Legislative Activity

The Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act aims to secure and expand the right to vote for citizens experiencing homelessness by prohibiting residency-based disenfranchisement. It mandates accessible registration methods, requires outreach from service providers, and establishes federal grants to help local governments implement these protections. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure that where a person sleeps cannot be a barrier to their participation in federal elections.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over when this paid leave is taken, which can include early voting periods if permitted by state law. This Act prohibits employers from penalizing employees for utilizing this required voting leave.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 establishes federal prohibitions and penalties against knowingly spreading materially false information intended to suppress voting in federal elections, including the use of AI-generated content within 60 days of an election. The bill also criminalizes intimidating election workers involved in ballot tabulation and certification processes. Furthermore, it authorizes the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false voting information and requires detailed reporting on election interference allegations.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act establishes new federal standards to increase transparency and fairness for warehouse workers at large companies by mandating disclosure of performance quotas and monitoring data. It guarantees mandatory paid rest breaks, strengthens protections against using quotas to suppress organizing efforts, and introduces new federal ergonomics and safety standards under OSHA. The bill creates a new Department of Labor office to enforce these provisions and invalidates mandatory pre-dispute arbitration for related claims.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual grants to states for improving election administration, security, and accessibility, managed by a newly created Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation. This funding is supported by a dedicated ten-year Trust Fund to ensure stable resources for election infrastructure upgrades. The bill imposes strict rules on how states can use the money, including prohibitions against purchasing insecure voting machines or restricting basic voter support. If states fail to comply, the federal Director can bypass state government to fund local election subdivisions directly.

The People Over Long Lines Act (POLL Act) aims to protect the fundamental right to vote by establishing a national standard that no eligible citizen should wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot in a federal election. To achieve this, the bill mandates that states submit plans detailing how they will ensure fair wait times and requires the Attorney General to set minimum standards for voting resources like poll workers and equipment. Furthermore, the Act authorizes federal funding to help states comply and creates a private right of action allowing citizens to sue over excessive wait times.

The Expanding the VOTE Act updates language assistance requirements under the Voting Rights Act by modernizing the definition of "voting materials" to include digital information. It also establishes new state responsibilities for providing language assistance and creates a grant program to incentivize voluntary language support beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill includes special provisions for unwritten American Indian and Alaska Native languages and mandates a study on lowering thresholds for language assistance coverage.

The Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must now provide abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of the medical services offered to eligible veterans and certain other beneficiaries. This legislation formally amends existing VA health care provisions to include these reproductive health services.

The Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 expands reproductive and fertility care for service members and veterans. Title I mandates comprehensive fertility preservation and treatment for active-duty personnel and their families. Title II formally establishes fertility treatment, counseling, and adoption assistance as covered benefits for eligible veterans through the VA. This bill aims to remove barriers and reduce financial burdens for military families seeking to start or expand their families.

This resolution honors Dr. Paul Farmer by urging the U.S. government to adopt a 21st-century global health solidarity strategy to end preventable deaths worldwide. It calls for significantly increased U.S. aid, focused on strengthening local health systems through "accompaniment," while simultaneously taking action to stop economic injustices that drain resources from developing nations. Ultimately, the bill demands that U.S. development policy prioritize global health equity alongside addressing historical harms like slavery and colonialism.

The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act repeals an outdated ban that prevented Medicaid from making payments to certain healthcare providers. This legislation ensures that these previously prohibited entities will now be reimbursed for medical services rendered between the enactment of the original ban and the passage of this Act. In short, it restores payment eligibility and retroactively covers past services.

The EATS Act of 2025 significantly updates eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing previous restrictions that often disqualified students. This legislation explicitly includes bona fide students enrolled at least half-time in recognized educational programs as eligible participants for food assistance. These changes take effect on January 2, 2026.

The Click to Cancel Act of 2025 officially codifies the Federal Trade Commission's "click-to-cancel" rule into federal law. This mandates that businesses provide consumers with a simple, online method to cancel subscriptions. Violations of this new law will be enforced by the FTC using its existing authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

The Protected Time Off Act establishes a federal minimum standard for earned paid annual leave, requiring employers to grant employees at least one hour of paid time off for every 25 hours worked, up to 80 hours annually. This law specifies how leave is accrued, used, and rolled over, while protecting employees from retaliation for exercising these rights. It also ensures that existing state laws or agreements that provide more generous leave benefits remain in effect. Enforcement mechanisms are established, largely mirroring those under the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing both government investigation and direct employee lawsuits.

The Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025 establishes the Eviction Right to Counsel Fund with $100 million annually to support tenants facing eviction. This fund provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments that enact legislation guaranteeing full legal representation for low-income tenants in eviction proceedings. Priority for funding goes to entities that implement strong tenant protections and commit to using the money primarily for hiring and training legal counsel.

This bill, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, updates the eligibility requirements for creating records of lawful admission for long-term residents. It replaces a fixed entry date with a new standard requiring applicants to have resided in the U.S. for at least seven years prior to applying. These revised provisions will take effect 60 days after the Act is enacted.

The End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to eliminate financial support for the fossil fuel industry across the federal government. It achieves this by terminating numerous tax incentives, increasing royalties on federal energy leases, and blocking federal funding for fossil fuel projects through various agencies. Ultimately, the Act aims to shift financial burdens onto polluters while redirecting federal support toward cleaner energy initiatives.

The College Athlete Right to Organize Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to formally recognize college athletes receiving compensation as employees. This grants them the right to organize and collectively bargain with their universities and athletic conferences over wages and working conditions. The bill ensures that this new employee status does not negatively impact their current tax status or eligibility for federal financial aid. The National Labor Relations Board is given jurisdiction to oversee these new labor relations.

The Stop Troubling Retroactive Invoices for Veteran Expenses Act of 2025 (STRIVE Act) prevents the VA from collecting health care copayments if the veteran was not properly notified within two years of receiving care, or if the total owed exceeds an inflation-adjusted threshold (starting at \$2,000). The bill also grants the Secretary of Veterans Affairs broad authority to waive any veteran copayment deemed appropriate. Finally, it extends the date for certain pension payment limits.

The Restoring Artistic Protection Act of 2025 (RAP Act) seeks to limit the admissibility of a defendant's creative or artistic expression in court proceedings. This bill adds a new rule to the Federal Rules of Evidence, generally banning the use of a defendant's art as evidence against them. The government can only introduce such evidence if it meets strict exceptions requiring clear and convincing proof that the art directly relates to the facts of the case and possesses unique evidentiary value. If admitted, the court must provide specific instructions to the jury regarding its consideration.