Legislative Activity

This bill recognizes May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the significant contributions of these communities to the history and diversity of the United States. It acknowledges key milestones and the ongoing importance of these groups in various sectors, while also addressing historical discrimination and recent legislative efforts to combat hate crimes.

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.

**Protecting America’s Workers Act Summary:** This bill aims to strengthen workplace safety and health protections by expanding coverage to public employees, increasing whistleblower protections, improving reporting and enforcement, and enhancing state plan oversight. It broadens employer responsibilities, updates safety standards, and increases penalties for violations, while also ensuring victims' rights are protected. The Act also enhances the role of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in evaluating workplace hazards and expanding training resources. Finally, it establishes a clear timeline for the implementation of these provisions across different jurisdictions.

This bill requests the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit documents to the House of Representatives regarding potential changes to the Administration for Community Living. The requested documents pertain to potential elimination, staff reductions, changes in responsibilities, dismissal of career staff, and grant terminations within the Administration for Community Living. The aim is to provide oversight regarding the sufficiency of staff to enforce laws and the impact of the "HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again" communication. The requested documents must be submitted within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

This bill designates April 2025 as "Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month" to promote public education, research, and early detection efforts. It encourages federal, state, and local entities, along with nonprofits and the media, to raise awareness about esophageal cancer. The bill also recognizes the need for increased research funding and improved treatment and detection methods, while honoring those affected by the disease.

The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. This bill aims to protect coastal economies and marine environments by preventing offshore drilling in these specified regions.

The "Defend our Coast Act" prohibits the Secretary from issuing leases for oil or gas exploration, development, or production in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area on the outer Continental Shelf. This act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, specifically targeting areas defined in the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program.

The "Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025" prevents any reconciliation bill from reducing Medicaid enrollment or benefits, or SNAP eligibility or benefits, through January 20, 2029. It amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to enforce this protection, ensuring these vital programs remain untouched by budget cuts. Violations of this act will be subject to a point of order.

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 "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an occupational safety and health standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. This standard aims to protect workers from workplace violence through risk assessment, hazard prevention, incident reporting, employee training, and recordkeeping. The bill also extends these requirements to certain facilities receiving Medicare funds, ensuring broader coverage and compliance.

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 "Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025" directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a national public health education campaign to improve access to abortion and related health services. This campaign will educate the public on how to access abortion services, the legality of abortion, accurate medical information, patient rights, and how to identify misleading information. The campaign aims to be culturally competent and accessible, providing resources for underserved communities while protecting personal information and avoiding the promotion of misinformation.

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 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 Virginia Beach Heroes Act ensures that donations made to support the families of law enforcement officers killed in Virginia Beach on February 22, 2025, qualify as charitable contributions, even if they are specifically for those families. It also clarifies that payments made by charitable organizations to the families of these officers will be considered as fulfilling the organization's exempt purpose, as long as the payments are made in good faith using a reasonable and consistent formula.

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.

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.

The "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expanding SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans. It includes veterans with a 60% or higher disability rating, those with multiple disabilities totaling 70% or higher with one at 40%, those catastrophically disabled, and those under 65 receiving certain pensions. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2030.

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2025 aims to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed by supporting agricultural producers in implementing conservation activities, reauthorizing and expanding the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and establishing a pilot program for conservation practices. The act also invests in workforce development for food and agricultural sciences, authorizes direct hiring for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and transfers regulatory oversight of invasive catfish species to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. This legislation seeks to accelerate conservation efforts, enhance water quality, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in the Chesapeake Bay region.