Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates February 2026 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month." It recognizes the history of the Hawaiian language, its near extinction due to past suppression, and the successful revitalization efforts led by Native Hawaiians. The bill commits Congress to preserving and promoting the use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and urges the public to celebrate the month with supportive activities.

The Removing and Sequestering Carbon Unleashed in the Environment and Oceans (RECUE) Act establishes a comprehensive federal research framework to advance the science of marine carbon dioxide removal. By coordinating efforts across NOAA, the NSF, NASA, and NIST, the legislation aims to develop safe, effective, and standardized technologies for ocean-based climate solutions. The bill prioritizes environmental safety, rigorous data transparency, and meaningful engagement with Tribal and coastal communities.

The FAIR Act establishes pay increases for federal employees in calendar year 2027. This legislation mandates a 3.1 percent increase to the basic pay rates for General Schedule and similar employees. Additionally, it provides a 1 percent adjustment to federal locality pay rates for the same year.

This bill, the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025, modifies existing laws to streamline leasing and rights-of-way processes on Indian lands. It expands tribal authority to grant rights-of-way across their own land without direct Secretarial approval, provided the tribe adopts an approved regulatory framework that includes environmental review. The legislation also makes technical corrections to existing leasing provisions for certain trust lands. Ultimately, this Act aims to unlock economic development opportunities by empowering tribes in land management decisions.

This bill amends the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to establish new grant programs. It authorizes various federal agencies to award grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to support tourism and visitor experience initiatives. The legislation authorizes $35 million in appropriations for these grant programs between fiscal years 2025 and 2029.

The Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2025 modifies Social Security by phasing out payroll taxes on high earners above a certain threshold after 2025. It also adjusts the benefit calculation formula to increase benefits, particularly by incorporating a new tier based on earnings exceeding the taxable limit. Finally, the bill mandates that future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) be calculated using a new Consumer Price Index specifically for elderly consumers.

The Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act amends existing legislation to strengthen support for Native arts and culture nationwide. This bill modifies the requirements for the Institute's Board of Trustees and mandates the ongoing maintenance of its facilities and programs. Furthermore, it updates grant requirements for Native Hawaiian art and culture to ensure representation from recognized Native Hawaiian artists and cultural experts on governing boards.

This resolution expresses deep concern over the rising trend of book banning and threats to freedom of expression across the United States. It strongly opposes censorship in schools and libraries, citing constitutional rights and the harm done to democratic discourse. The measure urges local entities to protect students' access to diverse viewpoints and calls for the reversal of restrictive orders impacting educational materials.

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act temporarily halts certain legal and administrative actions that could negatively affect the civil rights of federal employees and contractors during a government shutdown. This protection includes pausing evictions, foreclosures, lien enforcement, and providing relief for student loan and income tax obligations. The law also ensures that seeking these protections will not negatively impact an employee's credit or future financial standing.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating September 2025 as "Hawaiian History Month." The designation aims to recognize the rich history, culture, and significant contributions of Native Hawaiians. Furthermore, it reaffirms the Federal trust responsibility to support the well-being and cultural revitalization of the Native Hawaiian Community.

This resolution officially designates the week of September 14 through September 20, 2025, as "Telehealth Awareness Week." It recognizes the critical role telehealth plays in expanding healthcare access, especially for rural and underserved populations. The measure encourages increased awareness, resource sharing, and continued study of remote healthcare services. Ultimately, it supports maintaining robust access to telehealth for all beneficiaries.

The Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act of 2025 asserts that access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right, citing international agreements. This bill mandates that the U.S. Secretary of State comprehensively detail the status of reproductive rights, including access to contraception, abortion care, and freedom from coercion, in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Furthermore, it requires detailed reporting on disparities in reproductive health outcomes based on identity, such as race, sexual orientation, or disability. The Act emphasizes the need to hold governments accountable for denying these essential health services globally.

The Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act mandates annual planning and detailed budget displays for all Coast Guard operations in the Pacific region, beginning in 2026. The bill also requires several key reports from the Commandant concerning the feasibility of establishing a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, identifying locations and costs for forward operating bases by 2030, and expanding Coast Guard attaché presence in the region. Furthermore, it directs a study on integrating State Department consular officers into Navy and Coast Guard missions to Pacific Island countries.

The Empowering App-Based Workers Act aims to increase transparency and accountability for digital labor platforms by requiring detailed disclosures about electronic monitoring, automated decision-making, and pay calculations. The bill establishes strict limits on platform "take rates" for ride-hailing services and prohibits the use of personal data to unfairly set compensation. Furthermore, it grants app-based workers new enforcement rights, including the ability to sue for violations and invalidates pre-dispute arbitration clauses.

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025 incentivizes states and localities to adopt "pro-housing policies" when applying for federal transit capital investment grants. These policies, which include reducing parking minimums and streamlining approval for multi-family housing, can earn an applicant an extra point on their grant evaluation score. The bill requires the Secretary to consult with HUD to measure the expected housing production resulting from these local reforms. Recipients who receive the extra point must report on the specific policies implemented and the anticipated housing outcomes.

The Unsubscribe Act of 2025 significantly increases consumer protection regarding "negative option" subscriptions, such as automatic renewals and free trials that convert to paid services. This legislation mandates that businesses must obtain explicit, informed consent before charging consumers and provide a simple, electronic mechanism for cancellation if the service was signed up for online. Furthermore, the Act requires clear upfront disclosure of all terms and ongoing reminders about contract status and cancellation procedures. Enforcement will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general.

The Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax on covered financial trading transactions involving securities and derivatives. This transaction tax rate will gradually increase from 0.02 percent in 2026 to 0.1 percent by 2030. The responsibility for paying the tax falls on exchanges, brokers, or the involved parties, depending on how the trade is executed. The bill also includes specific rules for foreign corporations and provides detailed definitions and exceptions for what constitutes a taxable security or derivative.

The State Public Option Act establishes a new Medicaid buy-in option for eligible individuals starting in 2026, with federal support for state administrative costs. The bill also mandates that Medicaid payments for certain primary care services must meet Medicare Part B rates and requires states to cover comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services, including abortions. Finally, it updates federal funding timelines for newly eligible individuals and directs a review of Medicaid quality measures.

This resolution condemns the acceptance of substantial gifts, such as presidential aircraft, from foreign governments, citing serious national security and foreign influence concerns. It asserts that accepting such gifts violates the Constitution's Emoluments Clause and undermines public trust. The measure demands that the President must receive explicit Congressional approval before accepting any significant foreign gift.

The PATCH Act, or Protecting Access To Care in Hawaii Act, establishes a minimum geographic work index of 1.5 for calculating physician payment rates in Hawaii, effective January 1, 2026. This ensures that doctors practicing in Hawaii receive at least this level of additional compensation to account for local costs. This adjustment will not be budget-neutral, meaning it will not require offsetting cuts elsewhere.