Legislative Activity

The FORECAST Act of 2025 aims to enhance weather research and forecasting capabilities by improving seasonal predictability, utilizing advanced technologies like AI, and supporting the development of a skilled workforce in weather and Earth system modeling. It directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA to conduct research, collect observational data, and advance forecast systems. The act also establishes the "Weather and Earth System Modeling and Data Assimilation Workforce Innovation Program" to support education, recruitment, and address workforce needs through scholarships, research funding, and strategic human capital planning. Finally, it authorizes specific appropriations for these activities in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025) prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas. This prohibition applies to activities outlined in the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This act amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

This resolution expresses support for library staff and the essential services that libraries provide to communities, while also recognizing the need for adequate funding and the protection of library staff's civil rights. It emphasizes the importance of free access to information, condemns censorship and book bans, and supports the right of library workers to organize and collectively bargain. The resolution also designates April 6-12, 2025, as National Library Week, reaffirming the critical role of libraries in the United States.

This resolution supports the designation of April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It recognizes the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black women, urges Congress to address systemic inequities, and calls for policies promoting equitable access to maternal healthcare and reproductive justice. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of community-led solutions and increased investment in Black-led organizations to improve maternal health outcomes.

The "Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025" establishes an Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence, tasked with surveying victims and victim assistance professionals to identify their needs and effective support practices. The council will assess compensation fund administration, provide public information on available resources, and report to Congress and the public on best practices and service gaps. This council aims to improve access to medical, financial, mental health, and other essential services for those affected by gun violence. The council will gather public input and terminate five years after the bill's enactment.

This resolution designates the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week" to recognize the importance of national parks for recreation, education, and economic contributions. It encourages people to visit and support these parks while acknowledging the role of the National Park Service in protecting these resources for future generations.

This bill mandates the United States Postal Service to assign unique ZIP Codes to specific communities in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Wyoming within 270 days of the bill's enactment. The communities include Eastvale, California; Scotland, Connecticut; Castle Pines and Silver Cliff, Colorado; Cooper City, Miami Lakes, and Ocoee, Florida; Urbandale, Iowa; Franklin, Greenfield, Caledonia, Mount Pleasant, and Somers, Wisconsin; and Mills, Wyoming.

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act aims to improve mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups through increased funding, research, and culturally competent training and outreach programs. It mandates a study on mental health disparities, promotes best practices in healthcare training, requires a national outreach strategy, and allocates additional funds to the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The bill reauthorizes and expands grant programs to prioritize entities serving high proportions of racial and ethnic minority groups.

The "National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025" aims to bolster national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness by establishing a coordinated federal approach to biotechnology. This initiative directs the President to implement a comprehensive strategy involving multiple federal agencies, an interagency committee, and a dedicated National Biotechnology Coordination Office. The Act focuses on advancing research and development, streamlining regulations, enhancing biosecurity, developing the workforce, promoting bioliteracy, and fostering international partnerships in biotechnology. It also authorizes appropriations to support the initiative and mandates regular reporting and strategy development.

The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy" by designating and supporting Ocean Innovation Clusters. These clusters, composed of diverse stakeholders, will promote collaboration, innovation, and economic development related to oceans and Great Lakes resources. The Act directs federal agencies to support these clusters through partnership managers, technical knowledge exchange, and measurement of their economic impact. Additionally, it establishes a grant program to fund the operation and administration of Ocean Innovation Clusters, with the goal of creating self-sustaining entities that drive regional economic benefits.

The Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025 aims to bolster organic agriculture by expanding research initiatives, providing grants for transitioning to organic practices, and enhancing data collection on organic production and markets. It establishes a coordinated research initiative across agricultural agencies, extends funding for organic research and extension programs, and promotes research into the economic and environmental impacts of organic farming. The act also supports partnerships with various educational institutions and prioritizes projects involving on-farm research and traditional ecological knowledge.

This resolution supports the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It addresses the alarming rise of discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQI+ students and the negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The resolution encourages states and localities to enact inclusive policies that prevent victimization and promote positive school climates for all students.

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. It requires individuals who legally owned modified firearms before the enactment of the BUMP Act to register them. The act amends both title 18 of the U.S. Code and the Internal Revenue Code to include these devices under the regulatory scope of machine guns.

The "Expanding Access to Family Planning Act" aims to increase investment in family planning clinics by establishing the Title X Clinic Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund will provide significant annual appropriations for grants, contracts, and infrastructure improvements for Title X clinics from 2026 through 2035. The act ensures that all pregnancy counseling is nondirective, offering patients comprehensive information on all options, including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act amends Title 18 to restrict the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of specific gas-operated semi-automatic firearms, devices that increase a firearm's rate of fire, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill provides exceptions for governmental use, certain transfers to family members, and firearms lawfully possessed before enactment, and it allows Byrne grants to be used for buy-back programs for gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. It also tasks the Attorney General and ATF with publishing a list of prohibited firearms, reviewing applications for new firearms, and establishing a Firearm Safety Trust Fund to cover associated costs. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for violations of the Act.

The "Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025" expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for individuals without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, eliminating the maximum age, and increasing credit and phaseout percentages. It also makes permanent the application of the EITC to U.S. possessions and allows taxpayers to elect to use prior year earned income when calculating the EITC if it results in a larger credit. These changes aim to provide additional tax relief to low- and moderate-income workers.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over a five-year period, after which it will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees and newly hired employees under 20, eventually eliminating the separate wage tiers. Additionally, it increases the minimum wage for individuals with disabilities and promotes their economic self-sufficiency by phasing out special certificates that allow employers to pay them a subminimum wage.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if each state's laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining rights in that state. The Act outlines the rights of public employees and employers, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, and prohibits lockouts and strikes that would disrupt emergency or public safety services. This law does not invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements and certifications and includes exceptions for certain state laws and political subdivisions.

The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996, allowing military aircraft to be used for dropping water, in addition to fire retardant, for wildfire suppression. It ensures that aircraft sold by the Department of Defense are exclusively used for wildfire suppression services. This act extends the Department of Defense's authority to sell aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression until October 1, 2035.