Legislative Activity

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that unaccompanied children have legal representation in immigration proceedings by providing government-funded counsel. It mandates that these children receive complete copies of their immigration files and have sufficient time to review them, and it also requires the Department of Homeland Security to allow counsel access to detained non-citizens. The Act directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop guidelines for legal representation and requires annual reports on the provision of counsel to unaccompanied children. Additionally, it allows unaccompanied children to reopen their immigration cases if they were not provided with appointed counsel, and it authorizes the necessary appropriations for implementation.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" allows above-the-line tax deductions for union dues and other employee-related business expenses. This amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure these deductions are not subject to certain limitations, providing tax relief for workers. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act introduces a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan (SOAR) with lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness. SOAR caps payments at 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans and 10% for other loans, and forgives remaining balances after 10 or 15 years, depending on the loan type. The bill phases out the existing PAYE and ICR plans, restricting eligibility to borrowers already enrolled or those meeting specific hardship requirements. It also ensures that unpaid interest does not capitalize and mandates automatic loan cancellation for eligible borrowers.

The "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and final standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. These plans must include risk assessments, hazard prevention measures, incident reporting procedures, and employee training. The Act also requires employers to maintain detailed records of violent incidents and submit annual summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Finally, facilities receiving Medicare funds must comply with the workplace violence prevention standard.

The "Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025" introduces a new tax on high-income taxpayers with an adjusted gross income exceeding $1,000,000, referred to as the "fair share tax". This tax aims to ensure wealthy individuals pay a minimum level of tax and contribute to deficit reduction. The tax is calculated based on a percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income above a certain threshold, taking into account charitable contributions and other tax liabilities. The Act expresses the Senate's intention for broader tax system reforms, including eliminating loopholes and simplifying the tax code.

The LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt livestock owners from certain inspection requirements when slaughtering their own animals for personal use. This exemption extends to the preparation and transportation of meat products, provided it's exclusively for the owner's household, nonpaying guests, or employees. The owner must maintain custody and identification of the meat products, even when using an agent for slaughter, preparation, or transport.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to make energy more affordable for low-income households by increasing funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program, expanding eligibility, and ensuring access to both heating and cooling assistance. It prioritizes energy efficiency upgrades, protects households from utility shutoffs and late fees, and promotes renewable energy solutions. The act also includes provisions for data collection on energy arrears and the development of state and local plans for transitioning away from fossil fuels while lowering energy costs for vulnerable households. Finally, the bill renames the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Home Energy Assistance Program.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot, ready-to-eat foods. It sets a limit on restaurants accepting SNAP benefits, where no more than 50% of their sales can come from hot foods. This act broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP to include hot food products.

America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act designates specific areas in Utah as wilderness, providing them the highest level of federal protection to preserve their natural state, diverse ecosystems, and historical and cultural resources. The Act outlines administrative provisions for managing these wilderness areas, including land management, water rights, road setbacks, and the continuation of livestock grazing, while also protecting state and tribal rights. It ensures the preservation of these lands for future generations, balancing recreational opportunities with ecological conservation. The Act also removes the land from being subject to public use, mining, and mineral leasing, subject to valid rights existing when the Act is enacted.

The "Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to help urban areas combat extreme heat, particularly in underserved communities. Grants will fund projects like tree planting, cool pavements, and cooling centers. At least 75% of grant funds must be used for projects in covered census tracts. The program is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2033.

This resolution recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas to the United States across various sectors, including the economy, arts, sciences, and military. It also acknowledges the economic disparities Latinas face, such as the wage gap, and emphasizes the importance of investing in their future to address these challenges and ensure their continued growth and impact.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and states to regulate campaign finance, setting reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures to promote democracy, political equality, and the integrity of government and elections. It aims to clarify the power to differentiate between natural persons and corporations in campaign finance regulations, potentially restricting corporate spending in elections. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from any restrictions.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, recognizing his public service, military service, and contributions to Wyoming and the nation. It celebrates his work on border security, veterans affairs, entitlement reform, and fiscal responsibility, as well as his dedication to various Wyoming institutions. The resolution expresses sorrow at his passing, directs communication to the House of Representatives and his family, and adjourns the Senate in his memory.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act aims to preserve natural landscapes by designating wilderness areas, establishing biological connecting corridors, and protecting wild and scenic rivers in the Northern Rockies region. It focuses on protecting ecosystems, securing water rights, managing grazing, and coordinating management between federal agencies. The Act also includes provisions for wildland restoration and recovery, implementation and monitoring of the Act's goals, and protection of Indian Tribes' rights and access. This legislation seeks to balance conservation with existing rights and economic activities in the region.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 ensures the Department of Agriculture honors existing agreements with farmers and related entities by releasing committed funding and settling outstanding debts. It prevents the cancellation of contracts unless there is a violation and requires a 60-day notice to Congress before closing any Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development Service Center office.

The Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Deerfield River and its major tributaries in Massachusetts and Vermont for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study will assess the river's eligibility based on its outstanding resource values. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress within three years of funding availability.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate restrictions that prevent striking workers from being eligible for SNAP benefits. This change removes the clause that previously made striking workers ineligible for SNAP. By removing these restrictions, the bill aims to provide food security for workers and their families during labor disputes.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance the enforcement of equal pay requirements by modifying the "bona fide factor" defense, protecting employees who discuss their wages, and enhancing penalties for equal pay violations. It requires training and directs research, education, and outreach to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. The Act also prohibits employers from relying on wage history when considering prospective employees and mandates the collection of compensation data by the EEOC. Finally, the Act establishes the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace and provides small business assistance.