Legislative Activity

This resolution designates February as Black History Month, celebrating the heritage and achievements of Black Americans. It recognizes the foundational role of Black labor in the United States, from slavery to modern times, and acknowledges the economic disparities that persist. The resolution also honors key figures and movements that have advanced Black Americans' rights and economic opportunities. It encourages the continued observance of Black History Month to promote awareness of Black Americans' contributions.

This bill seeks to block the proposed foreign military sale to Israel, as outlined in Transmittal No. 2416. The sale includes ten thousand M107 and/or M795 155mm High Explosive projectiles, as well as related equipment, services, and support.

This bill aims to block the sale of specific defense articles and services to Israel, including bombs, guidance kits, fuzes, and related support equipment, as outlined in Transmittal No. 2413. The disapproval extends to both the direct military equipment and associated logistical and technical support.

The Copay Fairness for Veterans Act eliminates copayments for veterans for medications, hospital care, and medical services related to preventive health services. "Preventive health services" include items or services with an A or B rating from the United States Preventive Services Task Force, immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and preventive care, screenings, and contraceptives for women. It also includes any contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration, along with related care and services.

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 bans cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and restricts the use of animal testing data for cosmetic safety, with certain exceptions. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to impose civil penalties for non-compliance and preempts states from enacting conflicting regulations. The Act defines key terms related to cosmetic animal testing and cosmetics.

This bill reaffirms the United States' commitment to respecting Mexico's sovereignty and international law, while also discouraging unauthorized military interventions. It asserts that using military force against cartels or other entities in Mexico without Mexico's consent or Congressional approval could be considered an act of war and an infringement upon constitutional powers. The bill emphasizes continued U.S.-Mexico collaboration to combat crime, violence, and drug trafficking through existing partnerships.

This bill expresses support for America's Black workers, acknowledging historical injustices and ongoing disparities in the workforce. It emphasizes the need to reduce inequalities by improving access to job training, education, and fair wages, while also advocating for safe working conditions and protection from discrimination. The bill supports legislation like the PRO Act and the Raise the Wage Act to improve labor conditions for Black workers. Ultimately, it aims to promote economic opportunity for Black workers, recognizing its importance for both individual and national prosperity.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The PAST Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Horse Protection Act to combat the painful practice of soring in specific horse breeds. This bill increases penalties for violations, establishes stricter licensing and oversight for inspectors, and explicitly bans the use of "action devices" designed to cause unnatural gaits. The legislation aims to enhance enforcement, ensure fairer competition, and hold violators accountable through increased fines and disqualifications.

This bill redesignates the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It changes all references to the site in law and documentation to reflect the new name. The bill also repeals the previous resolutions that designated the site as a memorial to Robert E. Lee.

The "Affordable PLUS Repayment Options for Parents Act of 2025" expands income-contingent and income-based repayment options to parents who have taken out PLUS loans for their children's education. It removes restrictions that previously made PLUS loan borrowers ineligible for income-based repayment plans. The bill defines "partial financial hardship" based on a borrower's income and family size, ensuring more families can qualify for reduced payments. These changes apply to borrowers with outstanding PLUS loans or consolidation loans used to pay off PLUS loans, who are repaying their loans through income-driven repayment plans on or after the enactment date.

The Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025 prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning stock or having financial interests in defense contractors to prevent profiting from war. It requires divestment of conflicting assets within a specified timeframe, with exceptions for diversified investment funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Violators may face civil penalties, and the Act allows for deferred capital gains taxes on required divestments.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

This bill aims to honor, preserve, and invest in Freedmen's Settlements and Black towns established by formerly enslaved African Americans. It recognizes the historical significance of these communities, the challenges they have faced, and the need for continued support through research, investment, and coordinated efforts among government entities and nonprofits. The bill seeks to protect these settlements from development, gentrification, and environmental hazards while promoting economic justice, infrastructure improvements, and fair living standards. Ultimately, it reaffirms the commitment to racial justice and equity for these historically disadvantaged communities.

The RESTORE Act establishes the National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program to formally recognize, research, and preserve communities founded by formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War. This program, managed by the Secretary of the Interior, will create a federal effort to honor these settlements' legacy of self-determination through documentation, historic designation, and grant funding. The law authorizes appropriations to support cultural heritage, research, and capacity building for these historically neglected communities.

The "GUARD VA Benefits Act" reinstates penalties for individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees for assistance with their VA benefits claims. This bill amends title 38 of the United States Code to ensure that those who exploit veterans by charging unlawful fees face appropriate fines. The aim is to protect veterans from financial exploitation related to their benefits claims.

The Social Security Expansion Act aims to increase Social Security benefits, change cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect elderly consumers, and extend eligibility to student children. It also adjusts payroll and self-employment taxes for earnings above $250,000, increases taxes on investment gains, and establishes a new Social Security Trust Fund. These changes are intended to provide greater financial security for beneficiaries and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act allows wrongly fired or dismissed veterans in civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the Act's enactment date to be reinstated to their previous position or a similar one. It mandates executive branch agencies to report to Congress every three months on all veteran employees who were fired or dismissed and the reasons for their termination, effective until January 20, 2029. The Act relies on existing U.S. Code definitions for key terms like "veteran" and "civil service."

The RAISE Act of 2025 introduces a refundable tax credit for eligible teachers, offering $1,000 plus additional amounts for teachers in qualifying schools with high student poverty levels. It also increases the tax deduction for educators' expenses to $500 and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Additionally, the Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide mandatory funding to support local educational agencies that maintain or increase teacher salaries, with a portion reserved for teacher salary incentive grants. These grants can be used for various programs aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving educator skills.

The CROWN Act of 2025 prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyle if that style is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. This protection extends to federally funded programs, housing, public accommodations, and employment. The act aims to ensure equal opportunity and prevent discrimination based on hair, addressing historical biases and stereotypes. It clarifies that existing civil rights laws should be interpreted to include protection against hair-based discrimination.