Legislative Activity

The Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study assessing the suitability and feasibility of designating the Monterey Bay region as a National Heritage Area. This assessment will cover Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties, along with adjacent areas sharing similar heritage. The study requires close collaboration with state, local, Tribal, and non-profit partners.

The **Inspired to Serve Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen civic engagement, service pathways, and national readiness. It establishes dedicated funding to revitalize K-12 civic education and service-learning programs nationwide, while simultaneously streamlining opportunities across military, national, and public service sectors. Furthermore, the Act modernizes federal hiring, enhances benefits for service members and national service participants, and updates mobilization systems to ensure the nation can effectively deploy critical skills during emergencies.

The Health CARE Training Act establishes new minimum training hour requirements for participants in federally funded health profession demonstration projects starting in late 2025. Additionally, this bill ensures that cash stipends and emergency assistance provided through these specific health workforce projects will be excluded from federal income tax for recipients. This exclusion also removes the reporting requirement for the entities distributing those funds.

The SEED Act of 2025 expands the existing educator expense tax deduction to include early childhood educators. This legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow those working in early childhood education to deduct unreimbursed work expenses "above the line." This change applies to expenses paid for in tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The REAL Health Providers Act mandates that Medicare Advantage plans maintain accurate and up-to-date public directories of their network providers starting in 2028. This legislation requires regular verification of provider information and establishes cost-sharing protections for patients who see listed providers who are ultimately out-of-network. Furthermore, plans must annually report their directory accuracy scores to the Secretary, which will eventually be made public.

This bill amends current law to mandate the exclusion of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) when calculating the gross household income for eligible members of the Armed Forces. This change specifically impacts the determination of eligibility for benefits tied to the basic needs allowance. By removing the housing stipend from income calculations, the legislation aims to provide a more accurate assessment of a service member's actual financial need.

The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025 aims to remove barriers preventing immigrant survivors of serious crimes from accessing existing legal protections like VAWA and TVPA. This bill eliminates annual numerical caps on U visas and Special Immigrant Juvenile visas, and mandates expedited work authorization for various victim and humanitarian applicants. Furthermore, it establishes strong protections against the detention and deportation of these vulnerable individuals while their status applications are pending.

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025 establishes a new, refundable tax credit for eligible first-time homebuyers, equal to 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $15,000. This credit is subject to income and home price phase-outs based on local median figures. Homebuyers may elect to transfer this credit directly to their mortgage lender at closing in exchange for immediate cash. The bill also includes recapture provisions requiring repayment if the home is sold within four years.

The BRIDGE Africa Act aims to bolster U.S. support for entrepreneurship and technological growth across Africa, particularly in advanced technology and AI. It mandates the development of a comprehensive U.S. strategy to boost private and public investment in key African tech sectors within one year. Furthermore, the Act calls for hosting a high-level summit in Africa to coordinate this strategy with international partners and allies. This initiative seeks to strengthen U.S. partnerships, enhance regional security, and promote shared economic development.

This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, to honor Corporal Patrick D. Tillman. The renaming recognizes Tillman's heroic service and ultimate sacrifice after leaving his NFL career to join the U.S. Army following the September 11th attacks. This legislation ensures the San Jose VA Clinic will forever bear the name of the San Jose native and national hero.

This resolution officially recognizes the critical role pollinators play in supporting U.S. agriculture and ecosystem health. It designates June 15 through June 22, 2025, as "National Pollinator Week." The bill encourages public awareness and conservation efforts to address the serious decline of native pollinator species.

The MONARCH Act of 2025 addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population, which has dropped by over 99% in recent decades due to habitat loss and climate change. This bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to provide grants for habitat restoration projects led by local and Tribal entities. Furthermore, it mandates the implementation of the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan through a partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Finally, the Secretary of the Interior must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of the butterflies and the effectiveness of funded conservation efforts.

The Fluent Forces Act emphasizes the critical role of foreign language proficiency and cultural understanding for U.S. national security and military readiness. This legislation mandates that the Department of Defense annually report on its efforts to increase recruitment and attendance at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI). The goal is to assess current recruiting practices, identify barriers to enrollment, and propose new strategies to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified linguists.

The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act establishes a new, streamlined federal framework for states to provide Medicaid coverage to survivors of major disasters for up to two years. This law simplifies enrollment through self-attestation and presumptive eligibility, while ensuring federal funding covers 100% of the costs for eligible survivors in impacted areas. Additionally, it mandates an independent, multi-year evaluation of the program's effectiveness and provides federal support for states developing emergency home and community care response teams.

The Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025 establishes clear federal definitions for "plant biostimulant" and "nutritional chemical," explicitly carving them out from existing regulations for "plant regulators." This legislation also mandates the EPA to update relevant regulations to reflect these new definitions within 120 days of enactment. Furthermore, the bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on how biostimulants and farming practices impact soil health, carbon sequestration, and nutrient efficiency.

The LOOTER Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes specifically targeting theft committed during officially declared natural disaster emergencies. This legislation makes both petty and grand larceny committed within affected counties during these emergency periods federal offenses. The Act imposes penalties ranging from fines and up to one year in prison for petty larceny, to fines and up to five years in prison for grand larceny.

The STAND Against Emerging Opioids Act aims to control the emerging threat of tianeptine by reclassifying it under federal law. This bill specifically moves tianeptine, along with its analogues, salts, and isomers, to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This scheduling change will take effect 90 days after the Act is signed into law.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Captain Thomas H. Griffin for his extraordinary valor during the Vietnam War in March 1969. It recognizes his repeated acts of heroism, including leading assaults and saving wounded soldiers under heavy fire. The legislation bypasses standard time limits to ensure his distinguished service is recognized with the nation's highest military decoration.

This bill mandates a comprehensive review of the cost of living adjustment (COLA) calculations for Armed Forces members and Department of Defense civilians stationed in California's 19th Congressional District. The resulting report must assess the accuracy of current COLA rates and examine the impact of on-base benefits, such as the Monterey commissary, on the adjustment process. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure fair and effective compensation for personnel facing high costs in this specific region.

The Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025 permanently prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from issuing new oil and gas leases in the Central California Planning Area. This legislation secures the protection of this offshore region from future energy exploration and development.