Legislative Activity

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims, and to update which states and political subdivisions are subject to federal oversight based on a history of voting rights violations. It broadens the types of violations that allow a court to retain jurisdiction over a case, clarifies the Attorney General's authority to assign observers, and ensures transparency in voting-related changes. The Act also authorizes the Attorney General to demand documents and information to enforce voting rights and provides grants to small jurisdictions to assist with notification requirements.

The Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act restricts political appointees and special government employees from accessing sensitive Social Security beneficiary data systems. It establishes a right for individuals to sue the government or responsible parties for unauthorized access or disclosure of their private Social Security information, including specified minimum damages. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Inspector General to investigate such violations and report findings to Congress within 30 days. Finally, it requires the GAO to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of these new privacy and enforcement measures.

The MERIT Act requires federal agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were terminated as part of a mass termination event between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date, providing them with back pay and benefits. The Act also mandates reports on government employee terminations and the reinstatement process. It defines key terms such as "affected probationary employee" and "mass termination" to clarify the scope and applicability of the Act. This act ensures that affected employees are treated as involuntarily separated without cause and outlines the process for determining back pay and providing notice to eligible employees.

The "Original Black History Month Resolution of 2025" officially recognizes February 2025 as Black History Month with the theme "African Americans and Labor." The resolution honors the essential contributions of Black workers to the U.S. economy from enslavement to the present day while highlighting the ongoing struggle for labor equality. It encourages all Americans to celebrate these achievements and acknowledge the historical and systemic challenges still faced by Black workers today.

The Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act directs the Department of Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver, and half-dollar coins in 2027 to commemorate the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente. The coins' designs will represent Clemente's life, including his baseball achievements and humanitarian work. Surcharges from the coin sales will benefit the Roberto Clemente Foundation, supporting their educational programs, youth sports initiatives, disaster relief efforts, and historic preservation projects. The Act ensures that the coin program will not incur any net cost to the United States government.

This bill repeals four executive orders related to energy and environmental policies issued on January 20, 2025. It stops the use of federal funds to implement these orders, but does not reduce any existing presidential powers.

This resolution seeks to block a proposed foreign military sale to Israel, submitted to Congress on February 10, 2025. The legislation specifically prohibits the export of 10,000 high-explosive 155mm projectiles, along with associated technical support and logistical services.

This resolution seeks to block a proposed foreign military sale to Israel, specifically prohibiting the transfer of 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. In addition to the missiles, the resolution halts the provision of associated support equipment, technical documentation, training, and logistics services.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to reduce bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states to establish policies prohibiting such conduct based on various characteristics, including race, sex, religion, and disability. It mandates annual notifications, data collection on incidents, biennial evaluations of programs, and regular reports to Congress to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This act does not infringe on existing nondiscrimination laws or freedom of speech but seeks to create a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

This bill seeks to block a proposed U.S. export license amendment that would authorize the transfer of additional Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits and Small Diameter Bombs to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. If passed, it would prohibit the government from finalizing the sale of these specific defense articles.

This bill aims to block the sale of specific defense articles and services to Israel, including bombs, guidance kits, fuzes, and related support equipment, as outlined in Transmittal No. 2413. The disapproval extends to both the direct military equipment and associated logistical and technical support.

The "Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act" establishes a task force to study and report on the use of artificial intelligence in the financial services sector. The task force will assess both the benefits and potential risks, especially regarding deep fakes and their potential use in fraud and identity theft. The goal is to develop best practices and recommend legislation or regulations to protect consumers from AI-related financial crimes.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

The Social Security Expansion Act aims to increase Social Security benefits, change cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect elderly consumers, and extend eligibility to student children. It also adjusts payroll and self-employment taxes for earnings above $250,000, increases taxes on investment gains, and establishes a new Social Security Trust Fund. These changes are intended to provide greater financial security for beneficiaries and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to respecting Mexico’s sovereignty and condemns the use of unilateral military action without Mexico's consent and explicit congressional authorization. It emphasizes that transnational criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, do not constitute an armed attack justifying military force under international or U.S. law. Ultimately, the bill advocates for continued bilateral cooperation to address shared security challenges rather than military intervention.

The Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025 prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning stock or having financial interests in defense contractors to prevent profiting from war. It requires divestment of conflicting assets within a specified timeframe, with exceptions for diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Violators may face civil penalties, and the Act allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required divestments.

This bill officially redesignates the site currently known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It mandates that all official U.S. records, maps, and documents be updated to reflect this new name and repeals the previous joint resolutions that established the former designation.

This resolution recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a serious health condition that significantly impacts the reproductive, metabolic, and mental well-being of millions of women. It expresses support for designating September as "PCOS Awareness Month" to improve public education, encourage earlier diagnosis, and promote further research into treatments and a potential cure.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.