Legislative Activity

The Living Wage for Musicians Act of 2025 establishes the Artist Compensation Royalty Fund, financed by a mandatory new "living wage royalty fee" charged to streaming subscribers and a percentage of service providers' non-subscription revenue. This fund will distribute 90% of its proceeds quarterly to eligible featured artists based on their stream share, with the remaining 10% going to non-featured artists via established unions. The Act also mandates that streaming platforms clearly itemize this new fee and subjects them to audits by the designated Fund Administrator.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Cost-of-Living Fairness Act ensures that payments made for essential insurance policies, such as car, home/renter, and flood insurance, are excluded when determining eligibility for federal, state, or local assistance programs. This change prevents necessary insurance expenses from negatively impacting a household's income calculation for benefits. The goal is to make it fairer for families to maintain necessary coverage while accessing public aid.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

This bill directs the President to immediately remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and certain designated criminal groups. Congress asserts that these military actions lack the necessary constitutional authorization or a declaration of war. The resolution mandates withdrawal unless Congress subsequently passes specific authorization or the U.S. is subject to an armed attack.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities initiated after February 20, 2025, against designated terrorist groups or drug trafficking organizations without prior Congressional authorization. It asserts Congress's constitutional power to declare war and finds recent military strikes against vessels lacked proper justification. The bill allows for continued use of forces for self-defense or authorized counternarcotics support, but explicitly states drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack.

The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025 establishes federal oversight for large entities using complex automated systems, or "covered algorithms," that impact critical consumer decisions like employment or housing. It mandates that these entities conduct rigorous, ongoing impact assessments to test for bias, privacy risks, and performance issues. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with creating detailed regulations and enforcing compliance, including requiring covered entities to submit annual summary reports detailing their assessment findings. This Act ensures that significant algorithmic decisions are scrutinized for fairness and transparency without overriding stricter state or local regulations.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act of 2025 aims to improve immigration pathways and protections for noncitizen service members and veterans. The bill mandates studies on previously removed noncitizen veterans, establishes a system within DHS to track noncitizen veterans facing removal, and creates an advisory committee to review deportation cases. Furthermore, it streamlines the path to citizenship for active duty service members and allows certain removed noncitizen veterans to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.

This House Resolution strongly condemns all forms of political violence and threats against elected officials and public figures, regardless of political affiliation. It affirms that disagreements must be resolved through peaceful and democratic means, not intimidation or force. The resolution urges law enforcement to prosecute those who commit or encourage such violence. Finally, it calls on all leaders to cease using dehumanizing rhetoric and promote civil discourse.

The Future Generations Protection Act aims to combat climate change by immediately banning greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants and halting the approval of most new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals. It also establishes a nationwide ban on hydraulic fracturing starting in 2029 and generally prohibits the export of domestically produced crude oil and natural gas, with limited exceptions for oil swaps and historical trade relationships. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the energy transition prioritize environmental justice, fairness for fossil fuel workers, and strong labor union involvement.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital role of the Latino community in outdoor recreation and natural resource protection across the United States. It expresses support for designating the third week of September as "Latino Conservation Week" to celebrate their ongoing commitment to conservation. The bill highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to nature for all communities.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The Billionaires Income Tax Act fundamentally changes how the wealthiest Americans are taxed by eliminating the ability to defer taxes on investment gains, requiring annual recognition of appreciation on covered assets. This legislation treats transfers like gifts or death as taxable sales and imposes stricter tax rules across various investment and compensation scenarios for "applicable taxpayers." Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure immediate taxation on wealth accumulation for high-net-worth individuals and associated entities starting in 2026.

This constitutional amendment seeks to grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate contributions and expenditures in political campaigns. It specifically allows for the establishment of public financing systems to offset the influence of private money in elections. The amendment ensures that any regulations enacted must not infringe upon the freedom of the press.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, and military status. This expansion ensures that landlords cannot deny housing based on factors like the use of housing vouchers or military service. The Act also strengthens existing prohibitions against intimidation related to these newly protected statuses.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

This resolution commemorates the eighth anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It honors the thousands of lives lost and acknowledges the ongoing struggles of survivors due to massive infrastructure failure. The bill strongly urges federal agencies to expedite recovery funding and calls on Congress to prioritize building resilient infrastructure for the territories' future.