Legislative Activity

The Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through culturally competent care and resource development. These grants strictly prohibit funding for conversion therapy practices. The bill also mandates federal data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and requires a report on the needs of those in foster care.

The Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by updating funding rules based on 2030 data and mandating $500 million in annual funding from 2026 through 2030. The bill doubles funding for food storage and distribution costs to $200 million and extends infrastructure grant eligibility until 2030. Furthermore, it establishes new flexibility for geographically isolated states, allowing them alternative methods for receiving or purchasing necessary food commodities.

The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 repeals key provisions of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This legislation allows federal gun trace information to be discoverable and admissible as evidence in civil lawsuits and administrative hearings. The bill aims to provide victims of gun violence with greater access to relevant data in legal proceedings.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

This bill mandates that funeral honors details recite a specific statement detailing the symbolism of the 13 Folds of Honor during the presentation of the U.S. flag for a deceased service member or veteran. This ceremony is dedicated to the 13 service members killed in Kabul in 2021. However, the next of kin retains the right to opt out of this specific recitation.

This resolution formally recognizes the critical importance of California's three public higher education systems—UC, CSU, and CCC—to the state's economy and workforce development. It highlights the massive scale of these institutions and their vital role in providing access and economic mobility for millions of students. Ultimately, the measure reaffirms the United States' commitment to supporting these essential public educational pillars.

The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act mandates the National Park Service (NPS) to establish a program to significantly reduce or eliminate the sale and distribution of disposable plastic products, including single-use water bottles, across all park units. Regional directors must implement these changes while considering operational costs, visitor safety regarding water access, and vendor contracts. The law also requires proactive visitor education and biennial reviews to assess the program's effectiveness and public impact.

The Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025 prohibits covered government officials and their immediate families from trading, owning, or profiting from digital assets while in office. This legislation specifically bans insider trading of crypto and prevents officials from using intermediaries or complex ownership structures to bypass these restrictions. The Act aims to eliminate conflicts of interest by ensuring high-ranking officials cannot benefit financially from involvement with cryptocurrencies.

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 establishes a federal civil cause of action against the creation, possession with intent to share, or sharing of nonconsensual intimate digital forgeries, often known as deepfakes. This legislation updates existing law to specifically address image-based sexual abuse created through AI or digital manipulation, regardless of whether the image is labeled as fake. Victims can sue for significant statutory damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief to stop the spread of the harmful content. The Act ensures that this new federal standard does not preempt or limit stronger existing State or Tribal laws.

The Put School Counselors Where They’re Needed Act establishes a demonstration project to award competitive grants to low-graduation-rate secondary schools. These grants fund the hiring of additional school counselors specifically tasked with supporting students at risk of not graduating. The goal is to supplement existing staff and provide intensive, individualized support to boost four-year graduation rates.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and significantly increases transparency regarding approval rates and decision times starting in 2027. Furthermore, it establishes new enrollee protections and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timeframes for medical services.

The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025 modifies federal securities laws to update exemptions for 403(b) retirement plans. This legislation clarifies requirements under the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act. The changes generally condition these exemptions on the employer taking on specific fiduciary responsibilities regarding the selection and approval of investment options offered to participants.

The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act mandates an independent review of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forms sent to claimants to ensure they are clear and easy to understand. The VA Secretary must hire an outside entity to assess these forms and implement recommendations for improvement within a set timeline. Additionally, this bill slightly extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments.

The AGRITOURISM Act establishes a new Office of Agritourism within the Department of Agriculture, led by a dedicated Director. This office is tasked with promoting and supporting farm-based tourism activities across the nation. The goal is to boost rural economies by helping agricultural businesses diversify through educational, recreational, and direct-sale opportunities.

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act reinstates and removes limitations on the federal income tax deduction for personal casualty losses resulting from unexpected events like fires or floods. This legislation also extends the deadline for taxpayers to file claims for refunds related to these casualty loss deductions for past tax years. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

The Pathways to Policing Act establishes the Law Enforcement Hiring Support Grant program to help agencies recruit new officers. This grant money can be used for recruitment campaigns and developing programs that support candidates facing barriers to entering law enforcement. The Act prioritizes funding for agencies seeking to increase diversity and hire candidates connected to the communities they will serve. Additionally, it mandates a national marketing effort to encourage diverse individuals to pursue careers in policing.

The BELO'S Act, or Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act, expands eligibility for free lifetime passes to federal recreation lands. This change grants passes to qualifying survivors who receive specific federal death benefits related to military service members who have died. The bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to include these eligible survivors.

The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal Trust Fund, financed by an increase in the corporate tax rate, to support water infrastructure and affordability programs nationwide. The bill mandates a comprehensive EPA report analyzing water affordability, civil rights compliance, and public participation in water planning. It also significantly increases funding for household water well systems and revises state revolving loan fund rules to expand eligible projects, including lead line replacement and PFAS contamination cleanup. Finally, the Act creates new job training grants for the water sector and enhances drinking water assistance for colonias.

This resolution supports designating May 10, 2025, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day." It highlights the severe mental health disparities and lack of access to care within AANHPI communities. The bill encourages federal agencies to improve culturally and linguistically appropriate services to better address the unique needs of these diverse populations.

The Healthy Dog Importation Act establishes new federal requirements for bringing live dogs into the United States, mandating advance electronic health documentation, vaccinations, and permanent identification for most imports. This law defines key roles like "Importer" and sets specific age and permitting requirements for dogs intended for transfer or sale after arrival. The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with creating detailed regulations within 18 months to enforce these health and documentation standards, while also outlining specific exceptions for returning pets and working dogs.