Legislative Activity

This resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" to recognize the vital role of CTE in preparing students for high-demand, skilled careers. It highlights the importance of workforce training in meeting modern economic needs and encourages educators, parents, and administrators to promote CTE as a valuable and respected educational pathway.

This resolution formally declares racism a public health crisis in the United States, acknowledging it as a systemic driver of profound health inequities and disparities. It commits to a nationwide strategy to dismantle discriminatory policies, address the social determinants of health, and ensure equitable outcomes for all racial and ethnic minority groups.

The "Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act of 2025" aims to improve the federal government's response to wildfires. It mandates the creation of a plan to consolidate wildland fire preparedness, suppression, and recovery efforts under a new National Wildland Firefighting Service within the Department of the Interior. This plan will outline the new service's budget, leadership qualifications, and necessary resources for consolidating federal wildfire response. A report detailing this plan must be submitted to Congress within 180 days.

The "Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025" aims to protect postal workers by allocating funds for high-security collection boxes and electronic mailbox keys. It mandates the appointment of dedicated attorneys to prosecute crimes against postal employees and directs the Sentencing Commission to update guidelines to ensure that assaulting or robbing a postal worker is treated as severely as assaulting a law enforcement officer.

The "Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act" establishes a Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department to optimize the impact of foreign assistance by aligning resources with foreign policy goals, measuring effectiveness, and promoting transparency. This director will lead strategic planning, budget processes, and program evaluations, ensuring resources are obligated in a timely manner. The act also affirms USAID's status as an independent agency and emphasizes the importance of congressional oversight in foreign assistance management.

The "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act" amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to limit immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of sensitive locations like schools and places of worship, requiring supervisor consultation and discreet conduct. Exceptions are allowed only in cases of national security or public safety threats or medical emergencies. The Act mandates annual training, detailed reporting of enforcement actions, and evidence suppression for violations, enhancing oversight and accountability in immigration enforcement.

The Job Protection Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to expand leave eligibility. The Act reduces the employment period required for eligibility to 90 days for all employees, including federal and congressional employees. It also broadens the scope of employers subject to the Act to include those with one or more employees. These changes apply to leave taken on or after the date of the Act's enactment.

The "Right to Contraception Act" establishes a statutory right for individuals to access and for health care providers to offer contraception, free from governmental restrictions or bans. It overrides any conflicting federal or state laws, ensuring access to contraception and related services, and allows legal recourse for violations of these rights. The Act aims to protect individual autonomy in making decisions about contraception and reproductive health.

The "Caring for All Families Act" amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to expand the definition of family to include domestic partners, in-laws, adult children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and other individuals with close family-like relationships. It also allows employees to take additional leave for parental involvement in school or community organizations, and to attend to family medical needs or the care of elderly individuals with close family-like ties. These provisions apply to both private-sector and federal employees, ensuring broader access to family and medical leave for caregiving and family wellness purposes.

This resolution reaffirms the critical importance of nuclear arms control agreements in maintaining global strategic stability. It condemns Russia’s nuclear threats and suspension of the New START Treaty while urging the U.S. government to pursue continued negotiations with both Russia and China to prevent an unrestrained nuclear arms race.

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act, or NO BAN Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion and national origin in nonimmigrant visas and immigration benefits. It limits the President's authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens, requiring specific justification, narrow tailoring, and congressional consultation. The Act also mandates reports on visa applicants and the impact of any suspensions or restrictions. Finally, it allows affected parties to sue the government if these regulations are not followed.

The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 aims to restrict the flow of firearms to criminal organizations by banning the future sale of .50 caliber rifles and expanding federal background check requirements to include designated foreign narcotics traffickers. The bill also removes legal immunity for firearm manufacturers and sellers who knowingly conduct business with these sanctioned individuals. Additionally, it mandates that federal firearms licensees report the sale of multiple rifles to the same person within a five-day period.

This resolution affirms that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is vital to advancing American national security interests. It highlights the agency's role in promoting global stability, mitigating foreign threats, and maintaining U.S. leadership in an era of strategic competition.

The Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the tax code to exclude state-sponsored catastrophe mitigation payments from an individual's gross income. This legislation ensures that homeowners receiving financial assistance to harden their properties against natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and earthquakes are not unfairly taxed on those funds. The provision is retroactive to the 2022 tax year, allowing eligible taxpayers to claim the exclusion on past returns.

The Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025 authorizes the EPA to provide grants and technical assistance to help local communities prepare for and mitigate the health risks of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The bill also establishes research centers and funding initiatives to improve air quality monitoring, public communication, and community-based resilience strategies.

The Keep Our PACT Act ensures federal support for public education by establishing mandatory funding increases for Title I programs and special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). By providing a decade-long roadmap for increased investment, the bill aims to fulfill long-standing federal commitments to school districts and students with disabilities. This legislation designates these funds as emergency spending to ensure consistent, reliable resources for schools across the country.

The American Music Fairness Act updates federal copyright law to require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay royalties for the music they play, ensuring equitable treatment with digital music services. The bill establishes a fair royalty-setting process while providing significant fee protections for small and local broadcasters. It also includes safeguards to ensure these changes do not negatively impact the royalties of songwriters or musical work copyright owners.

This resolution designates January 30, 2025, as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It recognizes Fred Korematsu's resistance to the unjust incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The resolution encourages reflection on the importance of political leadership, vigilance, justice, and civil rights.

The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act amends the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening tests starting in 2028. This legislation establishes a formal coverage and payment framework for these innovative blood-based tests while ensuring they complement, rather than replace, existing cancer screening protocols.

The Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the posthumous awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his lifelong dedication to civil rights, justice, and equality. This legislation honors his legacy as a champion for constitutional guarantees and his courageous stand against the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.