Legislative Activity

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act temporarily halts certain legal and administrative actions that could negatively affect the civil rights of federal employees and contractors during a government shutdown. This protection includes pausing evictions, foreclosures, lien enforcement, and providing relief for student loan and income tax obligations. The law also ensures that seeking these protections will not negatively impact an employee's credit or future financial standing.

This resolution formally recognizes Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as a serious, widespread health condition affecting millions of women and girls. It expresses strong support for designating September 2025 as "PCOS Awareness Month" to promote education and improve diagnosis and treatment. The bill urges increased research and better care to address the significant physical and mental health risks associated with PCOS.

This resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Brian Douglas Wilson, recognizing him as a rock-n-roll icon, musical genius, and one of the greatest composers in U.S. history. It celebrates his foundational role in The Beach Boys and his revolutionary contributions to popular music, including the landmark album *Pet Sounds*. The text also acknowledges his advocacy work and lasting cultural impact.

This resolution designates September 30, 2025, as "Impact Aid Recognition Day" to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Impact Aid program. The program provides crucial financial assistance to local school districts that educate students living on or whose parents work on federal property. This recognition highlights the federal government's ongoing commitment to ensuring quality education in these uniquely impacted communities.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal government shutdown to make penalty-free withdrawals of up to $30,000 from their retirement plans. These "Federal Government shutdown distributions" allow affected contractors, grantees, and D.C. employees to access funds during a lapse in appropriations lasting at least two weeks. Withdrawals are spread out over three tax years for income tax purposes, and individuals have three years to repay the withdrawn amount.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to \$30,000 taken due to a shutdown. Furthermore, it establishes rules allowing furloughed or non-paid employees to take TSP loans and prevents missed loan payments during a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures federal agencies compensate contractors for employee costs incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. This act mandates contract price adjustments to cover reasonable expenses for furloughed or impacted contractor employees, up to a specified weekly limit. The law also provides necessary appropriations to cover these adjustments and requires public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a universal, high-quality, and affordable early learning system, guaranteeing access to eligible children nationwide. It mandates rigorous federal standards for programs, facilities, and staff compensation, linking pay to public school benchmarks. The bill requires local governance through "prime sponsors" who must plan for equitable access and coordinate closely with K-12 education systems. Finally, it ensures state funding continuity through a maintenance of effort requirement to secure federal support.

This Act authorizes the creation and issuance of a new circulating $2.50 coin to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The bill also allows the Treasury Secretary to mint special numismatic (collector's) $2.50 coins in precious metals. Both coin types will feature initial designs inspired by the 1926 Sesquicentennial Gold Coin, celebrating American liberty and heritage. Congress hopes these coins will be available by July 4, 2026.

This resolution officially recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, 2025. It celebrates the immense and vital contributions of Latinos to the United States across culture, the economy, and civic life. The bill encourages all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities honoring this heritage.

This Senate resolution strongly reaffirms the unwavering commitment to the First Amendment, emphasizing that freedom of speech and the press are essential foundations of American democracy. It explicitly warns against government officials using regulatory power to coerce or censor protected speech, citing key Supreme Court precedents. Furthermore, the resolution directs federal agencies, including the FCC, to uphold these constitutional rights and condemns any threats or violence against those exercising free expression.

This resolution formally recognizes October 2025 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the rich history and culture of Filipino Americans. It highlights their significant and long-standing contributions across all sectors of American life, including military service, healthcare, and public office. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the month with appropriate programs to promote the study of this vital community's heritage.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability." If enacted, this measure would prevent the CMS rule from having any legal force or effect.

The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025 aims to shield U.S. persons and companies from legal repercussions for complying with U.S. sanctions and export control laws. It prohibits the enforcement of foreign court judgments or arbitration awards in U.S. courts if those foreign decisions penalize compliance with U.S. sanctions. This protection generally does not apply to victims of terrorism or cases where parties contractually agreed to U.S.-only jurisdiction.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It recognizes the critical economic, ecological, and protective value of estuaries to the nation. The bill applauds ongoing efforts by federal, state, and local partners to study, protect, and restore these vital coastal environments.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 2025 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month." The goal is to educate the public about sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that significantly impacts thousands of Americans, particularly the Black community. This designation aims to promote awareness regarding the need for research, early detection, effective treatments, and preventative care programs.

The Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 renames and updates the national TBI surveillance program, expanding data collection to focus on high-risk populations and long-term outcomes. The bill extends funding authorizations for federal TBI programs and state grant initiatives through fiscal year 2030. It also mandates a comprehensive report to Congress on TBI risk factors and requires a new study on the long-term symptoms and conditions following a brain injury.

The **GREEN Streets Act** updates federal road performance measures to prioritize combating climate change, requiring states to set minimum standards for reducing driving, improving non-car alternatives, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It mandates rigorous environmental and emissions analysis for any federally funded project that expands road capacity for single-occupancy vehicles. Furthermore, the bill establishes new national standards for transit accessibility, requiring major metropolitan areas to set goals for improving first/last mile connections and transit use. Finally, states failing to meet emissions targets must dedicate significant federal highway funds toward projects that help them achieve those goals.

This resolution expresses support for designating a week in September 2025 as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes the vital role these institutions play in educating a significant portion of AANHPI students, many of whom are low-income and first-generation college attendees. The bill encourages these schools to seek funding for culturally relevant programs that boost student success. Ultimately, this measure celebrates the contributions of these institutions to American higher education and cultural diversity.

This resolution officially designates September 20, 2025, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day to honor their service and contributions. It formally acknowledges the long history of discrimination and harm caused by past military policies against LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, the resolution urges the VA and DoD to take corrective action, including restoring benefits and ensuring full access to earned healthcare, such as gender-affirming care.