Legislative Activity

The Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025 aims to increase household disaster resilience through a grant program for pre-disaster mitigation activities, tax exclusions for state-based catastrophe loss mitigation payments and certain emergency agricultural assistance, and a tax credit for disaster mitigation expenditures. The grant program will provide funds to states and tribal governments for mitigation activities on individual homes in high-risk disaster areas, while the tax exclusions and credit offer financial relief and incentives for individuals and agricultural producers affected by disasters. This act seeks to encourage proactive measures to protect homes and businesses from the impact of future disasters.

This resolution declares racism a public health crisis, citing significant racial inequities in health outcomes and the impact of historical and contemporary racism. It supports local declarations of racism as a public health crisis and commits to establishing a national strategy to address health disparities, dismantle systemic racism, advance reforms for equitable health policies, and promote efforts to improve social determinants of health for all racial and ethnic minorities. The resolution calls on the nation to uphold the principle that all individuals are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The SECURE Firearm Storage Act mandates that federally licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers must secure all firearms in their inventory with hardened steel rods or locked in a safe when the business is closed. It also requires secure storage for paper records of firearm transactions and allows the Attorney General to set additional security requirements. Noncompliance can result in civil penalties, license suspension, or revocation, and all firearms license applications must include a plan for compliance with these new storage requirements.

The "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship, except in exigent circumstances. It mandates training, reporting, and oversight for enforcement activities near these locations, and invalidates evidence obtained in violation of the Act. The Act aims to ensure discretion and limit enforcement impact on sensitive community spaces, while also requiring annual reports to Congress on enforcement actions taken in sensitive locations.

The "Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act of 2025" increases the tax deduction for eligible educators' expenses from $250 to $1,000. This extension of benefits is applicable through 2026 and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Right to Contraception Act establishes a federal right for individuals to access and use contraception without government interference. It prohibits federal and state governments from enacting laws that restrict access to contraceptives or the provision of related services. The Act provides clear enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals and the Attorney General to sue to strike down any rule that violates these protections.

This bill codifies Executive Order 11246, ensuring its provisions against employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin are legally binding. By codifying the executive order, the bill ensures consistent enforcement and protection against discrimination in employment.

The "QUIET Act" aims to regulate robocalls using artificial intelligence by requiring disclosure when AI is used to mimic a real person in robocalls or text messages. It mandates that callers reveal the use of AI at the beginning of the communication. The Act also doubles the penalties for illegal robocalls or texts that use AI to impersonate individuals with the intent to defraud or cause harm.

The "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to discourage multinational corporations from avoiding U.S. taxes by shifting profits overseas. It includes provisions such as current year inclusion of net CFC tested income on a country-by-country basis, limitations on foreign tax credits, restrictions on interest deductions for domestic corporations in international financial reporting groups, and changes to the tax treatment of inverted corporations and foreign corporations managed in the U.S. This act aims to eliminate tax advantages for companies that move operations or profits outside the United States.

The BADGES for Native Communities Act aims to improve public safety and address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people by bridging data gaps, ensuring better coordination among law enforcement agencies, and providing resources for tribal communities. It mandates the appointment of Tribal facilitators for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, requires reports on law enforcement resources and needs in Indian Country, and establishes a grant program for missing or murdered response coordination. Additionally, the Act focuses on improving background checks for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement, studying evidence collection procedures, and enhancing counseling resources for law enforcement officers serving Native communities.

This bill expresses disapproval of any pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It serves as a symbolic condemnation of violence against law enforcement and underscores the importance of holding accountable those who perpetrate such acts.

The Job Protection Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to expand eligibility for family and medical leave to employees employed for at least 90 days. This act also expands the FMLA to include employers with 1 or more employees.

The "Love Lives On Act of 2025" amends titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses. This act modifies Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rules, allowing surviving spouses who remarry to still receive benefits. Additionally, it ensures continued Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments for certain remarried surviving spouses and expands TRICARE eligibility to include remarried widow/widowers whose subsequent marriage ended.

The "Caring for All Families Act" expands the definition of family members under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include domestic partners, in-laws, adult children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and other individuals with close family-like relationships, allowing employees to take leave to care for them. It also allows employees to take additional leave for parental involvement in children's or grandchildren's education and extracurricular activities, and to meet family wellness needs, with certain limitations on the amount of leave that can be taken for these purposes. These provisions apply to both private-sector and federal employees.

This bill recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Greensboro Four sit-in, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement that began on February 1, 1960. It acknowledges the Greensboro Four's significant contribution to the fight against racial inequality and encourages states to include their story in educational curricula. The bill also recognizes the importance of sit-ins as a form of nonviolent resistance and the enrichment that ethnic and racial diversity brings to the United States.

The Railway Safety Act of 2025 establishes comprehensive new safety standards across the freight rail industry, focusing heavily on trains transporting hazardous materials. The bill mandates stricter rules for train operations, requires enhanced rail car inspections, and sets a phase-out date for older, less safe tank cars. Furthermore, it increases civil penalties for safety violations, institutes a minimum two-person crew requirement for most freight trains, and funds infrastructure improvements like advanced track monitoring.

The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act" reauthorizes and expands programs aimed at supporting the mental health of healthcare providers. It requires annual reports on education and awareness initiatives, broadens eligibility for entities receiving funds, and extends funding for mental health support programs through 2030. The Act prioritizes reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers to improve access to mental health services.

The "Access to Counsel Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to guarantee individuals undergoing inspection at ports of entry or deferred inspection have access to legal counsel and assistance. It mandates that the Department of Homeland Security provide these individuals with the opportunity to consult with counsel within one hour of secondary inspection and allows counsel to advocate on their behalf. The Act also ensures lawful permanent residents are given the chance to seek legal advice before abandoning their residency status. This act aims to ensure due process and protect the rights of individuals during immigration inspections.

The "Stop the Wait Act of 2025" eliminates the waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, phasing it out completely by 2030. It also waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for certain SSDI recipients who lack minimum essential health coverage, allowing them to access Medicare retroactively to the start of their SSDI entitlement. The Act establishes special enrollment periods for Medicare Part B for these newly eligible individuals.

The "Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025" establishes a program supporting innovative, community-based training for allied health professionals, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Eligible applicants, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural health clinics, can receive funding to launch or expand healthcare partnerships, improve workforce readiness, and encourage disadvantaged students to pursue healthcare careers. Priority is given to programs increasing access to care in underserved communities and demonstrating cost-effective, replicable models. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026-2028, with grants or contracts capped at $2,500,000 per grant period.