Legislative Activity

The BARCODE Efficiency Act mandates that the IRS modernize its processing by using scanning and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to digitize paper tax returns and correspondence. This aims to enhance efficiency by converting paper documents into electronic formats for better organization and disbursement. The implementation of these scanning requirements will occur on a staggered schedule based on the type of tax document.

The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026 establishes a new program to grant Social Security credit to individuals providing substantial unpaid care for dependent relatives. This credit is calculated based on "deemed wages" for qualifying months where at least 80 hours are spent caregiving for a child under 12 or a chronically dependent individual. The goal is to improve the economic outlook and retirement security for these unpaid caregivers.

The Parental Bereavement Act of 2026 (also known as the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger-Barklage Act) amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide employees with job-protected, unpaid leave following the death of a son or daughter. This legislation allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of leave within a year of the loss, with the option to substitute accrued paid leave. These protections extend to both private-sector and federal civil service employees.

The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act of 2026 aims to address job displacement due to automation by establishing a new federal grant program. This program will fund demonstration projects run by local partnerships to retrain workers for in-demand, technology-oriented fields. The Act also expands existing federal training services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to specifically target workers at risk of automation-related job loss.

This bill, the Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act, amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that restitution and civil damages awarded to human trafficking survivors are excluded from their federal gross income. This provision aims to provide financial relief by preventing survivors from being taxed on the monetary compensation they receive for their recovery.

The Keep Healthcare Affordable Act extends and enhances premium tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code through 2030. This legislation increases the affordability assistance amounts and modifies eligibility rules for higher-income taxpayers. Specifically, it raises the maximum household income percentage for credit eligibility up to 1000 percent through 2029.

The Impacts and Outcomes for Health Career Training Act mandates a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of Health Profession Opportunity Grant demonstration projects. This evaluation must track the short, medium, and long-term impacts on participants, including employment and earnings. A dedicated portion of the grant funds will be set aside annually to support this comprehensive study. These changes will take effect starting October 1, 2025.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to strengthen the U.S. healthcare system by recapturing unused employment-based immigrant visas from 1992 through 2024. This legislation specifically reserves up to 40,000 of these visas for professional nurses and physicians, ensuring they are not subject to annual country caps. The bill also mandates expedited processing for these healthcare professionals without imposing premium processing fees, while requiring employers to attest that hiring these workers will not displace U.S. employees.

The Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025 updates the Teacher Leader Development Program to enhance the training and focus of teacher leaders in high-need schools. This legislation mandates intensive, credential-earning professional development for selected educators who will focus on improving student achievement and instructional practices. The bill also establishes clear criteria for teacher leader selection and outlines how grant funds can support their multi-year development and ongoing mentorship.

The Educational Toy Tax Relief Act prohibits the President from imposing or continuing any duties (taxes) on specific baby and toddler items, such as educational toys, playpens, and tricycles, under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This legislation immediately ends any existing or previously imposed similar duties on these products. The goal is to provide tax relief for essential items designed for children under three years old.

This resolution formally commemorates the third anniversary of the tragic July 4, 2022, mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. It honors the seven lives lost and recognizes the survivors, first responders, and the enduring strength of the community. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms a commitment to reducing gun violence nationwide.

This resolution expresses support for designating the first Tuesday in June as "National Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day." The day aims to recognize the challenges faced by cancer survivors and highlight the value of community support. It specifically honors a pre-existing, volunteer-run event where beauty and spa professionals offer free services to survivors nationwide.

The Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2025 significantly updates existing fair housing laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation broadens protections to cover discrimination based on association or perceived association with protected groups. Furthermore, it strengthens anti-intimidation measures related to these newly defined protected characteristics in housing matters.

The RETAIN Act establishes a new, refundable federal tax credit designed to reward and retain educators and school support staff working in high-need schools and early childhood programs. This credit increases based on an employee's years of continuous service, peaking at ten years of dedication. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of new, detailed annual salary data series to better track compensation trends for educators across different regions and funding levels.

The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act supports key Eastern Mediterranean nations—Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel—as strategic partners for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The bill directs the U.S. to prioritize diplomatic engagement, energy security, and defense cooperation in the region. It also mandates several reports to Congress detailing implementation, multilateral initiatives, and potential expansions of successful U.S.-Israel partnership models to other regional allies.

This resolution strongly supports the Abraham Accords as a foundation for broader peace and security cooperation in the Middle East. It specifically encourages the Department of State and civil society groups to promote peace and tolerance through educational reforms in partner nations. The bill advocates for expanding normalization efforts and ensuring these agreements deliver tangible security and economic benefits across the region.

The DOGE Accountability and Transparency Act establishes strict reporting requirements for the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Service. This bill mandates that DOGE submit weekly detailed reports to Congress outlining all actions, staffing changes, and data access related to federal agencies. These measures are intended to ensure congressional oversight of DOGE's efficiency efforts, which Congress views as potentially harmful to public service delivery.

The PEACE Act mandates comprehensive education and training for State Department personnel regarding the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements with Israel. It establishes an advisory board, composed of members selected by Congressional leadership, to guide curriculum development for these programs. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary of State to develop and report annually on a strategy for integrating this specialized training and implementing diplomatic fellowships with partner nations.

This resolution officially urges the observation of March 2025 as Bulgarian-American Heritage Month across the United States. It recognizes the significant historical contributions of Bulgarian immigrants and their descendants to American culture, science, and the arts. Furthermore, the bill celebrates the long-standing strategic partnership and diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Bulgaria.

This bill, the Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act, aims to modernize U.S. trade law by eliminating outdated provisions. Specifically, it repeals Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. This action removes an old, unilateral tariff authority from the books.