Legislative Activity

The Electricity Transmission Scorecard Act mandates that major electricity transmission entities annually report detailed performance data to FERC and the EIA. This data, covering interconnection queues, project development, and system performance, will be made publicly available via an online portal. The goal is to create standardized transparency to improve accountability, reliability, and affordability across the national transmission system. FERC is also required to periodically review and update these scorecard metrics with stakeholder input.

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 Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

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 This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions.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 Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.

The No Payola Act repeals existing Senate notification requirements concerning legal processes related to the disclosure of Senate data. Furthermore, it mandates that any Senator who received funds through a private right of action under the repealed law must return those awarded funds to the Treasury.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois. The building will now be known as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. Post Office Building." This designation formally recognizes Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. and updates all official records to reflect the new name.

The Veterans with ALS Reporting Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a comprehensive report to Congress on the prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) among veterans. This report must detail current support resources, identify gaps, and propose plans for reducing ALS incidence and improving clinical trial access for affected veterans. The VA will also be required to continuously track ALS rates using the CDC's existing registry.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025 establishes strict new standards for the use of non-deadly force by federal immigration personnel, requiring proportionality and de-escalation efforts. The bill mandates identification requirements, restricts the use of certain crowd-control equipment, and imposes new body camera and detailed reporting mandates. Furthermore, it creates affirmative duties for officers to intervene against excessive force and requires annual training on these new policies.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) continue to operate without interruption in fiscal year 2026 if standard appropriations are delayed. If funding lapses, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use funds from the Treasury to provide benefits and reimburse state agencies. This special funding remains in effect until full appropriations are enacted or until September 30, 2026.

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 RESTRAIN Act prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive testing of nuclear weapons or any other nuclear explosion, effective in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. This legislation specifically bans the use of authorized funds for such testing. However, the Act explicitly allows for the continuation of subcritical nuclear tests.

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

This resolution honors the memory of Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy murdered in a hate crime in Illinois. It strongly condemns all hate crimes and discrimination based on ethnicity or religion. The measure also recognizes the significant contributions of the Palestinian community to the United States. Finally, it calls for an end to hateful rhetoric and violence against all children globally.

The Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to help local governments create health-centered alternatives for responding to mental health emergencies. These funds will support initiatives like integrating mental health professionals into 911 dispatch and streamlining transfers to crisis hotlines. Grantees must report annually on response times, use of force, and diversion to treatment, while the law explicitly preserves existing law enforcement roles.

This resolution formally commends the Council of Europe for its dedicated efforts to secure justice for the people of Ukraine following Russia's aggression and related international crimes. Congress specifically endorses the Council's work in documenting atrocities and supports the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The bill reaffirms the U.S. commitment to working with international partners to ensure accountability and support Ukraine's sovereignty and democracy.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 1, 2025, as "National Animal Rescue Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of animal adoption and the critical work of rescue organizations nationwide. This day aims to encourage spaying and neutering efforts to combat pet overpopulation and promote increased animal adoptions.

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025 mandates that certain new medical devices must be designed to be fully usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This ensures that users can access information and operate life-saving equipment independently and privately, similar to sighted users. The FDA is tasked with establishing specific nonvisual accessibility standards for these covered devices within a set timeline. Devices failing to meet these standards after the effective date will be deemed adulterated.