Legislative Activity

This resolution asserts that advancing the rights of women and girls in Haiti is crucial for the nation's stability and successful transition from crisis. It condemns the widespread gender-based violence and the exclusion of women from leadership roles in the transitional government. The bill calls for urgent measures to center women's needs, ensure their representation in government, and prioritize funding for survivor services and accountability for violence.

The Equality in the Halls of Congress Act allows the five U.S. territories and commonwealths—American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—to each contribute one statue to the National Statuary Hall Collection. This legislation ensures these jurisdictions are represented alongside the 50 states in the collection. The Architect of the Capitol is tasked with implementing the necessary steps to acquire and place these statues.

This resolution recognizes and honors Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, on its 113th anniversary. It celebrates the sorority's founding by 22 women at Howard University and commends its legacy of service through its Five-Point Program Thrust. The bill further acknowledges the organization's vast global impact and commitment to democratic participation and humanitarian efforts.

This resolution commemorates the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, honoring the six victims who lost their lives and the thirteen injured. It recognizes the courage of survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and acknowledges her national advocacy against gun violence. The bill reaffirms a commitment to civility, condemning political violence while celebrating the resilience of the Tucson community.

The American Affordability Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to lower costs across five key areas: housing, energy, family care, education, and healthcare. It achieves this by expanding tax credits for housing construction and homebuyers, extending incentives for clean energy manufacturing and consumer adoption, replacing the Child Tax Credit with larger monthly payments, making higher education expenses more affordable, and permanently expanding subsidies to lower health insurance premiums for millions. Overall, the legislation aims to provide direct financial relief and increase access to essential services for American families and workers.

The Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a public online mapping tool within one year to identify communities disproportionately burdened by environmental, climate, health, economic, and social factors. This tool will use specific thresholds across various categories to flag census tracts needing attention. Federal agencies must then adopt this tool to prioritize funding and resources for the identified communities.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure that eligible residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands receive in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities that accept federal student aid. To qualify, students must be residents of these territories and be U.S. nationals. This provision mandates that participating institutions treat these students the same as their own state residents for tuition purposes.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The Rural Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the USDA to provide essential technical assistance to small rural communities recovering from major Presidential-declared disasters. This assistance will help eligible communities with planning, securing federal and state funding, and implementing recovery projects across various infrastructure sectors. The program is funded through annual appropriations and provides support for up to three years following a disaster declaration.

The Expanding Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2025 establishes a new CISA program to actively promote cybersecurity careers to disadvantaged communities across the nation. This initiative specifically targets outreach to older individuals, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and those from nontraditional educational backgrounds. The goal is to diversify and strengthen the U.S. cyber workforce through tailored education and training assistance. The Act authorizes $20 million annually through fiscal year 2031 to support these efforts.

The TASA Act of 2025 amends federal law to increase the U.S. government's share of airport development project costs to 95% under specific conditions. This higher federal funding applies to airports receiving essential air service or those located in U.S. territories that were eligible points in 1978. This legislation aims to provide enhanced financial support for critical airport infrastructure in these areas.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

The HEALTH Act extends crucial provisions of the Affordable Care Act's premium tax credits beyond 2025, temporarily allowing higher-income taxpayers to qualify for assistance. It also extends the increased premium assistance amounts, tying the expiration of these benefits to a specific fiscal offset. Finally, the bill rescinds all unobligated balances previously set aside for assistance to Argentina.

The Restoring Access for Detainees Act aims to reinstate and expand free communication services for individuals in civil immigration detention. It mandates the provision of free phone calls, including 200 free outgoing minutes monthly, specifically for contacting family and legal counsel. Furthermore, the bill ensures private, unmonitored communication opportunities with attorneys and certain government officials upon arrival in custody.

The Territorial De Minimis Exemption Act establishes an $800 duty-free import limit for articles originating from covered U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It also expands the existing bona fide gift exemption to include the Northern Mariana Islands. Furthermore, the bill requires the President to consult with relevant Secretaries to avoid negatively impacting territory commerce when making broad trade policy changes.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

The GRAD Act ensures that students maintain their current enrollment status during a government shutdown, even if federal student aid is temporarily disrupted. This legislation prevents educational institutions from penalizing students by changing their enrollment status due to funding lapses. Essentially, it protects students from negative academic consequences caused by federal funding interruptions.