Legislative Activity

The "Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act" modifies Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, broadening the definition of "covered individual" to include more employees and modifying the definition of "publicly held corporation." This change prevents companies from deducting excessive employee remuneration, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations and guidance to implement these changes and prevent companies from avoiding the rules.

The Health Share Transparency Act of 2025 increases transparency in health care sharing ministries by requiring them to disclose detailed financial and operational information to the government and to prospective and current enrollees. This includes data on financial reserves, claims payment rates, enrollment numbers, and limitations on coverage. Entities enrolling individuals in these ministries must also provide clear explanations about potential tax credits for qualified health plans, eligibility for state or federal healthcare programs, and the differences between health care sharing ministries and traditional insurance. The goal of the act is to ensure consumers have sufficient information to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage options.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

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.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that each Executive agency and military department meet certain employment levels. If an agency or department cannot meet these requirements, the head of the agency or department must submit a noncompliance notice to relevant committees in Congress, explaining the reasons for not meeting the requirements.

The SERVICE Act requires federal agencies to submit a report to the Comptroller General and Congress before reducing their workforce by more than 5% in a fiscal year. This report must detail the anticipated financial and mission-related impacts of the workforce reduction. The Comptroller General then assesses the agency's report and publishes their findings on the Government Accountability Office's website.

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 "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 IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The "Protect America's Workforce Act" nullifies a 2025 executive order that limited federal labor-management relations programs. It prevents the enforcement of the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds for its implementation. Additionally, the bill ensures the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor organizations until their original expiration dates.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act updates the resource limits for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, increasing the individual limit to $10,000 and the couple's limit to $20,000 by 2025. After 2025, these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. This change aims to allow SSI recipients to save more without losing their eligibility for benefits.

This bill recognizes International Transgender Day of Visibility to honor the achievements and contributions of the transgender community and raise awareness of the discrimination and violence it faces. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression suffered by transgender individuals, including discrimination and violence, and recognizes the record number of antitransgender bills introduced in recent years. The bill expresses support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, encourages its observance, and celebrates the accomplishments and leadership of transgender individuals.

The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025 aims to restore United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to address humanitarian needs in Gaza and support Palestinian refugees. It repeals previous legislation that prohibited funding to UNRWA and directs the Secretary of State to resume contributions, contingent upon UNRWA's progress in implementing recommendations for accountability and transparency. The Act also requires regular reports to Congress on UNRWA's progress and encourages cooperation between the U.S. and Israel to aid UNRWA in implementing reforms.

The COST of Relocations Act requires federal agencies to conduct a benefit-cost analysis and report to their Inspector General (OIG) before carrying out a "covered relocation" which involves moving or replacing a significant number of employees. The OIG then reviews the agency's report and submits its findings to Congress, assessing the justification for using federal funds and adherence to guidelines. This act aims to ensure transparency and careful evaluation of the financial and operational impacts of agency relocations.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2025 aims to preserve and restore the ecological integrity of the Northern Rockies region by designating wilderness areas, establishing biological connecting corridors, and designating wild and scenic rivers. The Act focuses on protecting biodiversity, facilitating wildlife movement, and safeguarding water resources. It also includes provisions for wildland restoration, implementation monitoring, and the protection of Native American tribal rights and water rights. This legislation seeks to balance conservation with existing rights and uses, ensuring the long-term health and resilience of this vital ecosystem.

The Raise the Age Act of 2025 prohibits licensed firearm dealers from selling certain semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to individuals under 21, with exceptions for active military members and law enforcement officers. It also requires purchasers of these firearms to certify they are at least 21 or a "qualified individual". Additionally, the Act mandates a report from the FBI Director on improving information-sharing protocols for the FBI's public access line.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements by redefining "sex," modifying the "bona fide factor" defense for pay disparities, broadening the definition of "same establishment," strengthening non-retaliation protections, and enhancing penalties for employers who violate equal pay provisions. The Act also requires training programs, research, education, and outreach initiatives to eliminate pay disparities, and establishes a National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace. Additionally, the Act directs the EEOC to collect compensation data, reinstates pay equity programs, prohibits the use of wage history in determining salary, and establishes a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve compliance and enforcement of equal pay laws.

This resolution recognizes the significant gender pay gap, where women earn less than men for comparable work, and highlights the economic impact this disparity has on women, families, and the nation. It also acknowledges the disproportionate effect on women of color. The resolution reaffirms the commitment to achieving equal pay and reducing the gender wage gap.

This bill validates the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as a valid part of the U.S. Constitution. It asserts that the ERA has been ratified by the required number of states, regardless of any previously set time limits.

The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to establish comprehensive standards for dog dealers, focusing on humane treatment. These standards include requirements for flooring, space, temperature, nutrition, exercise, socialization, veterinary care, and breeding practices. The Act sets specific guidelines for breeding frequency, age, and veterinary procedures, as well as humane placement for retired breeding dogs. It directs the Secretary to finalize regulations for these standards within 18 months.