Legislative Activity

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act allows states to authorize highly qualified, accredited conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This grants states flexibility in ensuring the long-term protection of forest lands by utilizing experienced external partners. The bill establishes strict criteria for these organizations and includes a clear reversion process if they fail to uphold their monitoring or enforcement responsibilities.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual funding to states specifically for improving election administration, security, and accessibility. This funding is sourced from a dedicated Trust Fund and administered by a new federal office. States must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use the money for upgrades like cybersecurity and expanded voting options, while being prohibited from using funds for voter intimidation or other prohibited activities.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements Act grants the NCUA Board the authority to determine which credit unions are eligible to serve as agents within an agent group. This change updates existing law by replacing a specific list of eligible credit unions with broader discretionary power for the Board.

This bill, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, updates the eligibility requirements for a specific immigration registry status. It replaces outdated entry date requirements with a new standard requiring applicants to have resided in the United States for at least seven years prior to applying. These changes aim to modernize the criteria for long-term residents seeking this status.

The Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 establishes a national strategy to improve mental health awareness and reduce stigma within Hispanic and Latino communities. This plan requires culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach tailored to the diverse needs of these populations. The Act also mandates annual reporting on the strategy's effectiveness and authorizes funding for its implementation.

The Equal Health Care for All Act aims to eliminate systemic bias and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on race, sex, disability, and age. It mandates comprehensive data collection to expose inequities, incorporates fairness measures into hospital quality assessments and payment programs, and establishes a Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor progress. Furthermore, the Act strengthens anti-discrimination enforcement and creates grant programs to help hospitals actively promote equitable care.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress conditions. This Act requires the Secretary (of Labor) to rapidly establish comprehensive, science-based worker heat protection standards, including mandatory rest, water, and shade provisions. Furthermore, it grants enforcement power to OSHA, ensuring these new heat safety rules carry the full weight of existing occupational safety law. The legislation also establishes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who report heat hazards.

This Act authorizes the creation and sale of commemorative coins to celebrate the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. The Secretary of the Treasury is empowered to mint various denominations of gold, silver, and clad coins for each event, with designs reflecting American participation. A mandatory surcharge on each coin sold will directly fund the respective organizing committees for the Games and their legacy programs, provided the government recovers all minting costs first.

The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act establishes dedicated federal programs managed by the EPA to restore water quality in the severely polluted Tijuana and New Rivers, which impact public health in Southern California. The bill mandates the creation of comprehensive, science-based action plans and priority project lists for both watersheds, requiring extensive coordination with U.S. and Mexican partners. It authorizes significant funding mechanisms to support infrastructure construction, operation, and maintenance aimed at improving sanitation and environmental health near the border. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure long-term accountability and measurable improvements in water quality for affected border communities.

The Clean Shipping Act of 2025 establishes federal standards to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas pollution from large commercial vessels engaged in U.S. trade. It mandates a phased reduction in the carbon intensity of marine fuels, aiming for a 100% reduction by 2050. Additionally, the bill requires large ships docked or anchored in U.S. coastal waters to meet zero-emission standards for air pollutants by 2035. The law also institutes comprehensive annual monitoring and public reporting of fuel usage and emissions data for covered voyages.

The VISIBLE Act mandates that federal immigration officers (CBP and ICE) clearly display their agency and name/badge number on their outermost clothing during all public-facing enforcement activities. This law aims to increase transparency and public trust by ensuring officers are easily identifiable from a distance. The Department of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on compliance rates and disciplinary actions taken for violations. Furthermore, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will investigate public complaints regarding these new identification standards.

The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act requires the Attorney General to publicly list licensed firearms dealers whose sales are frequently traced in connection with crime guns. Federal agencies are prohibited from awarding contracts to these "covered dealers" within two years of their listing, unless a national security waiver is granted. This aims to restrict federal business with dealers whose firearms are quickly recovered after sale in criminal investigations.

The Stopping the Fraudulent Sale of Firearms Act makes it a federal crime to use lies, false promises, or deceptive claims when importing, manufacturing, or selling firearms or ammunition. This legislation also bans using electronic or broadcast media to promote such fraudulent gun sales. The bill updates existing federal law to ensure these deceptive practices carry appropriate penalties.

This bill authorizes the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept external funds from federal and non-federal sources for wastewater treatment and flood control projects. These funds must be deposited into a dedicated Treasury account for use on authorized activities. The bill places a $5 million annual cap on using these funds for non-federal cost-sharing and prohibits accepting funds from entities connected to "foreign countries of concern." The IBWC must report annually to Congress on the use of these accepted funds.

The POST GRAD Act aims to reinstate the government's authority to issue Federal Direct Stafford Loans specifically to graduate and professional students. This extension of loan-making authority is set to remain in effect until June 30, 2023. Furthermore, the Act exempts these changes from certain standard rulemaking and review requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act officially enlarges the park by approximately 20,149 acres, transferring management of the new land from the BLM to the National Park Service. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire this new acreage through donation, purchase, or exchange. Finally, it renames the Cottonwood Visitor Center to the Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center and makes a minor technical correction to a previous conservation funding law.

This bill establishes federal minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals to improve patient safety and quality of care. It mandates that hospitals create transparent staffing plans developed with input from direct care nurses and sets strict enforcement mechanisms, including civil penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the Act supports the nursing profession by expanding scholarship and stipend programs and funding new nurse retention and mentorship initiatives.

The **RESEARCHER Act** mandates that federal research agencies establish new policies to address the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers. It requires the development of guidelines to improve researcher stipends, benefits, and support systems like housing and childcare. The law also enhances data collection and mandates studies by the National Academies and GAO to track progress in supporting these critical members of the research workforce.

The RESERVE Federal Land Act mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate current federal reservation systems for recreational activities on public lands. This review will analyze the history, effectiveness, and user experience of these systems, focusing on balancing visitor access with resource protection. The study must address key areas like access barriers, fee structures, data sharing, and system security. The findings will be reported to Congress within 18 months to inform future management strategies.