Legislative Activity

The Blue Envelope Act of 2025 updates the Highway Safety Improvement Program to allow states to use federal funds for safety projects specifically designed to improve communication during traffic stops. This legislation enables the implementation of "blue envelope programs" to assist drivers who are deaf or have speech impediments when interacting with law enforcement.

This Act, the District of Columbia National Guard Commanding General Residency Act, amends existing law to require that the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard must reside within the District of Columbia. This new residency requirement will take effect one year after the law is enacted.

The Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act mandates the removal of Senator Francis G. Newlands' name and associated plaques from the memorial fountain at Chevy Chase Circle in D.C. The Secretary of the Interior must remove or obscure all inscriptions bearing his name on the fountain structure. Removed items will be offered to Newlands' descendants before being added to the Rock Creek Park museum collection.

The District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act grants the Council of the District of Columbia greater authority to enact laws concerning the D.C. Courts. This is achieved by removing a specific restriction on the Council's lawmaking power found in the D.C. Home Rule Act. Essentially, this legislation expands the local legislative control over the District's judicial system.

The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment Home Rule Act revises the composition of the Board, establishing a five-member body appointed by the Mayor with Council approval, all of whom must be D.C. residents. However, when reviewing applications from foreign missions, the Board's membership temporarily shifts to include specific federal appointees instead of regular members. This Act standardizes the Board's structure while ensuring federal representation for sensitive chancery-related zoning decisions.

This Act, the Commission of Fine Arts District of Columbia Home Rule Act, significantly limits the authority of the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). Specifically, it restricts the CFA's oversight regarding the location of statues, fountains, and monuments to only those properties owned by the Federal Government within the District of Columbia. Consequently, the CFA loses its approval power over art and structures on D.C. government or privately owned property.

This Act, the National Capital Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act, significantly reduces the National Capital Planning Commission's (NCPC) authority over property owned by the District of Columbia. It eliminates the requirement for NCPC approval on proposed D.C. governmental developments and strikes the NCPC's power to approve D.C. land sales. However, the NCPC retains its recommendation authority for transfers between Federal agencies or between a Federal agency and the District government.

This Act establishes a new voluntary early retirement option for eligible Foreign Service members facing significant agency restructuring or downsizing. It allows those aged 43 or older with 15 years of service to retire early and receive an annuity, subject to agency head approval. The provision is retroactive to January 20, 2025, and ensures funding for these benefits if the retirement fund is insufficient.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 3401 12th Street Northeast in Washington, D.C., as the "Chuck Brown Post Office." The legislation ensures that all official records and documents reflect this new name for the location.

This Act, the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act, revises the composition of the D.C. Zoning Commission by removing the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of the National Park Service from its membership. It also modifies the process for handling zoning applications involving foreign embassies. Specifically, it allows the President to appoint a specific federal official to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for foreign mission cases.

The District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 prohibits the exclusion of any person from serving on a jury in the District of Columbia based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation amends D.C. law to explicitly define "sex" for jury service purposes to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and related characteristics. The Act ensures that jury selection is based solely on citizenship, reinforcing protections against identity-based discrimination in the judicial process.

This bill amends federal law to explicitly authorize flying the United States flag at half-staff upon the death of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. It updates existing protocols to place the D.C. Mayor in the same category as state Governors for this national honor. This ensures the Mayor receives the same recognition as other high-ranking public officials.

The District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025 seeks to assert local control over non-discrimination policies within the District. This is primarily achieved by removing the applicability of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to the District of Columbia. This action ensures that D.C. laws and regulations are not automatically superseded by the federal RFRA standard.

The REAL ID Gender Requirement Reform Act updates federal identification standards by removing outdated gender documentation rules from the REAL ID Act of 2005. This legislation grants states the flexibility to decide whether to include a gender marker on driver's licenses and IDs. If a state chooses to include this field, it must offer an "unspecified" or "other" option and cannot require applicants to submit extra documentation to select their designation.

The Federal Gift Shop Tax Act authorizes states to impose their regular sales tax on purchases made at gift shops located on federal property, including museums like the Smithsonian. This applies to both in-person purchases and online sales directly through the gift shop's website. This legislation modifies existing limitations on state taxation of sales occurring on federal land.

This resolution recognizes the significant military service and sacrifice of District of Columbia residents, including veterans and active duty members. It highlights the irony that these individuals lack voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. Therefore, Congress uses this Memorial Day recognition to affirm support for granting D.C. residents the rights afforded by statehood.

This bill establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). It formally amends federal law to include the FRTIB among agencies subject to dedicated IG oversight. This action ensures enhanced accountability and integrity for the management of federal employee retirement savings.

The Restroom Access Act of 2025 mandates that certain retail establishments must allow customers with certified medical conditions to use non-public restrooms under specific circumstances. To qualify, the customer must present an official ID card confirming their eligible medical need, and no public restroom must be available. This law aims to provide necessary accommodations for individuals with conditions like Crohn's disease or those requiring ostomy devices.

This resolution formally recognizes the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents and expresses strong support for granting D.C. statehood through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. It outlines the historical and demographic justifications for statehood, emphasizing that D.C. residents pay significant federal taxes without voting representation in Congress. The measure also calls for the designation of May 1, 2025, as "D.C. Statehood Day."

This bill mandates that the Directors of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) and the Pretrial Services Agency must be residents of the District of Columbia. This new requirement applies only to individuals appointed to these positions after the bill is enacted into law. The legislation ensures that the heads of these key D.C. agencies live within the District they serve.