Legislative Activity

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.

The Protecting Students with Disabilities Act ensures that key federal offices overseeing disability education and services, such as OSEP and RSA, remain permanently housed within the Department of Education. This legislation prohibits the executive branch from unilaterally relocating these offices or using appropriated funds to undermine their statutory duties. Furthermore, the Act prevents the Department from outsourcing the enforcement or administration of major disability laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act.

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act establishes a federal grant program to help student parents remain in college by making childcare accessible. The Secretary of Education can award five-year grants to eligible colleges and universities to provide on-campus or subsidized childcare services to student parents who qualify for Pell Grants. Grantees must ensure the funded programs meet specific quality benchmarks within three years and report annually on student outcomes. The Act authorizes $500 million annually for this program from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against designated terrorist organizations and drug trafficking groups that have not received specific authorization from Congress. It asserts that recent military strikes against vessels do not constitute a sufficient basis for ongoing military action without a formal declaration of war. The bill mandates that the use of force against these targets must cease unless explicitly approved by Congress, while preserving the right to self-defense.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 ties federal justice grant eligibility to responsible firearm purchasing practices. Organizations receiving Edward Byrne Grants must agree not to deal with licensed dealers who have a high number of firearms traced back to them shortly after retail sale. Furthermore, the bill mandates the ATF to regularly share tracing information with state and local law enforcement and publicly list these "covered licensed dealers."

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 requires colleges receiving federal aid to update their campus safety reports with comprehensive anti-harassment policies that specifically address technology-facilitated harassment. This legislation also establishes a competitive grant program to fund campus initiatives focused on harassment prevention, counseling, and training. Crucially, the Act supplements existing civil rights laws without overriding any current student protections or legal remedies.

This act officially designates the historic paths of US Highway 66, spanning from Chicago to Santa Monica, as the Route 66 National Historic Trail within the National Trails System. The Secretary of the Interior will manage the trail while respecting its historic character and consulting with affected Indian Tribes. Importantly, this designation prohibits the use of eminent domain for land acquisition and does not impose new regulatory requirements or buffer zones around the route.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 aims to safeguard federal elections by criminalizing the knowing spread of materially false information intended to suppress voting within 60 days of an election. This bill specifically prohibits the use of deceptive Artificial Intelligence in election interference and grants citizens the right to sue violators. Furthermore, it empowers the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false information and creates new criminal penalties for intimidating election workers involved in vote tabulation and certification.

The Reconciliation in Place Names Act establishes a formal, public process for reviewing and replacing offensive place names across the United States. It creates an Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, composed of diverse experts and tribal representatives, to gather and propose new names for geographic features and federal land units. The Board on Geographic Names must then review these proposals, approving them unless a compelling reason exists not to, thereby promoting names that reflect fairness and respect for all Americans.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to grant Congress and the states clear authority to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. It explicitly allows for setting reasonable spending limits and establishing public financing systems for political campaigns. The amendment also permits banning spending by corporations and other legal entities while safeguarding the freedom of the press.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The **Protecting Our Democracy Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to increase transparency, accountability, and oversight across the Executive Branch. It strengthens restrictions on presidential pardon power, closes loopholes in emoluments clauses, and enhances Congress's ability to enforce subpoenas. Furthermore, the Act bolsters whistleblower protections, tightens ethics rules for acting officials and appointees, and mandates public disclosure of presidential tax returns.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, or military status. This expansion broadens protections to cover lawful income sources, including housing vouchers and various benefits, alongside military service. The Act ensures these new protected classes are covered across all aspects of the housing transaction, from advertising to rental agreements.

The Register America to Vote Act of 2025 aims to modernize and secure voter registration nationwide by establishing automatic registration systems. This includes automatically registering citizens when they turn 18 and implementing opt-out registration through state motor vehicle agencies. The Act provides federal funding to states to upgrade technology and mandates new national security and privacy standards for handling voter data.

This resolution officially recognizes and supports the goals of National Forensic Science Week, scheduled for September 14–20, 2025. It highlights the vital role forensic science plays in ensuring justice by providing objective scientific conclusions in legal cases. The bill encourages forensic providers, policymakers, and the public to acknowledge the contributions of forensic professionals and understand the needs of these critical scientific services.

The Head Start for America's Children Act aims to strengthen early childhood education by explicitly including infants and toddlers in growth goals and emphasizing mental health support. The bill significantly increases funding authorizations, updates numerous definitions to promote inclusivity (especially for Native American and Native Hawaiian communities), and establishes new requirements for staff compensation and professional development. Furthermore, it creates several new pilot programs focused on extending operating hours, fostering partnerships with higher education, and enabling community-wide eligibility in high-poverty areas.

The Same Day Registration Act mandates that all states allow eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration at the polling place on Election Day for any federal election. This ensures that individuals can register and cast their ballot simultaneously, provided the state does not already have a no-registration requirement. States must ensure registration forms are available at all polling locations, with full compliance generally required starting with the November 2026 general election.

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 immediately bans the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This comprehensive ban includes specific definitions for commercial asbestos and outlines limited exceptions for existing installed materials and disposal. The bill provides a temporary exemption for chlor-alkali plants until 2030 and allows for narrowly defined, time-limited national security exemptions granted by the President.

The FAMILY Act establishes the Family and Medical Insurance Leave program, creating a new office within the Social Security Administration to manage paid benefits for qualified caregiving and serious health conditions. This law outlines eligibility requirements, a tiered formula for calculating monthly benefit payments, and protections against employer retaliation for taking leave. The Act also provides funding mechanisms for states that already have similar paid leave programs in place.