Legislative Activity

The PREVAIL Act aims to strengthen U.S. patent rights by reforming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) procedures, modifying inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) processes, and ensuring the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) retains its collected fees. It seeks to protect patent holders from repetitive challenges, clarify standards for patent reviews, and promote innovation. The Act also supports small businesses and higher education institutions in navigating the patent system.

The "Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary Act" or "TRUST Act" amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to ensure that complaints against judges are not dismissed simply because the judge resigns, retires, or dies. It requires special committees to complete investigations and file reports, regardless of the judge's separation from office.

Anna's Law of 2025 aims to improve the handling of sexual assault cases by expanding trauma-informed training for law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. The law establishes a grant program to support evidence-based, victim-centered training that increases understanding of trauma's impact and promotes trauma-informed responses. This training includes strategies for avoiding re-traumatization and is required for both new recruits and current professionals, with the goal of enhancing support and outcomes for survivors. The Secretary will maintain a list of qualified trainers and report annually to Congress on the program's effectiveness.

This resolution acknowledges the 50th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon, honoring the Vietnamese American community's contributions to the U.S. and their pursuit of freedom and democracy. It recognizes the sacrifices of the South Vietnamese and U.S. militaries during the Vietnam War, while reaffirming the U.S. commitment to human rights and freedom for all, including in Vietnam. The resolution encourages Americans to remember Black April and celebrate the Vietnamese American community.

The Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act aims to modernize and improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of pipeline infrastructure through research, development, and demonstration projects. It establishes initiatives for advanced pipeline materials and technologies, joint research programs, a National Pipeline Modernization Center, and NIST pipeline metrology standards. The Act promotes collaboration between the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other stakeholders to enhance pipeline systems and reduce environmental impacts. It authorizes appropriations for these activities through 2030.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

This bill recognizes April 2025 as "Community College Month" to celebrate the significant role of community colleges in providing accessible higher education, workforce training, and economic support across the United States. It acknowledges the extensive contributions of over 1,000 community colleges, which serve millions of students and contribute significantly to the national GDP. The resolution highlights the importance of these institutions in fostering economic prosperity and community vitality.

Recognizes the crucial role of linemen in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure and public safety. It also supports designating April 18, 2025, as National Lineman Appreciation Day to honor their contributions and dangerous work.

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025 aims to improve workforce readiness for youth aged 6-18 through out-of-school programs. It establishes a grant program for community-based organizations and partnerships to develop and implement comprehensive workforce readiness programs, including career pathway support, work experiences, and occupational skill training. The Act also reestablishes youth councils within local workforce development boards to represent youth interests and advise on youth workforce development strategies. Finally, the Act allocates $100,000,000 annually from 2026-2030 to fund the program.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to protect coastal economies and marine environments by preventing offshore drilling in these specified regions.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

The "Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act" requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Defense to develop a 10-year strategy for maintaining anthrax countermeasures and protecting civilians, service members, and military dependents. It also mandates a report to Congress on weaponized anthrax threats, including multi-drug resistant strains, and requires annual updates to this report. The goal is to ensure the availability of necessary countermeasures and enhance defense against anthrax threats.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 aims to increase affordable housing options by updating state housing credit formulas, refining tenant eligibility rules, and improving credit eligibility and determination. This includes adjusting income verification processes, modifying student occupancy rules, and protecting domestic abuse victims. The bill also focuses on Native American and rural assistance by addressing housing needs in Indian areas and streamlining income eligibility for rural projects. Additionally, it revises rules for exempt facility bonds and renames the "low-income housing tax credit" to the "affordable housing tax credit" while encouraging data sharing and discouraging discriminatory land use policies.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Women in Agriculture Act" establishes a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison within the Department of Agriculture to advocate for and assist women in agriculture. The act also amends existing legislation to include ergonomic equipment for women in agriculture research and prioritizes childcare services in agricultural and rural communities for loans and grants. Finally, the act requires the Liaison to submit a public report on the grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cost-share programs made by the Secretary to woman-owned agriculture operations.

The "Radar Gap Elimination Act" aims to modernize the nation's weather radar network by establishing the Radar Next Program. This program, led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, will develop a plan to replace the existing Next Generation Weather Radar system with the goal of improving weather radar coverage, performance, and accuracy across the U.S. and its territories by 2040. The program will also explore partnerships and innovative technologies to fill weather data gaps, especially in underserved areas, and enhance the detection of significant precipitation and severe weather events.