit ensures access to treatments like IVF and embryo storage, regardless of the cause of infertility or the service member's duty-related status. The legislation removes previous barriers to coverage based on service-connected injuries, sexual orientation, or marital status.