Legislative Activity

The Emergency Responder Protection Act establishes a 1,000-foot protected zone around emergency response locations, severely restricting immigration enforcement activities near disaster sites and aid centers. Immigration officers generally cannot conduct enforcement actions within this zone unless facing exigent circumstances, such as imminent risk of death or violence. The bill mandates strict operational rules, annual training for officers, and detailed reporting requirements to the DHS Inspector General and Congress regarding any enforcement actions taken near these protected areas. Violations of this rule may result in the termination of removal proceedings and the inadmissibility of evidence gathered.

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025 mandates that certain new medical devices must be designed to be fully usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This ensures that users can access information and operate life-saving equipment independently and privately, similar to sighted users. The FDA is tasked with establishing specific nonvisual accessibility standards for these covered devices within a set timeline. Devices failing to meet these standards after the effective date will be deemed adulterated.

The Ejiao Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing trade, import, and export of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao products within U.S. commerce due to the devastating impact of the ejiao trade on global donkey populations. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including substantial fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, the Act grants enforcement authority to agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and mandates the forfeiture of illegal goods and related equipment.

This resolution supports the designation of a National Hazing Awareness Week to highlight the serious and often tragic issue of hazing on college campuses. It builds upon existing federal law by emphasizing the need for comprehensive, ongoing prevention education for students, staff, and faculty. Ultimately, the bill encourages nationwide action to promote awareness and prevent hazing incidents.

The Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act aims to address the epidemic of child sexual abuse by eliminating state statutes of limitations for civil and criminal cases involving child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking. The bill incentivizes states to adopt these reforms by offering federal grants to those that eliminate time limits for filing lawsuits or reopen previously time-barred claims. This legislation is designed to ensure survivors have a meaningful opportunity to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of how long it took them to come forward.

The Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act renews the popular program offering free access to national parks and federal recreation sites for eligible youth. This reauthorization specifically targets fifth graders or 10- and 11-year-old home-schooled learners. The bill authorizes $25 million annually to support the program, including funding for outreach and transportation assistance for underserved communities.

The Improving Child Care for Working Families Act of 2025 significantly increases the tax exclusion limit for dependent care assistance programs. This change raises the maximum exclusion from $\$7,500$ to $\$10,500$ for most taxpayers. The bill also adjusts the limit for married individuals filing separately to $\$5,250$. These provisions apply to dependent care expenses incurred in calendar years beginning after the Act's enactment.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical disparities in mental health access and treatment for Black youth, citing alarming increases in suicide rates among this population. It calls on the current administration to build upon previous efforts and implement recommendations from the *Ring the Alarm* report. The bill specifically urges increased funding, promotion of community education to reduce stigma, and protection of existing mental health service structures.

This bill directs the President to immediately remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and certain designated criminal groups. Congress asserts that these military actions lack the necessary constitutional authorization or a declaration of war. The resolution mandates withdrawal unless Congress subsequently passes specific authorization or the U.S. is subject to an armed attack.

Katie Meyer's Law mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal funding must provide students accused of code of conduct violations the option to have a trained adviser assist them through the disciplinary process. Students can choose their own adviser or request an independent one provided by the institution. Additionally, the bill updates campus security reporting requirements to include incidents of suicide.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

The Stop Censoring Military Families Act mandates the immediate restoration of previously available learning materials in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and prevents new restrictions until after the 2026–2027 academic year. It establishes strict notification and review processes before the Secretary of Defense can issue major directives affecting multiple DoDEA schools. Furthermore, the Act nullifies several specific Executive Orders within the Department of Defense and requires a study on establishing an independent body to manage DoDEA curricula.

This resolution recognizes the severe psychological impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. It condemns specific enforcement tactics that violate constitutional rights and highlights the disproportionate harm caused by detention and deportation policies. The bill directs federal agencies to collect data on mental health impacts and support nonprofit organizations providing essential services to affected immigrant populations.

The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025 establishes federal oversight for large entities using complex automated systems, or "covered algorithms," that impact critical consumer decisions like employment or housing. It mandates that these entities conduct rigorous, ongoing impact assessments to test for bias, privacy risks, and performance issues. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with creating detailed regulations and enforcing compliance, including requiring covered entities to submit annual summary reports detailing their assessment findings. This Act ensures that significant algorithmic decisions are scrutinized for fairness and transparency without overriding stricter state or local regulations.

The No Coffee Tax Act aims to prevent any increase in import tariffs on specified coffee products originating from countries with normal trade relations with the U.S. This legislation effectively freezes the import tax rate for items like roasted coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and coffee substitutes at the level set on January 19, 2025. In short, it locks in current tariffs to ensure coffee imports remain tax-stable.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities initiated after February 20, 2025, against designated terrorist groups or drug trafficking organizations without prior Congressional authorization. It asserts Congress's constitutional power to declare war and finds recent military strikes against vessels lacked proper justification. The bill allows for continued use of forces for self-defense or authorized counternarcotics support, but explicitly states drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack.

The HEADACHE Act establishes a comprehensive National Headache Disorders Initiative to improve research, workforce development, and care coordination for all headache disorders. It mandates the creation of an Advisory Council to guide federal efforts and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress detailing progress and recommending actions. This legislation aims to address disparities and reduce the societal and financial burden of these conditions before the Act automatically expires five years after enactment.

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act) explicitly extends the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to job applicants, prohibiting employers from limiting or classifying applicants based on age during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill mandates that the EEOC conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed under the ADEA since 2015. The EEOC must then report these findings, along with recommendations for combating hiring bias, to Congress and the public.