Legislative Activity

The Armenian Genocide Education Act establishes a program managed by the Librarian of Congress to develop and share educational resources combating denial of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide. This initiative will create online materials, train educators, and encourage the integration of accurate history into school curricula. The Act authorizes $2 million annually for five years to support these educational efforts aimed at promoting awareness and preventing future atrocities.

The Taiwan Allies Fund Act establishes a dedicated fund to support countries that maintain relationships with Taiwan despite pressure from the People's Republic of China (PRC). This fund authorizes up to $40 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to help eligible nations counter PRC coercion. Aid will focus on strengthening democratic partnerships, supporting Taiwan's international participation, and offering alternatives to PRC economic influence. The Secretary of State will manage the fund, coordinating with Taiwan, and must report annually to Congress on the fund's activities and Taiwan's matching contributions.

This Act mandates the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and then a final standard requiring comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans for employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. These plans must be developed with employee input and detail risk assessments, hazard controls, reporting procedures, and annual training. Furthermore, the bill amends the Social Security Act to require Medicare-funded hospitals and skilled nursing facilities not covered by OSHA to comply with these new federal workplace violence prevention standards. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for workplace violence and includes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs, immediately voiding its legal power and halting federal spending to enforce it. This legislation also ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and unions remain valid until their original expiration dates.

The Reentry Act of 2025 allows incarcerated individuals to receive medical assistance through Medicaid during the 30 days immediately preceding their release. This legislation also mandates a comprehensive report from MACPAC analyzing current healthcare standards within correctional facilities. The report will examine the impact of this coverage change and offer recommendations for improving healthcare access for those transitioning back into the community.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act significantly raises the resource limits for individuals and couples applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), starting in 2025. This legislation also mandates that these new resource limits will be automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. The goal is to allow SSI applicants to save more money without losing eligibility for benefits.

The Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act extends the existing "mailbox rule" to electronic submissions made to the Internal Revenue Service. This means that documents and payments submitted digitally will be considered officially received on the date they are sent, not the date the IRS processes them. This change ensures fairness for taxpayers utilizing electronic filing methods.

This resolution urges the observation of March 2025 as Bulgarian-American Heritage Month to celebrate the significant contributions of Bulgarian immigrants and their descendants to American life. It recognizes the historical ties between the U.S. and Bulgaria, highlighting cultural milestones and the achievements of notable Bulgarian-Americans. The measure aims to encourage all Americans to learn more about Bulgarian culture and history while reaffirming the strong partnership between the two nations.

The Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 mandates that any adjustment to the Thrifty Food Plan used for calculating SNAP benefits must not result in an increase in food insecurity. This ensures that updates to the cost of the food plan do not negatively impact households' ability to afford adequate nutrition.

The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act establishes a new 20% federal tax credit for converting eligible, older commercial buildings into affordable housing. This incentive aims to increase housing supply by requiring that at least 20% of the converted units remain rent-restricted for low-income residents for 30 years. State agencies will allocate these credits, which are subject to a national cap of $12 billion, based on approved plans prioritizing financially necessary projects.

This bill officially designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 5225 Harrison Avenue in Rockford, Illinois, as the "Jay P. Larson Post Office Building." The legislation ensures that all federal records and documents will use this new official name for the location moving forward.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act focuses on streamlining U.S. trade law by eliminating outdated presidential authority. Specifically, this bill repeals Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which granted the President powers related to balancing international payments. This action reclaims and modernizes existing trade statutes.

The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 updates Medicare coverage to include diagnostic ultrasound tests. This legislation mandates that Medicare establish separate payments for the transportation and setup of portable ultrasound equipment, mirroring existing payments for portable X-ray services. These changes are set to take effect starting January 1, 2027.

This resolution is an official request demanding the President and the Secretary of State immediately transmit all records related to strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and the disclosure of confidential information to a journalist. Specifically, it seeks documents created on or after January 20, 2025, concerning sensitive communications, including Signal chats involving a journalist, and the legal justification for the military actions. Congress requires these documents, which may include AI transcripts and meeting notes, within 14 days of the resolution's passage.

The Raise the Age Act of 2025 generally prohibits Federal Firearms Licensees from selling certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles or shotguns capable of holding magazines over five rounds to anyone under 21, with exceptions for qualified military or government personnel. The bill also maintains the existing minimum age of 18 for general firearm purchases, excluding the newly restricted categories. Finally, it mandates that the FBI Director report on the operational procedures of its public access line within 90 days of enactment.

The DETERRENCE Act significantly increases federal penalties for serious crimes like kidnapping, murder-for-hire, stalking, and assaults against federal officials. These enhanced sentences are specifically triggered when the criminal activity is knowingly directed by or coordinated with a foreign government or its agents. The bill aims to deter foreign interference in domestic criminal acts by imposing much harsher punishments on those involved.

The Protecting Students with Disabilities Act reaffirms that the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) must remain within the Department of Education as mandated by existing law. This legislation explicitly prohibits the executive branch from eliminating, reorganizing, or moving IDEA program offices or staff. Furthermore, it prevents the delegation of IDEA program management or enforcement duties to any entity outside the Department of Education.

This Act imposes immediate sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) for their involvement in terrorism, particularly the October 7th attacks. It also mandates a report from the Secretary of State on designating the Lions Den and the PRC as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Furthermore, the bill requires ongoing reviews to identify and potentially sanction successor or affiliated terrorist groups.

This resolution formally recognizes the significant and persistent wage gap between men and women in the United States, highlighting statistics that show women earn substantially less. It serves as a strong public statement reaffirming Congress's commitment to achieving pay equity. The measure does not enact new laws but emphasizes the economic harm caused by unequal pay for women and their families.

The Paycheck Fairness Act significantly strengthens federal equal pay protections by broadening definitions of sex discrimination, tightening employer defenses against pay disparities, and increasing penalties for violations. It also prohibits employers from using salary history in hiring decisions and mandates new data collection by the EEOC to better enforce anti-discrimination laws. Furthermore, the bill establishes new training and outreach programs to combat systemic wage bias.