Legislative Activity

Expresses support for strengthening public schools through community partnerships, mental health resources, and equitable funding. Aims to advance equity and excellence in public education, ensuring high-quality education for every child through evidence-based practices. Designates the week of February 24-28, 2025, as Public Schools Week.

Recognizes January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring in improving outcomes for young people. Mentoring programs support academic achievement, social skills, and career exploration, especially for underserved youth. The resolution encourages the expansion of mentoring opportunities through collaboration between various sectors. Ultimately, this helps connect more young people with adult mentors to guide them toward success.

This bill reaffirms the strong economic and security partnership between the United States and Canada, highlighting their significant trade relationship that supports millions of American jobs. It emphasizes the importance of strengthening this alliance through collaboration in areas like defense, border security, energy, and supply chains. The bill also supports joint efforts to address shared threats, promote democracy, and enhance economic competitiveness.

The "Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025" ensures Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving uninterrupted physical therapy services. It allows physical therapists to utilize temporary staffing arrangements, known as "locum tenens," when the regular therapist is temporarily unavailable. This ensures Medicare payments for services provided by qualified substitute physical therapists, maintaining consistent care for patients.

The "Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act of 2025" streamlines the enrollment process for out-of-state healthcare providers in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring children under 21 have access to care from eligible providers across state lines. By reducing administrative burdens and unnecessary screening requirements, the Act aims to improve healthcare access for children while maintaining necessary safeguards against fraud and abuse. Participating providers will be enrolled for a 5-year period, and the changes will take effect three years after the Act's enactment.

The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act establishes a framework for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel) at the state level. It directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if states substantially protect these rights, and if not, the Authority will establish collective bargaining procedures. The Act aims to promote cooperation between public safety employers and employees while respecting existing state laws and prohibiting strikes and lockouts. This law does not override state laws that provide similar or stronger protections for public safety officers.

The SWIM Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $500 ($1,000 for joint returns/heads of household) for expenses related to water competency and safety lessons for minors. This includes costs for basic swimming instruction and necessary equipment, with equipment expenses limited to $100 per item. The lessons must focus on water safety and competency, not competitive swimming. This change applies to taxable years starting after the Act's enactment.

The MODERN WIC Act of 2025 aims to modernize the WIC program by expanding options for remote certification appointments, including telephone and video calls, and allowing for remote delivery of food benefits. It requires state agencies to offer various formats for certification appointments, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The Act also mandates a report to Congress on the use of remote technologies in WIC, focusing on their impact and best practices.

The "Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2025" extends funding for family-to-family health information centers. It allocates \$6,000,000 for April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025, and \$9,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2029. This ensures continued support for families navigating healthcare for children with disabilities or special needs.

The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025 expands Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to National Guard members performing specific full-time duties. This expansion applies to service performed on or after September 11, 2001. The changes will take effect one year after the enactment of this Act, with the time limitation for using educational assistance applied as if enacted immediately after the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

The Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, recognizing their dedicated service to the United States. Following the award ceremony, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. The Secretary of the Treasury is permitted to create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. Funds from the sales will be deposited back into the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund.

The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025 amends the Public Health Service Act to improve the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program by expanding the types of healthcare providers who can conduct mental health evaluations, modifying provider credentialing, clarifying enrollment calculations, and extending the time frame for adding health conditions for WTC responders. The act adjusts the funding formula for fiscal years 2026 through 2090 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the program's budget, including projected needs through 2090 and recommendations for changes to the funding formula. It also stipulates that remaining funds in the Supplemental Fund, Special Fund, and Pentagon-Shanksville Fund will revert to the Treasury.

The Honor and Remember Flag Recognition Act designates the Honor and Remember Flag as the official national symbol recognizing members of the U.S. Armed Forces who die in the line of duty. It mandates the flag's display at various federal locations on specific holidays, including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. The bill requires relevant departments to establish regulations for flag display and directs the General Services Administration to procure and distribute the flags.

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 aims to provide legal relief to victims of trafficking by allowing them to vacate convictions or expunge arrests for certain federal offenses committed as a direct result of their trafficking. It also allows for reduced sentences for covered prisoners and enables the use of grant funds for legal representation in post-conviction relief cases. The act further establishes a "human trafficking defense," and mandates reports to Congress on the implementation and impact of these provisions. This bill seeks to address the exploitation of forced criminal activity by human traffickers and provide support and protection to survivors.

The "Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Keys Evans, a civil rights pioneer, for her courageous refusal to give up her seat on an interstate bus, which led to the landmark ICC ruling that outlawed segregation on interstate buses. The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal and authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicates.

The "Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025" introduces a tax credit, up to $5,000, for qualified child care startup expenses incurred by licensed family child care providers. This credit aims to support individuals starting or expanding licensed child care services within their primary residence, covering expenses such as licensing fees, supplies, insurance, and necessary equipment or renovations. The credit is available for a limited time and cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other deductions or credits.

The "Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2025" establishes an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Justice, led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General, to coordinate gun violence prevention efforts, evaluate related laws and programs, and recommend evidence-based policies to Congress and the President. The Director will also convene an advisory council comprising various officials and at least 12 additional individuals representing gun violence survivors, community violence intervention service providers, and other relevant groups. The Office will also assist communities affected by gun violence with crisis response activities, such as providing access to mental health services and suicide prevention resources. Finally, the act authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to carry out the provisions of the bill.

This Act establishes a three-year pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or PTSD, funded solely through donations. It also mandates an updated Government Accountability Office (GAO) report assessing recent clinical trials on HBOT for these conditions. Finally, the bill extends the expiration date for certain limitations on veteran pension payments.

The "Tax Fairness for Survivors Act" exempts from federal income tax any monetary awards from settlements related to sexual assault or sexual harassment claims. This exemption also applies to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment taxes, and wage withholding. This change applies to taxable years starting after the enactment of this law.

The "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025" increases penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws, including banning violators and their affiliates from importing goods. It also allows private parties harmed by customs fraud to sue for damages and injunctive relief. The Act excludes those who commit fraud from participating in the importer of record program.